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David Abeles

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Matilda the Musical runs through
March 20 at the Fisher Theatre in
Detroit. $29-$90. (313) 872-1000;
broadwayindetroit.com. It will also
be staged April 19-24 at the Wharton
Center for Performing Arts in East
Lansing. $35-$75. (517) 353-1982;
whartoncenter.com.

his cantor.
“The Miller play is about a group of
men put into a room in Vichy France,
where it becomes apparent they’re Jewish
and about to be sent away. It’s a very
important piece of writing. I was really
affected by it and honored to be in it.”
Abeles has family in Israel, where
he has visited several times. “Both my
parents are Jewish, and I enjoy the
cultural community of Jewish artists as
well as the traditions.”
Abeles’ early interest in music began
with piano lessons and moved into
guitar, accordion, banjo and mandolin,
the last three mastered for roles.
Musical interests came through both

parents and also were instilled in both
siblings.
His father, John, once a practicing
doctor who became a medical venture
capitalist, has been described by fam-
ily as a pianist who could play pro-
fessionally. His mother, Miriam, is a
soprano appearing with choruses and
teaching.
Sister Lynne, also a soprano, is
appearing in Phantom of the Opera on
Broadway, while brother Daniel holds
an acting resume listing various roles.
“I didn’t know I wanted to act
professionally until I went to Emory
University in Atlanta,” recalls Abeles,
born in New York and raised in
California and Florida before return-
ing to his birthplace. “I was in Tom
Stoppard’s Travesties and decided
to go to drama school. I studied at
the London Academy of Music and
Dramatic Art for three years.”
Living in London, along with hear-
ing his dad’s accent gained as a native
of Zimbabwe, would prepare Abeles
for the British dialect written into
Matilda.
“Accents come pretty naturally to
me because I have a musical ear,” he
says. “The accent is fun and crucial
to the character. I sing two solos –
‘The Hammer’ and ‘The Smell of
Rebellion.’”
Abeles, whose free time often is
devoted to nature and wildlife and has
included a family safari in Africa, also
enjoys songs performed by the kids in
Matilda.
“There’s a triumphant anthem
toward the end of the show called
‘Revolting Children,’ which I think is
just great,” he says. “It makes me want
to jump up and clap.
“Matilda has a song at the beginning
of the show called ‘Naughty,’ which is
really clever. There’s a very clever lyric
to ‘School Song,’ which incorporates the
alphabet into the lyrics; the audience
will be at the edge of their seats.”

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March 10 • 2016

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