Don’t want to end up in the Burn Book? Better check out Weir Theatre’s production of Mean Girls, Jr.: the Musical the weekend of May 2-4.
“Mean Girls Jr. was chosen [as the spring musical] for many reasons: because of the important message, because of the talent we currently have and because of its popularity,” said Emily Hores, the play’s director and Weir’s Family and Consumer Science teacher.
With students working hard to make things right, the play is approaching quickly. Hores is assisted by Erica Sauer, Hancock County School’s Director of Special Programs and Pre-K. Both expressed excitement for this year’s musical, telling what’s different behind the scenes.
This year, they decided to involve students more but also help reduce their own workload. For the first time since they’ve taken on directing, the spring musical has its own production team consisting of stage crew, light and sound board, student directors, and stage managers as they take on different ideas and challenges for the play.
When introduced to the students, Hores and Sauer made resumes to give the impression of a real job. The roles oversee almost all that happens in the world of the production’s cast and activities.
“The production team is something that I have wanted to implement for a while. The talent we have here at Weir High goes well beyond performance. The production team gives students the opportunity to try out jobs on the business side of theater that they may be interested in doing,” Hores said.
The team includes Emma Underwood: student director, Lyla Soplinski: student music director, Kylie Dunmyer: set designer, Melia Palavis: choreographer, and Giana Paladina: PR director.
“I was really excited, and I felt honored that they wanted me to direct the show. I’ve been stage managing for the last three years, and [it’s] kind of similar. I hope to give the students more of a say and to make it an enjoyable process for them,” Underwood said.
“I was excited [when they chose me for this role] because it has something to do with my major. I’m going for music production, so having to do this in high school helps with resumes and everything,” Soplinski said.
“I felt a sense of accomplishment [when I was selected] because it was kind of like I was doing a good job. I hope to make the choreography part go a little bit smoother, and I hope everybody has a fun time while we do it,” Palavis said.
Leading the cast is Lana Sauer as the new girl in school Cady Heron (played on screen by Lindsay Lohan). Bringing on the Plastics, the vicious clique Heron infiltrates, are Sarah Stewart as queen bee Regina George, Sienna Finsley as Gretchen Wieners, and Leanna Bissett as Karen Smith.
“It’s really exciting, and I love to sing. It’ really fun, and you make a lot of friends,” Lana Sauer said.
As they work through their roles, the cast spends most weeknights preparing for the play and training vocals. Some rehearsals contain running lines, learning choreography, practicing the songs and running the show to see what works and what doesn’t.
“Working with all these people makes this show so much fun to do. It already looks fantastic, and we still have so much more rehearsal time to make it even better,” Stewart said.
Mean Girls Jr.: the Musical is a version of the hit musical Mean Girls that has been adapted for performance by students. The musical, featuring a book by Tina Fey (30 Rock), lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde), and music by composer Jeff Richmond (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), was first adapted from Fey’s hit 2004 film, which, in turn, was based on the 2002 nonfiction book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. Mean Girls opened on Broadway in 2018 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards.
According to a playbill, “the play centers on lead Cady Heron, who may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. This naïve newbie navigates the wilds of the American high school and the social ranks by taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming Queen Bee Regina George. This is undoubtably going to be the most fetch musical this summer!”
This vibrant adaptation of the beloved 2004 film and Broadway hit delves deep into the complexities of high school and the myth of perfection depicting teenage life with humor and heart.
The cast and crew have set out to present their audience with a hilarious show filled with important lessons about friendship, authenticity, and taking accountability. Throughout the show, characters navigate their identities, going from changing parts of themselves to belong, to living as and embracing the unique individuals they are.
Hores encourages students, staff and community to attend. “We have a very hard working, talented student body, and they deserve to have the best audiences,” Hores said.
Audience members who want to walk away from a performance singing catchy tunes and quoting iconic lines, won’t want to miss Weir’s Mean Girls Jr: The Musical show.
Students who wish they had auditioned for the show can always look ahead to future performances.
“Every year we are hoping to grow the musical. This year we had a lot of new students audition and sign-up to work backstage. It is our hope to continue to see this growth every year and grow our all inclusive musical family,” said Hores.
“It’s so fun to do, and if you’re thinking about doing it, just do it. I regret not doing it in my other years,” Stewart said.
