RCS Presents: Mean Girls the Musical!
As the winter cold settles in, the Riverdale Upper School presents this year’s Musical: Mean Girls!
Riverdale’s musical production this year is based on the movie Mean Girls, which is an American teen comedy written by Tina Fey in 2004. Mean Girls explores a multitude of themes that occur throughout traditional high school life: cliques, identity, power dynamics, first crushes; you name it. The story begins with protagonist Cady Heron, who, after being homeschooled her whole life in Africa, begins her first day at Northshore High School. Cady is initially put down by her classmates and teachers, but fortunately, she befriends Janis Lan and Damian Leigh, social outcasts plotting their revenge on popular girl Regina George and her two minions, Karen and Gretchen, collectively called “The Plastics”.
Not only is the plot compelling and entertaining but the upcoming RCS Mean Girls musical is made even more special by the fact that it is composed of our friends and peers as they sing and dance through it! The songs, unlike in the movie, add a layer of depth to the characters, whether it be an opening (introduction), ballad (slow and emotional), comedy (exaggerated and playful), or a showstopper (for climaxes).
Copious hours of rehearsal have been put into preparing for production. After auditions, cast members are given their independent roles; they also learn their lyrics and choreography. “For each song, we start with learning the music, and then we learn the dance to it, then put it [all together],” said sophomore Emily Van who plays Ms. Norbury, a precalculus teacher. “We separately have been doing in-between scenes [not musical numbers] as well, making sure everyone knows where on the stage they could stand.”
Memorization is a key component of any musical production, requiring hours of practice in and out of rehearsal. Every ensemble member has their own way of memorizing their lines. Ensemble Member Sophomore Olivia Kaplan, who plays a moderator in a math competition, has her own strategies: “I know some people who use flashcards, but I [find it] easier to take a chunk and recite it in my head and out loud and drill it over and over and over again. It’s really just practicing, practicing, practicing.” Junior Rebecca Pepin, who plays Gretchen, expresses what she finds most challenging in acting: “Because the show is contemporary, I’ve had to step out of who I am and make a different character - Gretchen - and not Rebecca & Gretchen.”
While memorizing lines is important, teamwork and cooperation are arguably even more important in order to have successful rehearsals and performances. “There’s so much going on; it’s unpredictable. Somebody might forget their line, and it might be a key point in the show, so improvising [is important],” Van said. “It’s kind of stressful. There are always times when something goes a little bit wrong, and then you have to work off script.” Pepin shares a similar perspective on improvisation: “If the other person is messing up or I forget a line, [I still have to keep] the scene going physically at least, instead of [breaking character].” However, not all mistakes are unwelcome; they can give way to lasting moments in a performance. “I find in every show there’s nothing as memorable as a mistake that someone managed to fix,” said Van.
Though time is tight and production requires many moving parts working together, the ensemble is proud and thrilled of their work. “Right now, I’m really enjoying having more dialogue. [I can] step back and see the dancing when I’m not in it, and see the production come together,” said Pepin. “I also just love the role of what I’m playing. It’s been really fun to learn the lines and try to make it my own.”
Our fellow students are the heart of this musical, and they are putting a staggering amount of effort into it. Mean Girls will be performed on Friday, February 28th at 3:00 pm and Saturday, March 1st at both 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Come support your friends and peers and watch a thrilling, breathtaking, and amazing winter performance!
