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Hancock County High stages teen musical ‘Mean Girls’ March 20-22
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By Jennifer Wimmer
Hancock County High School theater will stage the high school version of “Mean Girls” under the direction of Kenneth Basham, chorus and theater director at Hancock County Middle and High School.
Public performances at HCHS are set for March 20-22. Showtimes are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 3 p.m. Sunday. A special in-school show is planned for HCMS and HCHS students on Thursday, March 19.
“Mean Girls High School Version” is a school edition of the Broadway musical based on the 2004 film written by Tina Fey. The plot centers on Cady Heron, a teenager who moves from Africa and adapts to the social rules at North Shore High, where a clique called “the Plastics” sets the tone.
“Mean Girls High School Version” is a school edition of the Broadway musical based on the 2004 film written by Tina Fey. The plot centers on Cady Heron, a teenager who moves from Africa and adapts to the social rules at North Shore High, where a clique called “the Plastics” sets the tone.
The adaptation keeps the show’s contemporary songs by Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin and its smart, fast-paced humor and themes of identity, bullying and belonging while scaling back some of the original content.
“It is a much more family friendly version of the original Broadway show,” Basham said. “It is still the show you know and love but edited to be presentable to our community.”
About 50 students are involved, most of them in high school, along with three sixth graders, six seventh graders and six eighth graders. The director noted that he is working to get more middle school students invested in the high school program this year through opportunities to perform alongside high school cast members.
Principal characters include Cady Heron, played by Emma Weedman and eighth-grade alternate Brenda Morris. Regina George is played by Miriam Hall and Lariah Lee Calhoun, an alternate. The roles of Janis Sarkisian, Damian Hubbard and Aaron Samuels are played by Rylann Kessans, Lacy Miller and Noah Johnson, respectively.
“Each of these students has put in countless hours of script work, including NTI work days because of snow and illness,” Basham said. “We are running each main scene twice to accommodate multiple leads. It’s been a bit stressful, but I believe in giving as many qualified students a chance as possible.”
Audiences can expect upbeat, ensemble-driven music, student-led choreography and detailed technical design. He said the music stays close to the Broadway version, with a few lyric changes and added instrumentals for dialogue.
Students led all choreography, directed by Rylann Kessans and Lacy Miller. Saydee Stephens coordinated props and set design with help from Emma Weedman. Lariah Lee Calhoun managed hair, wigs and makeup. Haley Vanatten supervised poster design and social media, and Gavin Smiley learned the light board and helped set scenes. Many other students contributed behind the scenes, Basham said.
Tickets are on sale now. Individual tickets cost $10 and a family package for four is $30. Families can email [email protected] to buy tickets, visit the main office at HCHS or pay at the door.
Posted in Local News 2
