Penn Middle students bring cult classic film turned musical 'Mean Girls Jr.' to stage

Penn Middle School student Felice Hutchison has learned there is more to the movie-turned-musical “Mean Girls” than the title may imply.

Hutchison is one of dozens of Penn Middle students who have rehearsed since November for their performance of “Mean Girls Jr.,” slated for April 25 to 27 in the school’s auditorium.

“The message of the actual show is very beautiful,” said Hutchison, who will portray lead role Cady Heron.

“I think a lot of people, especially middle schoolers our age and even high schoolers, can really learn a lot from this show about how being yourself is better than trying to be anybody else.”

The 2004 cult classic film grossed $130 million worldwide at the box office, and the 2018 musical adaptation ran for about two years on Broadway. The film based on the musical generated about $30 million in box office sales its first weekend.

The junior version of the show is more appropriate for middle school viewers, said Penn Middle Drama Guild Director Maddie Nick. But audiences can still expect many of the classic scenes and lines from from the original film, such as “On Wednesday’s we wear pink” and “That’s so fetch.”

“I think this age group, some of them are a little young for that movie,” Nick said, “so I did often hear ‘I haven’t watched the movie. I’m not allowed to watch the movie.’

“But I think a lot of them were familiar with the music from the Broadway show, because it’s very popular.”

Drama guild rents digital screens for show

The show’s fast pace presents a new challenge for the drama guild, Nick said. Whereas most shows have scene changes at the end of a song, “Mean Girls Jr.” often changes scenes as a song progresses.

That’s why the drama guild is renting LED screen walls that can project various digital backdrops throughout the performance.

The technology assembles into three 10-foot-tall walls that stand at the back of the stage.

“In the beginning when Cady is in Africa, we can have a true Safari landscape on the screen,” Nick said, “but then in the school, maybe there’s a scene where they’re talking about social media. We could make social media posts pop up on it.”

Even with the technological assistance, Nick is proud of her students’ ability to keep up with the brisk plotline.

Because some of the lead roles are double-cast, Nick said the main characters perform in the ensemble on the nights they are not portraying the lead. Aaron Samuels, for example, is portrayed by students Owen Briggs and Bradley Rocca.

“I’ve been really impressed with how our leads and supporting leads have not only learned their lead role,” she said, “but then they also learned a whole other role for their off night.

“That’s very challenging to do, especially with a show like this that’s constantly moving. The plot is always driving forward.”

Actors hope to see hard work pay off

Eight grade actor Faith Palmer hopes audiences see the hard work the cast has put into the production.

“We come here three days a week, maybe three hours a day, and on Saturdays for five hours,” said Palmer, who will portray Janice Ian. “It’s just a lot to take in, and I really want people…to know how much effort we put into this.”

Briggs, who will portray Aaron Samuels, is excited to see the cast’s six months of rehearsals pay off.

“It will feel incredible once this thing is done,” said Briggs, who has balanced practices for two sports with show rehearsals this school year. “I think the show is going to be incredible.”