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‘Mean Girls’ takes the stage starting Thursday

By Ayanna Eckblad

Albert Lea High School’s fall musical will debut this week with a show that is familiar to students and adults alike.

“Mean Girls: High School Version” will play at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium. This play is rated PG-13.

Based on the 2004 film of the same name, “Mean Girls” tells the story of Cady Heron, a 16-year-old girl trying to navigate the ups and downs of American high school after she and her scientist parents move from Africa. Along the way, Cady meets new friends Damien Hubbard and Janis Sarkisian. She also catches the attention of the school’s top “mean girl,” Regina George.

ALHS Spanish teacher Mary Schoppers is the director of the play this year. Although she has previously worked in choreography for past musicals, this is her first time directing one. Schoppers said she saw the musical for the first time about four years ago and has been wanting to bring it to the ALHS stage ever since. For her, she said, the play is about more than catchy songs and witty jokes — it teaches valuable morals to students in a way they can relate to.

“I thought about all the kids that have auditioned over the years, and I thought ‘We need a show that these kids can really connect with and learn a lesson from,’” Schoppers said.

She added preparing for the show has been quite a process. Because the show has a lot of freshman and sophomore roles, Schoppers said she has enjoyed giving the underclassmen time to show off their skills and has let them help with things like choreography and direction.

With a large cast and many different set changes, there are a lot of moving parts to keep track of. However, that is not the only challenge presented by the play.

“This show deals with real high school issues, so language and bullying and all of that. So that was kind of a hard thing to tackle and say, ‘How do we do this in a positive way that they can learn from it?’”

She said she hopes the show prompts families to talk about the issues in the play that they themselves might also be facing.

“I also want this to be an avenue for conversations at home, to talk about these things, to talk about these issues and really get down to the nitty gritty of what parents don’t want to see their kids doing,” Schoppers said.

The show’s main character, Cady, is played by senior Bailey Abrego.

Abrego said she has been acting for about seven years.

Prior to working on the musical this year, Abrego said she had not seen the movie “Mean Girls.” Being in the play, she added, has turned her into a fan.

Abrego describes her character as someone who just wants to fit in.

“She meets Damien and Janis, and they become friends, and they want to send Cady to go spy on Regina and Karen and Gretchen, which are the Plastics,” she said. “She gets too into the character and actually ends up becoming a mean girl.”

Abrego said she thinks it is cool to be a part of the first PG-13 play at the high school.

Although Abrego is somewhat new to the “Mean Girls” franchise, junior Kylie Lee has been a fan for a long time. Lee plays the role of Regina George.

“[Regina’s] very mean. She’s like the predator of the school,” Lee said. “She’s very sassy, very demanding.”

Lee said this was a dream role that she has wanted to play for a long time, and she is excited to get the opportunity to fulfill that dream.

“I’m very grateful for this role,” she said.

Lee has been acting in high school theater since ninth grade and has been involved with community theater since third grade.

Sophomore Connor Hanson has also been acting a long time. In “Mean Girls,” he plays Damien Hubbard, a boy who befriends Cady at the beginning of the show.

“He’s meant to be … more flamboyant,” Hanson said. “He’s seen some things, so to speak, so that’s been fun.”

Hanson has previously been involved with high school theater and Albert Lea Community Theater. A highlight, he said, was playing the Scarecrow in the school’s production of “The Wizard of Oz” last year.

Tickets for “Mean Girls: High School Version” are $8 for adults and $6 for students. Tickets can be purchased at the door. This year, Schoppers said the school is not taking passes or cash, so tickets will need to be purchased using electronic payment only.

Those who would like to get tickets in advance can do so by downloading the GoFan app or by going to GoFan.co and locating Albert Lea High School from there.

“[Seats] are not reserved so you want to get here early and get good seats,” Schoppers said.

Cast
Main characters
Cady Heron: Bailey Abrego
Janis Sarkisian: Adele Helleksen
Damian Hubbard: Connor Hanson
Aaron Samuels: Kuol Dual
Regina George: Kylie Lee
Gretchen Wieners: Jaelani William
Karen Smith: Mayzie Paulson

Calculus class
Kevin Gnapoor: Jackson Bighley
Shane Oman: Given Saw
Sonja Acquino: Paige Anstine Oroco
Dawn Schweitzer: Myla Wright
Sophie K.: Keisha Navarrete
Jason W.: Isaac Lowe
Tyler K.: Alister Hites
Martin J.: Ian Taylor
Glenn Cocco: Nataleigh Nelson

Marymount Mathletes
Isaac Lowe: Captain
Evalyn Holcomb: Caroline K.
Given Saw
Paige Anstine-Orosco

Ensemble
Jacie Eaton
Sophie Guthmiller
Bailey Lowe
Abigail Miller
Miriam Oo
Issabelle Steele

Named students
Taylor Wedell: Chaise Harmdierks
Caitlyn Caussin: Avery White
Rachel Hamilton: Mint (Ta Wah)
Lizzie Therman: Nora Smith
Grace A.: Sophie Guthmiller
Christian Wiggins: Isaac Lowe
Teary girl: Staysha Christiensen

Adults and teachers
Ms. Norbury: Eh (Taw) Snow
Mr. Duvall: Hit Blu Thaw
Mrs. George: Maddie Balthazor
Mr. Heron: Albert Bierman
Mrs. Heron: Katelyn Schmidt
Coach Carr: Albert Bierman
Mr. Buck: Isaac Lowe
French Teacher: Kaylee Verness
Mathlete Moderator: Katelyn Schmidt