***William Ly is a participant of The Kewanee Voice Student Journalism Program, funded by the Harry Anderson Memorial Trust.
Clear your schedules and mark your calendars because Kewanee High School is bringing the iconic Mean Girls Musical to Petersen Auditorium next weekend.
The cast will perform twice for the public, first on Saturday, Jan. 18 at 7 p.m., and then on Sunday, Jan. 19 at 2 p.m.
Tickets will be available at the door at $5 per person. Sales begin one hour before the performance, and seating opens 30 minutes before the show begins.
Mean Girls takes place at the fictional North Shore High School in Evanston, Ill. The musical follows Cady Heron as she begins her first experience of public school after moving from Africa. Heron learns that high school is a little more than books and classes.
KHS Director and Academic Advisor Heather Olalde noted that senior Julia Pendergrass, the actress portraying Cady Heron, brings the character to life “flawlessly.” Olalde thoughtfully paired Pendergrass’s talents during casting, as senior Trivian Massens, an ILMEA All-State Choir qualifier, stepped forward to act as Heron’s love interest in the musical, Aaron Samuels.
Similarly, the iconic Plastics are played by talented theatre veterans. Regina George is played by senior Claire Olalde, who has been in multiple productions and has recently qualified for the ILMEA All-State Choir alongside Massens. Abigail Wyant plays Gretchen Weiners, Regina George’s loyal friend. Olalde also described senior Elizabeth Pratt’s depiction of Karen Smith, the final member of the Plastics, as “perfection.”
Damian Hubbard (played by sophomore Marcos Torres) and Janis Sarkisian (played by senior Marlee Bates) act as Cady’s guides in and out of the high school. The team of brutally honest best friends are a duo to look out for and bring passion and power to their time on stage.
In terms of the musical’s impact, Olalde stressed that the message is “relevant and relatable” to students in the show and those she encourages to attend a performance next week.
Olalde settled on Mean Girls to reflect the considerable talent within Kewanee’s theater program. She knew she would need skilled and experienced leaders who could “fill the shoes of the talented class” that came before them.
“I chose Mean Girls for this year’s musical because I have a talented group of girls who can handle the vocal demands of this show. Plus the Mean Girls film has proven itself to have some of the best quotable one-liners in cinematic history. The film is iconic, and setting it to music only adds to its impact,” Olalde said.
Olalde stressed that she could not lead this show alone. She thanks Sue Blake and Suzanne Burkhart for the making of “yet another dynamic set.” (Blake and Burkhart were also in charge of the stunning set of SpongeBob the Musical in 2024). Talent wise, she applauded music director and Kewanee instructor Katie Bartok for the “remarkably prepared” freshmen class.
As the show dates quickly approach, the musical’s cast and crew feel as excited and reflective as their director.
Bates, who plays Janis Sarkisian, landed a lead role in the musical after only one year of theatre. She decided to join to “get more involved” and has never looked back since. Bates’s favorite part of the production has been the “energetic environment.”
“Whether we’re dancing, singing, or acting, it’s always exciting to experience it with a great group of people,” Bates said.
Bates said that “playing this role has been very out of character for me, but it has been very fun to go outside my comfort zone.” She thanked the staff, cast, crew, and pit orchestra for their dedication and is happy she gets to end her senior year as Janis Sarkisian.
Pratt, the actress bringing Karen Smith to the stage, has been in a KHS musical since her freshman year. She appreciates her character’s lovable qualities and has had a lot of fun exaggerating her lines and expressions.
During her four years in the musical program, Pratt has made lifelong friendships and memories. tons of friends and life-long memories. Her favorite part of Mean Girls is the “iconic characters, humorous lines, and catchy songs.”
“Performing can be stressful and overwhelming, but I know that in the end it is worth it,” said Pratt.
Like her cast and crew, Olalde recognized the demands of directing another KHS production and the benefits of doing so.
“Year after year, my favorite part of any production is seeing the performers come alive when they finally get an audience reaction. Practicing to empty seats night after night makes it difficult to know what parts of a show are successful, but that first laughter or audible gasp or sad sniffle–it always ignites a creative fire in our students. Suddenly the performance becomes fresh and new, and we strive to hear you cackling in your seats,” Olalde said.
Each year, the musical comes together thanks to Kewanee’s dedicated staff, students, and community members. Make sure to come out, experience the fruits of their labor and enjoy this “fetch” production of Mean Girls.
Seniors:
Julia Pendergrass – Cady Heron
Trivian Massens – Aaron Samuels
Claire Olalde – Regina George
Elizabeth Pratt – Karen Smith
Marlee Bates – Janis Sarkisian
Tessa Mitchell – Miss Norbury
Shawn Roller – Coach Carr
Emily Witte – Mrs. George
Chase Palm – Flex/Assistant director
Jacie Hinton – Crew
Faith Frykman – Crew
Gabe Anderson – Crew
Rebeca Corral – Light Booth
Brennyn Ford – Pit Orchestra
Dillon Price – Pit Orchestra
Garrett Komnick – Pit Orchestra
Quentin Bloome – Pit Orchestra
William Ly – Pit Orchestra
