The rollercoaster of emotions that in many ways defines the high school experience is making a stop on the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre (NACC) stage next week.

The laughter, tears and drama will then leap into action during Ecole St. Patrick High SchoolSA国际影视传媒檚 Drama Club presentation of Mean Girls Jr. SA国际影视传媒� the musical made famous by its author SA国际影视传媒� Saturday Night Live personality Tina Fey.

Emma Smith, St. PatSA国际影视传媒檚 drama teacher, is reigning in the talent for the production and said about 40 cast and crew are participating in the play that is an age-friendly and SA国际影视传媒榡uniorSA国际影视传媒� version of the original Broadway production deemed SA国际影视传媒渁 bit scandalousSA国际影视传媒�.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 Tina Fey, right?,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淪o itSA国际影视传媒檚 well written and thereSA国际影视传媒檚 some great one liners. (ItSA国际影视传媒檚) one of the ways to address something serious like that - through the lens of comedy.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a fun show and itSA国际影视传媒檚 good for all ages.SA国际影视传媒�

The play delves into the high school life of a girl from Kenya who must move to the United States and then try to fit in to the social circles that exist.

SA国际影视传媒淚t really shines a spotlight on how hard it is to be a teenager, how hard it is to be in a high school, how hard it is to fit in and to find your voice, and to integrate into finding a friend group. And how easy it is to get sucked into making bad choices and to be mean,SA国际影视传媒� Smith said.

Professional production

The students have been working hard building sets, creating props and costumes, and practicing their acting since the end of September, Smith noted, adding that they are gaining valuable experience in different aspects of theatre production.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have a student running the lights, I have a student running the sounds. I have a student running the fly (system). I have a student as a stage manager, I have students as the assistant stage managers, all the runners are students,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

Hannah Janes, a student choreographer and the schoolSA国际影视传媒檚 music teacher, Shelley Lavoy, also play an integral role in helping ensure the production runs smoothly, she said.

SA国际影视传媒淲hen St. PatSA国际影视传媒檚 drama goes on stage and opens that curtain, Miss Smith sits in the audience. I like to make sure that my students get the opportunity to really build and run it themselves.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檓 there the whole way and you know, make it happen. But once the wheels are rolling, itSA国际影视传媒檚 their show. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not the one on stage. And thatSA国际影视传媒檚 kind of part of my teaching philosophy, that I really want students to solve the problems,SA国际影视传媒� Smith said.

In the spotlight

Not only have the students been learning the ropes in what it takes to be part of a theatre production, they are learning it can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience overall.

Grade 9 student Mikaella Salvador was a drama stage crew member last year who this year decided to try acting for the first time. She said she is enjoying every moment of the experience.

SA国际影视传媒淟ast year, I really wanted to audition, but I was a bit scared because I was a tiny 8th grader, but this year I wanted to switch. I enjoy getting to be on stage,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

For students Cassidy Comeau and Veronica Leonardis, it was the overall experience of learning and doing what they enjoy the most.

SA国际影视传媒淚 always really liked doing drama since I was in Grade 8, but (itSA国际影视传媒檚) the people, the environment, and I have always really liked singing and dancing and there is all of that here,SA国际影视传媒� Comeau said.

It has been the interaction with others that Leonardis said helped boost her confidence.

SA国际影视传媒淭he joy and singing and how we have fun on stage and itSA国际影视传媒檚 working together and itSA国际影视传媒檚 really good - I hope they see that,SA国际影视传媒� she said of the audience.

SA国际影视传媒淛ust the joy on our faces of how we act and perform the show for others. I hope they watch the Mean Girls play,SA国际影视传媒� she added.

Smith said the group has been very dedicated to the project, even though some of students working in backstage production will miss the play due to the Arctic Winter Games tryouts being held concurrently.

As for the storyline, Smith said it contains a SA国际影视传媒済ood message at the end of the day.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 about how important it is to be true to yourself and how getting caught up in drama and being mean really doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 make you a good person and it doesnSA国际影视传媒檛 help you in the end.SA国际影视传媒�

The show runs from Dec. 14 to 16 as well as during a Saturday matinee at NACC.