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DIRECTOR'S NOTES

High School. Full of high hopes and big feelings, butterflies and crushing breakups, loneliness and togetherness, friends and frenimies. Folks can be cruel, judgemental, or downright mean. And in that spiral of surviving day to day classes, looks at lunch, and finding your place in any arts, activities, or athletics, you might meet your best friend, confidante, and biggest cheerleader. Or it might wind up being the toughest years of your life instead of some of the best memories.

Everyone contributes to the culture of any high school. No one person is charged with creating a space that includes everyone, regardless of their skin color, gender identity, economic background, abilties, or any other definiting characteristic by which humans categorize one another. We all belong as we are. Our company's production team both on stage and off is a reflection of the culture we want to see. Full inclusion.

At first, I didn't think this title would be the right fit for this season. The more I looked at other options, I listened to students mention the title in conversations at lunch, quotes from the show appeared in our halls as part of last year's kindness campaign for leadership, and students played the music backstage during our other shows, I thought I should take another look. I'm very glad that I did. With full support from our enthusiastic admin, who said, "I love Mean Girls!", I decided it was the show for us.

The story is framed as a "cautionary tale" from the outset. We are warned about the negative consequences of certain behaviors that get out of control through exaggerated circumstances and a big lesson learned by everyone involved. We know it's what "not" to do. And we're here for it.

It is couched in comedy by the incredibly talented Tina Fey, who wrote the script with high school theatre departments in mind as the place where this musical would continue to live once it finished its run on Broadway.

I was lucky enough to be in New York attending the Broadway Teachers Workshop several summers ago, learning about techniques and teaching tools I took back to my classroom. Part of the experience included seeing shows on Broadway, of which Mean Girls was one. I wasn't sure what to expect, but after the show, I was standing and cheering; it was incredible. I thought to myself, "I know some high schools will want to produce this title once it becomes available." Little did I know that would be me. As a bonus, one of the workshops was lead by Jonalyn Saxer, the Dance Captain in Mean Girls on Broadway. She was so energetic, patience, and kind. It's the kindness I remember most. In only an hour of her workshop, we all felt it.

Life is challenging. So much is happening around the globe and across our country that reflects the same bullying, cruel, judgemental, and mean behavior we've seen in high school. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Ultimately, the musical is really about learning about being true to yourself and kind to one another. Let's take this cautionary tale, learn the lesson, and turn it around. I challenge all of us to be KIND. Even when someone is having a bad day, be kind. If someone is being mean, be kind. If things are rough, be kind. Kindness boosts mental health, reduces conflict, and makes "connections", our theme this theatre season. So re-connect with kindness. You won't regret it.

"You will never regret being kind." (Unknown)   

--jo director

Upcoming Roosevelt HS Opening Act Theatre Company productions in our "Connections" 2025-2026 season:

Senior Shorts: senior-written and directed one-act play festival

Thurs. May 7 at 7:00 P.M.

Tickets at https://www.roosevelttheatre.org/buy-tickets