By: Annalisa Fletcher & Daniel Manetin

Later this Friday, IA’s Drama Club will be featuring “Mean Girls,” a musical that will feature the club’s restless preparation and teamwork behind the scenes. Not only will it present weeks of collaboration and effort among students working as performers or designers, but the musical will also be a spectacle to show the intertwined coordination that goes on behind the curtains to bring a layout to life.

The Drama Club relies mainly on a structure to keep operations going smoothly, while still encouraging the creativity and teamwork that keeps it running. As explained by rising club president Ayden Mathews [11], “We have our leaders, we have our president, vice president, a social media manager, our secretary, and our design team coordinator.” Members contribute in various ways, all of which will help shape the final product, whether it’s designing scenes or spreading the word. “Right now, for Mean Girls, we’re making things for our show, like little bracelets,” Ayden added, “and we’re talking around about things we’re excited about.” At the same time, strong commitment is expected from all members to ensure that every production comes together cleanly and seamlessly. While there is room for error, consistency is mandatory, and “you need to be taking your stuff that you’re learning on stage and bringing it home.”

According to director, Amy Lemon, the goal wasn’t to put on just another copy of the musical, but instead make it feel like it represents our school. She says,“…Innovation Academy isn’t exactly typical, so I wanted to focus more on what makes Cady different. She reflects our students more than Regina does. I wanted the show to emphasize respect for others and not leaving people out.” This version definitely gives the show a more relatable feel and provides a unique take for those who already are familiar with the plot. A significant factor into this production is also how much of it is student-driven. This collaborative approach allows IA students to take on real responsibility in building the show from the ground up, for example in areas like choreography. Ms. Lemon explained, “Our seniors actually choreographed everything themselves. They put together all the choreography and taught it to the cast. It’s very high-energy and fun, and they really took ownership of it.” Because of this, the performance carries a different kind of energy, one that is made from the students own creativity instead of strictly following a pre-set version.

Even with all the structure and planning, rehearsals aren’t all serious. Theres a lighter side that helps cast and crew bond. For example, taking the time to check-in and chat about their day and participating in fun warm-ups are things that make rehearsals even more enjoyable.

Of course, putting on a production like this isn’t smooth-sailing throughout. Behind the scenes students have to find a way to balance after school rehearsals with schoolwork and other responsibilities, which adds another layer of challenge to the process. Ms. Lemon acknowledged this and said, “The biggest challenge is definitely the time… it requires a lot more commitment and balancing it with everything else.” However, its this level of dedication that makes the final result stand out since every scene and footstep reflects months of collaboration and hard work.

Joining drama is such a great opportunity because it puts you in a different space from your everyday life. Drama Club president, Claire Parry[12], shared “ I really loved the friendships I made and all the time I got to spend with everyone along the way!” That being said, that connection and energy be spotlighted by our very own Mean Girls cast and crew starting opening night this Friday!