Local high school students are making final preparations for their production of Mean Girls High School Version, based on the movie written by Tina Fey of Saturday Night Live fame.
The Korah Collegiate and Vocational School production will be put on by Bobbi-Leigh Gasparelli, who took over as head of the musical theatre program after the retirement of Denine Williams.
Gasparelli noted that she started her career as a teacher at Korah in 1998 as a maternity leave replacement for Williams, who was head of the program even back then.
"So my first year as a teacher here I was to come into the program to teach music and teach musical theatre and to direct two shows," said Gasparelli.
Fast forward to last year, when students at the school came to Gasparelli asking if they could put on Mean Girls High School Version, a musical based on the 2004 motion picture written by Faye.
Gasparelli said she had never watched the film, mostly because of the title.
"It's the complete opposite of that. It's about diversity and acceptance in the school and how to handle and navigate those challenges of high school," said Gasparelli, who eventually came around to the idea of presenting it onstage at the school.
"It shows the reality of high school and I think that's what they like about it, that it shows their life," she added.
The musical version offers some flexibility for school groups when it comes to language and themes. Gasparelli said the Korah performances will take advantage of some of the toned-down options made available by the script writers.
"There's nothing that we're presenting on the stage that they don't deal with every day in school, but it shows some coping mechanisms and ways to kind of get around them. It's a cautionary tale," said Gasparelli.
"I have a friend in southern Ontario in a Catholic school who did the show. So I think if if they can do it in a Catholic school, we should be OK," she added.
Two groups of students have been selected for the lead parts and will each have an opportunity to bring their characters to life during different performances, while there is a single ensemble cast for all nine shows.
"They're telling you a great story and they're having fun doing it. I think the audience will have fun with them," Gasparelli said.
Mean Girls High School Version runs from Feb. 19 to 22 at the Korah Collegiate Theatre.
Tickets are $29 for adults and $19 for seniors and students. The show is not recommended for children under 10.