Update on "Mean Girls"

by Hannah Fineman, SSLI '25

This year’s Drama Club production is the Mean Girls musical by Tina Fey. The musical is quickly approaching and will be brought to life on April 4 and 7. In the meantime, the cast has been tirelessly working on their lines, songs, and choreography to master this production before they present it to the Schechter community.

Ms. Weston, the director of the play, explained that the musical is about high school students finding their individuality in a setting where stereotypes are prevalent.

For the first time since restructuring the drama department, there is an assistant director for the musical. This role is filled by sophomore Shir Levenson. She said her role is to “work with her [Ms. Weston] on any of the administrative and behind-the-scenes stuff that we need to do to get the show going.” Levenson elaborated, “For example, I was working on gathering people’s costumes, their biographies for the playbill, and making the flyer. I also take notes during rehearsals and do the music.”

Two leading members of the cast, Samson Mildron and Layna Botwinick, shared that they have been practicing their lines at home for rehearsals to run smoothly. Levenson added, “There are a few songs that have been going really well because each person knows their part and has been getting it right.” She later emphasized that “each person‘s contributions are super important to the show as a whole.”

 

The cast is working hard on the show! (J. Weston) 

Clearly, memorizing lines and songs at home has been paying off. However, Botwinick expressed her concerns about the choreography: “I think we tend to forget it a little bit too easily because a lot is going on with the lines in the song, so I think we need to focus more on choreography and blocking.”

“What needs more work is just our need to go over the scenes more,” added Mildron. “We need to lock in.”

Weston explained that the cast plans to have all of the musical off script and choreographed by March 18. She shared that what is left to be worked on before that deadline is “finishing up the choreography, the blocking, working on polishing up dance numbers, and then collectively, we are working on our vocals, our harmonies, of course, the dance numbers…and getting off script as soon as possible.”

With the approach of both the March 18 deadline and the show dates, there are many emotions running through the actors. Botwinick shared, “I am really nervous…. This is probably the biggest part I’ve ever had, so I’m quite nervous, but I’m also really excited because I’m not going through this alone. Everybody has their own part to play, and that’s what’s really special.”

“One month away from the play, [and] I’m a little nervous,” explained Mildron. “I feel like we have a lot of work that we need to get done, and I’m a little nervous in that regard. But I have a steadfast hope that my kehila [community], Mean Girls actors, and everyone involved, will work together and pull together this beautiful play.”

Despite the actors' nerves, both the assistant director and director have faith in the progress of the musical. Levenson explained, “I’m really looking forward to the show because I think it’s going to be a lot of fun and the audience will enjoy it. Each of the actors really gets into their roles and makes it enjoyable to watch even at the rehearsals.”

Weston concluded, “The students are phenomenal. The singing is unbelievable…Our dance numbers are really coming along, and [I am] just excited for the school, and for the parents, and for everyone to see this production. I'm really proud of the time, the effort, and dedication that the…high school drama students have really put into this. It’s going to be unbelievable.”

Hannah Fineman is a writer for Paw Print Now and has been published on the site since November 2021. Hannah is currently a junior at the Schechter School of Long Island and can be reached at the following email address: hfineman25@schechterli.org