Under the direction of Fine Arts and Psychology Teacher Donna Walker, a cast of 24 middle schoolers performed “13 the Musical” Nov. 9-11.
With music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, “13 the Musical” tells a coming-of-age-story perfect for middle schoolers to tackle.
The musical follows Evan Goldman, played by 8th grader Dalton Joseph, a young man who moves to Appleton, Indiana and starts at a new school. He must deal with his parents’ divorce and prepare for his Bar Mitzvah, all while going through puberty and struggling to find his identity.
One of the first friends Evan makes is his neighbor named Patrice. Played by 6th grader Abigail Thompson, Patrice is a social outcast who warns Evan against hanging with the wrong crowd. The two become friends, but on the first day of school, Evan is more concerned about the “popular” kids coming to his Bar Mitzvah than caring about Patrice’s feelings.
Evan attempts to carry out elaborate plans to win the favor of the popular crowd, including getting the middle schoolers into an R-rated movie, playing matchmaker and offering faulty advice. All the while, he neglects to nurture his relationships with Patrice and Archie, who has a degenerative neuromuscular disorder that causes him to walk with crutches.
Time after time, Evan’s plans fail. Rather than solving problems, he keeps making matters worse. He tears up Patrice’s invitation to his Bar Mitzvah to convince the popular kids to come. He accidentally sets up his friend Kendra with two dates in one night. In the midst of the chaos, Evan finally realizes that being friends with Brett and the other popular kids isn’t worth it. By the end of the musical, Evan becomes a more mature young adult who finally appreciates his true friends and accepts responsibility for his mistakes.
The story teaches many valuable lessons about friendship, forgiveness and loyalty, while addressing issues that many students face, including peer pressure, academic-related stress and finding one’s true self.
The songs in the musical were outstanding. Under the musical direction of local professional Tim Hanes, the middle schoolers’ voices soared. Joseph’s strong vocals were enhanced by the backing of the ensemble, whose harmonies were belted beautifully. The chemistry between Joseph and Thompson was evident, and their duets were both touching and believable.
The comedic elements of the musical made the show especially delightful. 6th grader Ty Lowrey and 7th grader Thomas Kienle provided comic relief during the song, “Hey Kendra,” in which they served as Brett’s wingmen.
Brett, portrayed by 7th grader Carlos O’Connor, also had his fair share of endearing moments. Especially memorable was when, during “Tell Her,” O’Connor started taking notes on his shoes because he ran out of room on his hand.
Other standout moments include “Opportunity,” a dance number that was executed flawlessly. Eighth grader Juliet Myers, who played Lucy, led the girls in a lively, cheerleader-esque routine.
The finale “A Brand New You” perhaps best captured the spirit of 13 the Musical. The entire cast was onstage singing, dancing and having a carefree, great time. It was evident that everyone in the cast was fully invested and had an amazing time performing the show.
The middle school production was maturely carried out and reflected the dedication and focus that each cast member put into the musical.
