On May 17th and 18th, Kent hosted its annual spring musical. Each year, the spring musical is something that everyone anticipates. Just like this year, one week before the Mean Girls performance, everyone on campus was excited, and Mean Girls became a popular dining topic, particularly since the play’s plot, in which a new student faces social hierarchies, peer pressure, and gossip, is easily relatable to high school students. 

The preparation required actors’ time management skills, their devotion, and most importantly, their passion. Nina Barshai, who played Mrs. Heron, said, “At first, it was overwhelming. There were a lot of fast-paced scenes and emotional switches. I practiced by running lines with friends, recording myself, and even saying them while doing chores so I’d remember them under pressure.” 

Carter McCabe expressed his happiness when he received the news that he would be Aaron; he said, “I was so excited and happy, I immediately called my parents and told them how thrilled I was. I remember right after I got the email, I started learning all of my songs and my scenes.” Indeed, his passion on stage, and that of all the performers, impacted every audience member in the Mattison Auditorium: the performance received loud and long standing ovations both nights. 

Another magical aspect of this musical is that it was performed by a very diverse group of actors, many of whom were also involved in other activities on campus. We saw rowers act as math teachers, football players as language teachers, and even faculty members’ children as lions, giraffes, and monkeys. Said McCabe,  “We had students from all over Kent, from people who have been doing the musical since freshman year to completely new people, and of course, football players who were recruited by Coach Martin.” 

During practice and rehearsal, students came together as a community and created a bond of togetherness: an example, perhaps, of just how great high school musicals can be.