Mark Keppel High School’s production of the upcoming spring musical, “Mean Girls,” was invited by the Tournament of Roses to do a 25-minute performance of the spring musical before their executive board in Laguna Cliffs, Pasadena on Saturday, January 27. While the musical is approximately two hours long, the performances that were seen by the Tournament of Roses’ executive board were composed of only 25 minutes, so only snippets and sneak peeks. Twenty-one actors, four tech crew members, and 15 Keppel orchestra members were selected to come along on this special trip to Laguna Cliffs.
TOR (Tournament of Roses) is a special non-profit organization based in Pasadena that has produced and led nationwide celebrations for New Years with their Rose Parade, dating all the way back to 1890, with their flowered floats, and marching bands that dazzle the streets of Pasadena every New Year’s Day. The TOR executive board reached out to Keppel’s theater director, drama teacher, and Theatre Company advisor, Paige Phillips, earlier this year in January, and she was delighted to showcase to the TOR executive board what she, her cast, tech theater, and Keppel’s orchestra have been working on.
Keppel’s spring musical, also Keppel Theatre Company’s final production of the season, is a new take on the widely known 2004 coming-of-age comedy film, “Mean Girls.” It was initially brought to Broadway by Tina Fey in 2018, and has been brought to cinemas once again this past January, however, it will be seen meeting the stage again at Keppel’s auditorium. Keppel’s adaptation of “Mean Girls” will presumably take on a similar script as the Broadway musical, with familiar fan-favorite songs from the musical such as “Sexy,” “Cautionary Tale,” and more.
“Mean Girls” has been a cult classic, and a pop culture fan favorite film since its first opening now 20 years ago, back in 2004. This film has brought countless actors into the spotlight of Hollywood like Amanda Seyfried, and its 2018 Broadway counterpart no doubt did too, showcasing the talents of now well-known singers such as Reneé Rapp. This spring’s new musical is bound to do the same for Keppel’s cast, as it has brought in a new lineup, and new faces who have never before graced the stage in a Keppel musical or play production. The new musical includes seniors, Anthony Lo, Megan Garibay, and sophomore, Ricardo Padillo. Phillips and her students were able to give just a teaser of what they hold in store for us when they performed in front of the Tournament of Roses.
“It’s a lot more fun than I would’ve anticipated,” Garibay delves into her thoughts and approaches to being in her first musical production at Keppel. “It was constantly [laughs] and having a good time. It’s a new environment for me because I’ve never had to act before, but I’m enjoying the process.”
Phillips shares with us what audiences can expect to see in Mean Girls, as well as how this production especially resonates with her. She says, “[Mean Girls] is a story about belonging, about fitting in, it is a story about how we can manipulate and use [others] without even realizing how much damage we’re doing. It’s a story about sometimes just being mean because you can, and that isn’t good, but it’s a fact. I am excited for audiences to see everything. I am excited for them to see the music, the dancing, the singing. I am [just] excited about the story and what the story brings. Everyone who sees the show sees something different. And that’s what’s exciting to me because it engages in ways you don’t expect.”
Keppel’s highly anticipated spring musical production of Mean Girls is currently looking at an opening with select dates this March, including March 8, 9,15, and 16. Pre-order ticket sales have already begun, and are available to purchase at Keppel’s student bank.
