'So Fetch': Mean Girls musical at Ballston Spa High School this Thursday to Sunday

Four young performers on stage, one singing — PHOTOGRAPHER: Erica Miller

(L-R) Maddie Burns as Cady Heron, Katie Benanto as Gretchen Wieners, Rachel Camille as Regina George and Samantha Zavadil as Karen Smith, during dress rehearsal of ‘Mean Girls’ at Ballston Spa High School recently

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BALLSTON – Ballston Spa High School’s Troupe will perform “Mean Girls — High School Edition” this weekend.

“Mean Girls” will be performed at the Ballston Spa High School Auditorium Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets will be available at the door and are $10 for adults and $5 for students.

“One of the main reasons we chose this show is because it is related to the kids,” said director Matt Lopez. “They really came up to the plate when we asked them to talk about really sensitive topics, like bullying and body image. They’ve taken a lot on themselves and we’ve discussed things like that, and they are just through the roof professional.”

The show is very topical for middle and high school students, said Lopez.

“I have a middle-school daughter, and to go through what they’re going through is tough,” Lopez said. “It has a great message and when I was deciding to do the show I reached out to a lot of schools across the country, and one of the great points is you need to go through some of the muck, and some of the negativity to get to the positive message at the end of this show.”

The musical is based on the 2004 movie starring Lindsey Lohan and Rachel McAdams. It’s based on the screenplay written by Tina Fey that was inspired by the book, “Queen Bees and Wannabes,” by Rosalind Wiseman.

The musical follows the character Cady Heron as she transitions from her homeschooled education in Africa to a public high school in Illinois, and finds herself navigating cliques and popularity.

The musical has over 80 students involved this year, Lopez said.

Juniors and real-life best friends Benjamin Ferrara, 16, and Fiona Hughes, 16, say they are very excited to play best friends Janis and Damian on stage.

“We have loved this musical forever,” Ferrara said. “We are best fiends and we have always wanted to play Damian and Janis because in the musical they are best friends too.”

A lot of teenagers can relate to the musical because they know the movie, Ferrara said.

“It’s really upbeat and lively, and relatable,” Ferrara said.”

The show has a lot of opportunities for different people, Hughes said.

“We’re all such a family, a community, getting to do it all together, it’s just really fun to work as a team,” Hughes said.

Being in the show has been a blessing, said senior Rachel Camilli, 17, who plays Regina George.

“It’s all really fun, the songs and the dancing,” Camilli said. “ It’s really different from what our high school has done before.”

The show has a good message, and is fun at the same time, said junior Katie Benanto, 17, who plays Gretchen Wieners

“I think ‘Mean Girls’ has a really good message that’s easier to convey to a younger audience,” Benanto said. “Sometimes when you do a more classic show, it’s harder to relate with the audience.”

Senior Samantha Zavadil, 17, who plays Karen Smith, said this was the first high school musical she has performed in.

“When I heard that it was ‘Mean Girls,’ I’d been wanting to be a part of a show like that for years. I’ve always loved the soundtrack,” said Zavadil. “So, to have the chance to be able to perform in it was amazing. “