“13 The Musical”

Highly Recommended **** What would you expect to see at a theater if you were told that the show had nothing but teen-agers in it? Would you anticipate a “coming of age” story with comic touches that is filled with heart and valuable life-lessons? Probably not! But when a play such as “13 The musical” with a book by Dan  Elish and Robert Horn and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown hits the stage, it is intense and yet fun!

Leave it to the ladies of The Performer’s School  to bring this show to our area and do so with a cast of 7th and 8th graders and a touch of freshmen- a solid cast performed tonight ( as did the other cast yesterday). Yes, Stacey Flaster ( director) and Liz Fauntleroy ( Music Director) along with Choreographer Laura Savage ( who many know from area productions) have put a tremendous, powerful show on the stage of The Skokie Theatre in Skokie. I was there to watch one of my grandchildren in action. During rehearsals, I would ask questions and never was given answers. Sarah wanted me to learn the whole story when it was a finished product. I appreciate that, and because I was so mezmerized by what these young people put on the stage, felt the need to tell others about it.

The story is about a young New York boy, Evan ( a powerful character building work by Ethan Michaels) who is being moved from his “big Apple” life, right before his Bar Mitzvah ( coming of age) to Appleton, Indiana. His parents are divorced and his mother feels that this is the only way to survive. A 13 year old boy leaving all his childhood friends, his city, his father and what he might think of as his very existence. Would he make friends in Appleton? How would he fit in? Would he be able to be a Bar Mitzvah in this small town in Indiana?

The play and songs take us through these trials and tribulations of a young man coming to terms with the changes that have been thrust upon him. He does make friends. But, are they the “right” friends?  Patrice ( Noa Levin shines inn this role) is the girl that likes him, but seems to be hated by the entire class, except  Archie ( the adorable and funny Michael Bowman) who is on crutches and is the truest of “outcasts” for the class. We learn along the way that Archie and Patrice are probably the truest of people and that most of the others are just hanger-onners, trying to outdo each other and be the best of the best.

Kendra i( Emma Noll)s probably the most popular of the girls and Archie has a deep crush on her, As it turns out, so does Brett (Liam Sheridan) the BMOC ( big man on campus). Evan tries to befriend him in order to  have all the kids come to his Bar Mitzvah party. The ups and downs of the friendship(s) and how each character comes to grips with their lives and their relationships is what this play is all about. As I said, heartwarming, funny and possibly a tear will fall from your eye as it did mine during the actual Bar Mitzvah scene.

One of the other main characters in this play is the “slut” Lucy ( Izzi Malkin) who wants Brett, no matter what! The ensemble is terrific ( again all of htem teens), and this play cannot work without them so here they are: Mia Faccihini, Lily Katz, Sarah Shaw ( this one is my granddaughter), Phoebe Berkowitz, Harry Shapiro, Dylan Erlich, Levi Agay, Kae Busse, Haden Myers , Samantha Abrams, Sloan Berman, Keya Fowler, Gabi Katz, Cameron Handmaker, Samantha Koerner, Ava Migdal, Eily Nelson, Natalie Ortega, Natasha Winters, Miranda Winters, Naiya Stavropoulis Wintroub and Sydney Vignocchi ( also the dance captain).

There is also a Purple Cast on alternate performances, but Archie and Evan and some others are in both. Ali Gregorio, Lauren Hanson, Siena Fischetti, Mia Faccihini, Rachel Bass, Melanie May, Annie Shulman, Jack Solinger, Ben Bass, Sam Rose, Levi Agay, Kae Busse, Lucian Gutfraynd, Josie Wendt, Becca Atlas, Sofia Bender, Eden Stolarsky, Giona Brownstein, Natalie Leshtz, Audrry Lissner, Nicole Port, Ella Raff, Lindsay Rice, Carly Silverman, Maya Schmitz (dance captain) and Miranda Winters.

I am sure that as they hit high school and beyond, some of these young talents will pursue theater careers- so you may be seeing them in the future.

It is just this week-end

Saturday the 11th  3 p.m.  PINK Cast-  7:30 p.m.  Purple Cast

Sunday the 12th    1 p.m.  Purple Cast  5 p.m. Pink Cast

visit www.theperformersschool.com or www.skokietheatre.org

Skokie Theatre is located at 7924 N. Lincoln Avenue in Skokie with lots of free parking.