Imagine a teenage girl given to bouts of selfishness and high drama struggling to get along with a mother who is a busy, focused businesswoman.
Now suppose the mother is about to re-marry and the daughter is focused on a school social event that may involve a certain special boy.
Picture a mother and daughter in a typical argument, each claiming the other’s life is so much easier by comparison, when in a moment of magic, they switch places.
Ellison High School Theater is staging Freaky Friday, a hilarious musical that speaks simultaneously to students and their parents and anyone else who enjoys a good laugh.
Shows are set Thursday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Ellison Auditorium. Tickets are $8 for students and EHS staff and $10 for adults, available at the door.
“It’s super student led,” said Ellison Theater Director Hayley Hersey, praising her technical theater students who designed the lighting and built the stage sets.
She also singled out Olivia Hopson, a senior looking to pursue theater in college, who worked as assistant director on the production while playing a large acting role.
“Even more than usual, the kids have been taking the lead on this one.”
“What makes it interesting is that it’s not as popular as some shows, so we get to perform it in our own way,” said Hopson.
“It’s a funny musical. It’s family friendly and also has some jokes (older viewers will catch.) Some of it’s very boppy. It’s different from a lot of musicals. It’s new and different.”
Audiences will enjoy the humor and the music, she said. “It’s very upbeat and fun.”
While helping to stage scenes and coach younger actors, Hopson also played the roles of Torrey, the mother’s executive assistant and a gym coach.
“They are completely different,” she said of her dual roles. One is high strung and “kind of evil” and the other is more laidback. Helping to direct while playing two roles is keeping the theater veteran busy and learning on multiple levels.
“I’m excited to see people enjoy the show. I’m most proud of all of our newcomers,” said Hopson. “It’s been nice to see everyone get comfortable on stage and challenge themselves.”
A perfect example is senior Aimee Tseng, an accomplished choral student at Ellison who decided to try a musical her last year of high school and landed a lead role. She is Katherine Blake, the hardworking mom who becomes trapped in her teenage daughter’s body.
“Katherine at the beginning is very focused on everything else and kind of dismisses her children. Her daughter thinks she doesn’t care about her, so they argue,” she explained.
“I like dressing up, so being a mom, I get to be fancy and elegant and that makes me happy. She’s very organized and I’m really not, so I guess the universe is telling me to be more organized.
“This is my first musical, so I didn’t know what to expect. So far, I’m having a good time.”
The other half of the body switch is Ellie Blake, played by junior Tatiana White, an experienced actress.
“It’s not like any character I’ve played before. Now, I’m like a moody teenager. I’m the oldest child, so it’s fun to act childish and have my moments,” she said. Most of the show, she plays the role of a teenager trying to pull off being a mom, requiring her to tone down her antics.
From initially not knowing about Freaky Friday, White became a believer with the fun humor and multiple characters.
“Wow, I love this show, and I think everyone else will too,” she said. “We have to put in so much energy and work. Dedication really comes through this (final week of rehearsal.)
“It all comes together and it’s really exciting once you go through the whole show without any bumps and realize, ‘I’ve just performed a musical’.”
Simultaneously, Chaparral High School Theater is staging Hadestown, with shows Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 and available at https://chaparralhighschoolbobcatdrama.ludus.com/index.php
Ellison Theater dress rehearsal photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/killeenisd/albums/72177720321768339
