Mean Girls High School Version

NOTE:  Parents should note that Mean Girls High School Version (PG-13) contains mature content and should familiarize themselves with the story before agreeing to have their child audition.

Cady Heron is the new girl at North Shore High, desperate to fit in and find friends. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on the ruthless leader of The Plastics, Regina George. When Cady and her friends devise a “Revenge Party” to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.

With its wicked sense of humour courtesy of Tina Fey (30 Rock, Saturday Night Live), catchy Tony®-nominated music, and energetic production numbers, Mean Girls is funny, fierce, and “fetch” (yes, we are making “fetch” happen!)

A full plot synopsis can be found here.

We strongly believe that skills developed through participation in the arts are becoming increasingly important in the workplace, in all sectors, and are essential to a young person’s success in developing a fulfilling life. We also believe that today’s post-pandemic world presents new, difficult challenges that arts education can help overcome.

A few of these parallel life skills include:

1. DEVELOPING CREATIVITY
Now more than ever, employers are looking for creative thinkers who can move their business forward, not just academic achievers who know how to maintain the status quo. Being able to think on your feet, approach tasks from different perspectives and think ‘outside of the box’ will distinguish arts students from others.

2. DEVELOPING CONFIDENCE
The real time reward that comes with stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, learning from mistakes and willingness to try new things with new people results in increased self-worth and a deep sense of belonging.

3. DEVELOPING FOCUS
The ability to focus is a key skill developed through ensemble work. Whether you’re in a big production number onstage or working together with fellow crew members, keeping a balance between listening and contributing involves a great deal of concentration and focus. It requires each participant to not only think about their role, but how their role contributes to the big picture of what is being created.

4. RECEIVING CONSTRUCTIVE FEEDBACK
Receiving constructive feedback is a regular part of any arts instruction. Children learn that feedback is part of learning and it is not something to be offended by or to be taken personally. It is something that is a valuable experience and greatly contributes to the success of the final piece.

5. ACCOUNTABILITY
When children practice creating something collaboratively, they get used to the idea that their actions affect other people. They learn that when they are not prepared or on-time, that other people suffer. We also learn to acknowledge mistakes, learn from them and move on. This is a crucial skill to learn early in life because it contributes to the development of integrity of character, which every employer is seeking in a staff member.

All of this, plus even more life skills like perseverance, understanding, body language, collaboration, and dedication are the reason we do what we do.

The High School Musical Production Program is being offered at no cost to the participants. Participants will not be paid. Participants can count their rehearsal and performance hours as Volunteer Hours.

2024 saw the return of the Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy High School Musical Production with Footloose! With 35 cast members and 15 crew members from 20 different high schools, Footloose had a sold-out run at the St. Jacobs Playhouse in February of 2024.

Read more about the show on the Wellington Advertiser’s website: Drayton Entertainment’s production of Footloose takes stage Feb. 14

2023 saw the inaugural Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy High School Musical Production with Legally Blonde! With 35 cast members and 15 crew members from 15 different high schools, Legally Blonde has an almost sold-out run at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse in February of 2023.

Read more about the show on CTV’s website: ‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ to showcase young talent from Southwestern Ontario

“It’s just so professional. You get so much input on your acting and your singing. You get a lot of feedback […] Everyone here has gotten so close and we’ve helped each other grow and build.”

– Alyssa Panda, Legally Blonde Cast Member

Read Bill Jackson’s full article in the Waterloo Chronicle: ‘A new community of like-minded people’: Drayton Entertainment Youth Academy to stage inaugural high school musical