Freaky Friday is a classic movie that follows the lives of a mother and daughter who switch bodies and have to figure out how to not only try to switch back, but also appear to be the other person in their day-to-day lives. This movie originally came out in 1976 and starred Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster as the mother and daughter. It gained so much popularity that three adaptation films were made after that, with a total of four Freaky Friday films made over the past 27 years. The most recent and popular film made was in 2003, starring Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis as the mother and daughter. However, many don’t know that the original film is based off of the 1972 children’s book Freaky Friday by Mary Rodgers.
Taking this to the stage, Lake Highland’s Upper School Spring theatre production is Freaky Friday, where actors will showcase their take on the Disney classic movie. The director, Mrs. Elizabeth Cortelyou, explains that she chose Freaky Friday for this year’s musical because she, “Thought her students would have a really fun time exploring the material.” Freaky Friday is fitting for all ages because it emphasizes the challenges and the importance of walking in another’s shoes, which allows audience members to have a better understanding of each other. From exciting songs to amazing sets, costumes, choreography, and makeup, Lake Highland’s Arts Department never disappoints.
Beginning their rehearsals last December, the cast and crew have been putting in endless amounts of hard work and effort each week to get everything ready for the opening night on April 3. It’s difficult practicing so many days per week, since, as Mrs. Cortelyou says, “Coordinating schedules for everyone is always tricky.” However, they do their best to, “Show up for each other because putting on a show is a group effort.” Following the main characters, Ellie Blake, the 16-year-old rebellious, independent daughter, is played by Gwennie Porter, grade 12. Katherine Blake, the practical, busy mother, is played by Ashley Robinson, grade 12. The audience gets to watch as their strained relationship is confronted on every level. It takes months to perfect this play because of the complex choreography, lines, and songs that all need to sync perfectly.
Choreographer Rebekah, also known as Ms. Becky by the crew, goes through many takes on how everything is executed and tweaks certain aspects to reach the best version of it. In the song “Somebody Has Got to Take the Blame” by Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, there is a fight scene between Ellie and Katherine that also features Señora O’Brien, who is played by Kate Caborn, grade 11. Kate Caborn has an outstanding solo moment where she lifts her arm in the air, jumps on a chair, and yells which adds a lot of power to the scene. Ms. Becky rehearsed at least a dozen times to help choreograph moves differently to perfect it.
Although the play requires a lot of hard work and dedication, there is so much fun that happens behind the scenes. Jay Fredel, grade 12, who plays Pastor Bruno, Mr. Blumen, and the Caterer says that a memorable moment he loves is when, “Mrs. Cortelyou motivates us to do the choreography well by offering us gummies for whoever does the best.” Sage Debnath, grade 9, who plays a teen named Laurel, says that a memorable moment she loves is when, “Olivia Reich, grade 11, who plays Gretchen, and Neil Barot, grade 11, who plays Adam, somehow managed to create some sort of cheer routine that they perform in slow-mo during a song.”
The opening night is April 3, and all students, parents, and faculty are encouraged to support their peers on a production that is months in the making. This play is not only going to be a thrilling experience to watch, but also a very nostalgic play as a story created in the 1970s. Mrs. Cortelyou motivates everyone to come and see the production because, “If you aren’t there, you’ll never know how a story or a performance might have made you think a little differently, deepen a feeling you had been experiencing, or maybe even inspire you in some way. The moment will be long gone.”
