After weeks of rehearsals, opening night has finally arrived for Hershey High School’s production of Mean Girls: The Musical. The cast and crew have dedicated countless hours to perfecting every scene, song, and dance, and now, their hard work is finally ready to be showcased.
For lead performers Charlotte Caples, Ben Sheppard, and Julia Aluquin, this moment is the product of weeks of preparation, rehearsals, and a shared excitement for the show to be performed.
For Charlotte, who previously played Bet in Oliver and Mayzie in Seussical for Hershey High School, stepping into the role of Cady Heron has been truly an incredible experience. After playing Regina George for a separate program, she was eager to take on a new challenge, embracing Cady’s transformation throughout the show.
“I’ve had to focus on which line is which side of Cady,” she explains. “She changes a lot throughout the musical, so I’ve worked hard to capture that.” While the role’s stamina demands have been tough, especially since Cady is on stage for the entirety of Act 1, Charlotte has found motivation through her castmates. “They lift me up and make me believe I can do it,” she says. One of the scenes she’s most excited for the audience to see is Apex Predator, an exciting musical number in the show.
Unlike Charlotte and Julia, who are both returning performers, Ben is making his musical theater debut. Encouraged by his choir director, he took the leap for his senior year. “He thought I could sing pretty well, so I figured, why not?” he says. Preparing for his first show has been intense, having to memorize lines, running through songs, and adjusting to a demanding rehearsal schedule. “Five, six, even twelve-hour rehearsals take a lot of time and commitment,” he admits.
One of the moments Ben is most excited for is “Do This Thing”, a high-energy number that he believes shows the cast’s hard work. “It’s a really fun number, and the production team has done an amazing job with it.” Balancing rehearsals, school, and personal commitments has been no small task, but Ben believes it’s all about priorities. “It’s a big commitment, but just like any other responsibility, if you care enough, you’ll put in the time and work, even if that means pushing back things you’d usually enjoy.”
For Julia Aluquin, playing Regina George is the fulfillment of a long-time dream. “Regina has been a dream role for a long time, and naturally, when auditions rolled around, she was my first choice,” she shares. “Her songs are so iconic, and I wanted the chance to perform them.” Preparing for the role has been intense, with months of blocking, dance, and vocal rehearsals, along with personal character work to fully understand Regina’s persona.
“I’ve really taken the time to ask myself, ‘Who is Regina George?’” she says. One of her biggest challenges has been balancing the technical demands of singing and acting. “There’s a lot to focus on technically while also remembering to stay in the moment and enjoy the performance.”
Through it all, she’s found motivation in her castmates. “My costars are some of the most supportive people I know. They always hype me up before and after being on stage.” As opening night approaches, Julia is most excited for audiences to see World Burn, one of Regina’s most intense numbers. “It’s my favorite song to perform, and I can’t wait for the audience to experience it.”
From known performers to first-time actors, the Mean Girls cast has embraced every challenge, making sure this production is one to remember. With the energy of opening night in the air, they are excited to share this story with the audience, knowing that every moment on stage is the result of dedication, teamwork, and passion. This production will be an unforgettable experience for both the performers and those watching from the crowd.
