Arts & Entertainment
WHS Theatre Department To Perform Disney’s Freaky Friday
The new musical is based on the classic movies of the same name and will be performed March 14, 15, and 16.
On March 14, 15, and 16, Westwood High School’s theatre department will be performing Disney’s Freaky Friday as their spring musical. Freaky Friday finds its basis in the 1976 and 2003 movies of the same name. The musical’s plot involves its two protagonists, Ellie (Sydney Jud ’20) and Katherine (Chloe Goodman ‘19), switching bodies prior to Katherine’s wedding. Will mother and daughter learn from walking a mile in each other’s shoes? Freaky Friday’s music and lyrics are by the Pulitzer-Prize winning team of Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, known for Next to Normal and If/Then. The script was adapted by Bridget Carpenter, who wrote episodes of Dead Like Me and Parenthood.
“It has a really good message, and is kid-friendly and modern,” Enahm Oscar-Phoenix ‘19, who plays Mike, praised the show’s concept. 1984’s Winston, Hannah Murphy ‘19 who plays Fletcher, comments. “The show is fun.” Jud notes Disney’s Freaky Friday is lively with a lot of dancing.
Director and WHS theatre director Jim Howard agrees with the students, saying that “Rob Goldman (music director) and I both thought the score (music) was great and that our audiences would enjoy it. I was drawn into the story about this mother and daughter who had grown so far apart that they needed to reconnect. In each scene they learn something about the other one and that either pushes them closer together or further apart. In the end we know that they are going to be okay.”
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On channeling Jud when she is Ellie, Goodman comments “I have an idea of who Sydney is...she has certain qualities which I try to recreate.” Jud agrees “I love Chloe! It’s fun to work with her [mannerisms].”
Stage manager Sami Parazin ‘19, who audiences saw as Charlotte in Charlotte’s Web last year, has been involved in technical theatre for every musical since her freshman year and reports that she loves “helping [her peers] do their bit.”
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Much like his students, Howard also mentions Freaky Friday having an appeal to a wide variety of ages. “...I thought doing a show that targeted the younger kids in town would be great. When we did Shrek a few years ago, the town really responded and both the audience and cast had a great time. I'm hoping we can catch lightning in a bottle again.”
Disney’s Freaky Friday will be presented the Westwood High School auditorium on March 14 and 15 at 7:30pm, and March 16 at 2pm and 7:30pm. Tickets may be purchased in advance on Brown Paper Tickets.