GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (GRPS) – For the first time in more than a decade, the curtain will rise this weekend as Union High School brings back its long-awaited musical production.
‘Mean Girls Jr.’ is set to hit the stage with performances Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
For Teacher Marisa Plouhar, who serves as both director and cast member, this moment in years in the making.
“It's great to finally be able to open up these curtains and use it for what it was made for,” Plouhar said. “I'm excited to see the community realize, wow, we've been missing something. Now it's back. I'm going to be crying when those kids take their bow.”
Bringing the musical to life was made possible thanks to recent lighting and audio upgrades to the auditorium. Additionally, the GRPS Foundation awarded Plouhar a $2,000 Teacher Grant to help cover production costs.
When word spread that Union High School would once again stage a musical, scholars were thrilled.
“I've always loved theater,” said Finnick Coburn, a junior playing Damian Hubbard. “When she said that we were going to do this, I was like, I like freaked out in class.”
“I was ecstatic,” added Marisol Gutierrez, a senior playing Janis Sarkisian. “I've always loved musical theater since I was young.”
The lessons learned over the past three months will have lifelong impacts for the cast and crew.
“Theater education is incredible for kids,” Plouhar said. “They learn incredible skills they can't learn anywhere else.”
Makayla Beane-Windon, a junior starring as Cady Heron, shared how the experience is helping scholars grow.
“Theater kind of forces you to get out of your shell,” Beane-Windon said. “Everybody has been working really hard.”
As opening night approaches, excitement is building - not just for this production, but for the future of theater at Union High School. Discussions are already underway about next year’s musical, and as part of the Reimagine GRPS with Us! Facility Plan, more upgrades are coming to the school’s auditorium. It's one of five across the district set to be restored in the coming years.
“Every little moment is so important,” Plouhar said. “It all culminates into this beautiful outpouring of talent and impressive GRPS kids.”
