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If the enthusiasm on stage for the first “stumble through” is any indication of the upcoming show, then the Mystic Players Revival production of “Mean Girls, the Musical” should be a smash.
“This is our first-ever, full-scale musical since being back,” said Mystic Players Revival Board President Margaret Petrella, as the performers filled with song and dance the sanctuary of the Hillside Community Church on Osgood Street.
The community church has become home to the theater company, and though it’s not a theater space, Petrella said they could not be happier, possibly due to the long trek to get there.
The revival
The Mystic Players date back to the 1930s but the organization petered out sometime between 2007 and 2010. A dozen or so years later, Petrella said, she wondered, “why isn’t it still here,” then set about the arduous task of bringing it back. It took a lot of preparation, grant writing and luck, but in 2023 Mystic Players Revival was ready to tread the boards again.
“It’s gambling really,” Petrella said with a laugh. “And I got really lucky. I reached out to the Medford community and said, ‘who's with me,’ and they responded.”
Though there were many challenges in getting the company up and running, space turned out to be a big one. Petrella said there is no performing arts center in Medford or even a space that could be rented out for a reasonable price. Spotlight Productions, another Medford based theater company, uses the schools, but it works for them because they are a youth company, Petrella said. While Mystic Players Revival might have kids in a production, depending on the show, it is an adult theater group.
All they needed, Petrella said, was someone who believed in their dream and could give them the space to make it happen and they found that in Rev. Tom Hathaway and the Hillside Community Church community.
What set them apart
The theater community across the commonwealth is small. Petrella said it is not unusual to run into the same actors at auditions across the state, but there is something that sets Mystic Players Revival apart.
“We don’t charge our actors to perform,” Petrella said, adding that it is a common practice for theater companies to charge performers.
“They might call it a production fee,” said Blake Brote, who is playing Aaron in the musical. “Some charge $50, some charge $200.”
Petrella said they decided not to charge the performers for the simple reason that they want theater to be accessible to everyone. She admits it makes it a little tougher to survive, but the company’s board is committed to working around it because every cast is like family and she wants to treat them as such.
“It’s why I love theater so much,” she said. “It’s not just the performances, but the community as well.”
On with the show
More than 80 performers came out to audition for "Mean Girls, the Musical," which has just 27 roles. Petrella said making cuts was nerve wracking but admitted they got lucky with a stellar group to choose from. She also feels fortunate in having a great crew, along with Music Director Nick Andreano, Stage Manager Olivia Da Cunha, Director Victoria Isotti, and Choreographer Alexis Bucci.
This is the first full-length musical for Bucci, who is a recent University of New Hampshire graduate.
“It is so much fun. I come up with this crazy choreography and they do it,” she said with a laugh. “It’s definitely a lot of work, but it's so rewarding.”
Bucci said one of her favorite numbers is “Stupid with Love” because it traditionally has no choreography, but it does now. While developing other numbers, Bucci said, she could look at other productions to get ideas, but with “Stupid with Love” the influence “was all from my noggin, so I’m particularly proud of that number.”
Brote just moved to Medford in June and was thrilled to find Mystic Players Revival. Having done theater in high school and college, he said it has become an important part of his life. He is a software salesman working remotely by day, so the company also gives him, well, company and a place to be himself.
“It’s a great space and everyone is so welcoming,” he said.
Aidan Jackson, who plays Damian Hubbard, agreed. This is his first big show post college, and he said it has a very different vibe from student level productions.”
“But I feel like everyone is super focused,” he said. “It’s good.”
What to expect
The show is about the new girl in school, Cady Heron, who has been homeschooled in Africa and then finds herself having to navigate a completely different world, the social dynamics of an American high school in suburban Illinois.
“It’s a big party, a fun, exciting time,” Petrella said. “It’s so much more than just coming to see a show. The audience is part of the show.”
While no one will be called up on stage or singled out for any surprise part, Petrella said, the nature of the space makes it an immersive experience.
“This whole space is our stage,” she said, arms spread wide. “Every square inch of it, so we’re all a part of it.”
To add to that we’re-all-in-it-together feeling, Petrella said, they will be handing out student passes to ticket holders.
When asked if she gets nervous on opening night, Petrella said she is always anxious but it’s a good kind of anxious, wanting everyone to do well and watching audience reactions.
“I just can’t wait for people to have a blast with us,” she said. “And hopefully people will want to find out more about us and see what we’re all about, too.”
To find out more about the company and to purchase tickets, visit Mystic Players Revival or find them on Facebook.
