With two other MacTheatre productions making huge news this week, it might seem odd that we are publishing a Freaky Friday photo essay, but we have been meaning to share this photo essay for a while, we just couldn’t find the big hourglass from the musical to give us enough time to put it together.

Freaky Friday tells the story about the bond and connection made between a daughter and a mother due to the event of swapping bodies.  Ellie Blake, played by Paityn Jones, and Katherine Blake, played by Elodie Bollich, played the dual leads of the show and rightfully took center stage entertaining the audience with strong performances while also brining to stage life the universal dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship.

Equally essential to the musical’s success, however, were the weeks of preparation and practice of the entire cast and crew. Whether it’s the lighting, background design, music production, or the acting and singing on stage, there are many components to making a musical a success. 

Actors, it is well known, spend hours working and connecting with their character. Less obvious perhaps but equally essential, is the work behind the scenes or perhaps more accurately on the scenes.

“There’s a lot of construction for building the set, there’s painting the stage and set pieces, making props, setting up lighting and sound systems, while also designing and laterning costumes,” scenic head Katherine Wiseman said. “One big challenge with the set was that we have these rotting walls that fly in and land on stage, and they were really hard because everything had to be perfect for them to be able to spin right and they had to be safe.” 

Whether it’s supporting each other throughout the practices, lending a paintbrush to finish a prop, or overall dedicating time and commitment to the production,  everyone did their part. Wiseman explained how proud she was to work with her group.

“I definitely am really proud of us for making the spinning and flying walls work, and I’m just overall proud of how much we’ve accomplished because there was a lot of work and challenges we had to face and were so close to being finished now,” Wiseman said. “I’m also proud of the people I worked with and the environment because everyone put loads of effort in and gave it their all. I don’t know anyone who was slacking off and we ultimately worked really well together.” 

We are proud to document the process by which MacTheatre brought Freaky Friday to life–from costume parade to final strike.

A POP OF PINK: Sophomore Brela Chappel, part of the student ensemble, lines up to show off her costume. “Costume parade is always so cool because we get to see everything come together,” Chappel said. The pink color she wore represented her being on Savannah’s side, the main antagonist. “I think the attention to color really brings it to life,” Chappel said. Caption and photo by Tegan Hahn.

KEEPING IT PROFESSIONAL: Sophomores Elodie Bollich and Paityn Jones pose for a picture after trying on their costumes for the first time at the costume parade. Bollich plays one of the leads, Katherine Blake. “I think that the costume fits well for her character,” Bollich said. The character is preparing for her wedding day, and is catering it herself. “It’s professional and has a fun color, which is perfect for her,” Bollich said. Caption and photo by Tegan Hahn.

A FIRST LOOK: Freshman Phoebe Wagner and Max Marcus share a laugh with sophomores Elodie Bollich, Paityn Jones, and AJ Brown during MacTheatre’s annual costume parade for their spring production, Freaky Friday. “We’re all laughing at Max because we said he looks like a greaser,” Wagner said. “Like ‘50s, ‘60s vibe, we were just making fun of him.” Wagner said that the costume parade is not only a fun experience for the cast but also provides the costume department with a visual of the show’s costumes. “It was really fun,” Wagner said. “We all got to put our costumes on, we all lined up on the stage, and basically it’s just for Mr. Carrasco and Willa Fischer, our lovely costume designer, to see how all of us look and how all the costumes blend together.” Freaky Friday was Wagner’s first McCallum musical, and so understandably she was very eager for opening night to come. “It’s so fun, I’m so grateful,” Wagner said before the show’s run began. “There’s so much community, and it’s so exciting. [Freaky Friday] is definitely a trip, and you’ll laugh a lot.” Caption and photo by Katie Martin.

PRIMP AND PREPARE: Vivian Moore applies makeup as the final moments to opening tick on. The cast members do their own hair and makeup for Freaky Friday each night as well as being responsible for showing up for things such as mic check. “Preparing for show can be stressful, but luckily I got into a routine pretty quickly,” Moore said. Caption and photo by Avital Cuevas.

STAYING ON TOP: Fiona Kirsh does her homework backstage, cramming as much work in as she can until the show starts. Many students in the show worked on assignments and projects backstage despite lack of many academic resources. Fellow cast member Scarlet Comlan say that it was hard to stay focused on homework during rehearsals but overall it worked out. Caption and photo by Avital Cuevas.

TODAY AND EV’RY DAY: The cast and crew held its first performance of Freaky Friday in the MAC on Feb. 20. The musical stars Ellie and Katherine Blake, a mother-daughter duo who swap bodies in this story of self-determination and acceptance. Although the musical is a comedy, it offers a deeper message for audiences according to sophomore Elora Clarke.

“I think Freaky Friday is about accepting yourself and everyone around you for who they are, flaws and all, Clarke said. “More than anything it’s about love and positivity and how you should put kindness and acceptance into the world.”

Clarke (far right) plays the role of Lois, a sassy wedding photographer helping Katherine with her upcoming wedding.

“I’m the photographer that works for weddings magazine to photograph Katherine’s wedding,” Clarke said. “I think my favorite moment in the show is the song ‘What You Got’ with me, Danielle, Torrey and Katherine.”

Clarke said that opening night went well despite a few technical errors.

“There were a few mistakes and technical errors, but overall I think the energy was good, the audience was good, and everyone gave a great performance.”

Caption and photo by Katie Martin.

TRANSFORMING INTO SPOTLIGHT: The theater spring production Freaky Friday held its second show on Friday night Feb. 21 in the MAC. Freaky Friday is a story about the bond and connection made between a daughter and a mother due to the event of swapping bodies.

Ellie Blake, the mother role of this mother-daughter duo, is played by sophomore Paityn Jones. Jones said that acting requires creativity, and most importantly, being able to transform into the character’s personality.

“Since I’m playing a mom, I really have to channel my mom’s personality and attitude,” Jones said.

Jones said that even when having fun when getting into character, there are some challenges that come with the preparation for the show.

“It’s been pretty difficult memorizing lines and singing so often,” Jones said. “But I think throughout the different shows I will definitely feel more comfortable.”

Jones said during the show’s run that she was excited to see all the elements of the show come together.

“I believe this is going to be a beautiful show and can’t wait for the hard work to be appreciated,” she said.

Caption by Eva Sanchez. Photo by Sienna Martens.

SWITCHING UP: The cast and crew of Freaky Friday completed its opening weekend with a matinee show at 2 p.m. Sunday Feb. 23 in the MAC.

The show follows the story of Katherine and Ellie Blake, a mother-daughter duo that switch bodies. This duo requires their actors to develop two characters and navigate switching between them.

Sophomore Elodie Bollich (left), who plays both Katherine and Katherine in Ellie’s body, said switching characters got easier throughout the rehearsal process.

“I think it was difficult in the beginning,” Bollich said. “Paityn Jones (right) and I had to find certain things that both of us did as each character and solidify it in each of our performances. I don’t think it’s hard to switch because Paityn and I are both very good at feeding off each other’s energy and portraying each other.”

After closing the first weekend of shows, Bollich said she felt good about the cast’s performance.

“I think we had an amazing opening weekend,” Bollich said. “There was so much positive feedback. People told me that we made them laugh and cry multiple times throughout the show.”

Bollich said that although her favorite part of her role is the comedy, she hopes that the show’s meaning will resonate with audiences.

“I hope that they all reflect on their own relationships with their families, specifically mother-daughter relationships, and take into consideration what they might be going through.”

Caption and photo by Katie Martin.

FREAKY FRIDAY FUN: Freshman June Carney (right), shown here opposite Max Marcus (who plays Listmaster Adam), played the wacky brother of daughter Ellie Blake, Fletcher Blake. Carney explained that she was thrilled when she found out she was playing Fletcher because she immediately had an idea of how she wanted to portray him. “I was able to find some inspiration from characters in movies and even some people from my life.” She said that despite having confidence going into opening night because of her weeks of preparation, she was nervous that there would be a different type of issue. “A lot of technical elements had gone wrong on the dress rehearsal before opening night,” she said “but it went pretty well overall.” Carney said she loved her experience of being in Freaky Friday and that it was a lot of fun. “Once I got to know the cast it really felt like one big family!” Caption and photo by Anais Long.

ENJOYING THE SPOTLIGHT: On Thursday Feb. 27, the McCallum theater program put on its spring production of the musical Freaky Friday. The cast and crew prepared for weeks, rehearsing and perfecting their show. Freshman Max Marcus played the role of the
Listmaster Adam. Marcus’s favorite part of the rehearsal process was the choreography section. “It was a really fun time,” Marcus said. “I would always be laughing.” Marcus and many of the other members of the cast unfortunately were sick leading up to opening night. Despite these health issues, however, he was pleased with his performance. “I think I did really well out there.” Marcus said. He said he felt that he improved with each performance. “My voice and performing got better every night.” Caption and photo by Anais Long.

FIFTH NIGHT OF FREAKY FRIDAY: On Friday night Feb. 28, MacTheatre performed Freaky Friday for the fifth time. The play ran smoothly with no significant hiccups.

Sophomore Campbell Epperly explained although the group only had six weeks to learn the whole show, the extra hours put in helped make the production a success. 

“It was probably one of my best shows,” Epperly said. “I felt very motivated to keep the show running since Thursday, I felt a little tired and not as motivated.”

Epperly explained that her favorite part of the show has been spending time with people that share her interests.

“My favorite part of performing the show is truly just being with all my friends,” Epperly said. “The show is very special to me but just because of the cast and all the memories we’ve made together.”

For Epperly, the hardest part of the show has been managing her time well.

“The hardest part of the show has been balancing all of my things, with MacTheatre, dance, and Blue Brigade all on top of school has been a little difficult,” Epperly said.

As a little girl, Epperly loved Freaky Friday, so being able to perform it was a very fun unique experience. 

“I love the story,” Epperly said. “I used to love the movie [Freaky Friday]. I loved to watch it when I was little. I loved the show, but I normally like theater shows anyway. I think everyone was cast really well for the show, and they all played their parts really well.”

Caption by Piper Norfolk. Photo by Adele Seeboth.

Freaky Friday closed on Sunday March 2 after enjoying a two-week run, with eight shows total. Freshman Astrid Ramirez played the role of Ms. Meyers, the notorious gym teacher.

She starred in the song “Watch Your Back,” and described how it was performing. “That moment seconds before I go on,” Ramirez said, “The feeling of butterflies and the excitement of it all is euphoric for me.”

Freaky Friday is a story about family and connection, and Ramirez took a lot away from that.

“It helps remind me that there’s things to be grateful about even at my lowest,” she said. “I think about the friends and family that you do have and the fact you have people behind you always.”

There were many impressive numbers in the show, but the one that stood out to her most was “Oh, Biology.” It features Ellie and her struggles with dealing with teenage hormones as she’s trapped in her daughter’s body. “It’s so catchy and the choreography is amazing,” Ramirez said.

Not only was the choreography impressive in this show, but the vocals as well. It’s a vocally challenging show not just for the leads, but for the ensemble as well.

“I loved musical rehearsal so much, especially when the full cast was called,” Ramirez said, “Even though it was very cramped I think it brought us together!”

After working hard in the rehearsal process, the production has finally come to a close. To celebrate their hard work, some cast and crew members met up after the final show.

“Spending time with the whole cast and crew and getting to dance at Central Market to the band, playing tag on the playground, it all gave me a reminder that I have a community of people that share the same passion and love for theatre as I do,” Ramirez said.

Caption by Tegan Hahn. Photo by Harper Maxwell.

BACKSTAGE SHENANIGANS: Assistant stage manager and sophomore Ian O’Keefe sits backstage of the final Freaky Friday performance. He has had to learn a lot about responsibility and leadership because of his important role in the technical side of the performance. He has such an amazing experience from this show and is sad to see it go. “I had a wonderful group of people I was working with; everyone was so kind and welcoming,” O’Keefe said. “I will absolutely miss the community of the production. I love working with the theatre community.” Caption and photo by Sunday Cardinal.

PACKING UP RIBBONS: Dahlia Carroll, a sophomore theater major at McCallum gathers ribbons to put away during strike for Freaky Friday. For the past couple of productions, Carroll has chosen tech over stage acting up until Freaky Friday. “I’ve done tech for two shows, so
I’m used to doing tech work.” Carroll said. Strike is a mandatory tear down of the set, costumes, and props after a show takes place and all actors and technicians must attend. “We all get assigned different tasks to help put everything back” Carroll said, “It’s a lot of work, but
overall it is satisfying to see the set revert back to its original state so quickly.” Carroll thinks its cool to see how something that took so long to build can be torn apart in just a couple of hours. Caption and photo by Etta Fannin.

IT’S A TEAM EFFORT: Freshman Gideon Adair played Mike in McCallum’s production of Freaky Friday, but can be seen here moving wood during strike after the final performance. Though Adair has limited tech experience he said, “The technicians were super helpful during strike and told me exactly what to do.” After a musical, the actors have to help take down the set, but it can be difficult for some who have no technical knowledge because of this some people are hesitant to participate. “Actors absolutely need to participate in strike.” Adair said, “It is so important for actors to help as a show of gratitude and a preview of tech.” Technicians and actors both work hard to turn a script into a full show. Adair believes that since it starts as a team effort, it must end as a team effort. Caption and photo by Etta Fannin.

FREAKY FRIDAY’S TIME HAS RUN OUT: After the final bows of Freaky Friday, both the cast and crew get together to remove the sets, props, costumes and all technical aspects from the theater. It’s often a time to reflect on all of the memories created from the show and a time to be tougher with everyone who had helped with the show. Freshman Phoebe Wagner helped with putting back the props from the show. “I’ve always learned so much from strike,” she said. “I always thought it was easy, but it’s so much manual labor and organizing. It’s similar to acting in the way that we have to be able to execute the vision that the directors want.” Caption and photo by Sunday Cardinal.

HUGS GOODBYE: Freshman Scarlett Coleman hugs her friend Astrid Ramirez to show her appreciation for her throughout Freaky Friday’s run. Before the cast and crew’s final performance, they meet to listen to senior speeches and to appreciate the people that helped them throughout the show. “One thing I heard from the senior’s speeches was to stick it out because it always pays off,” Coleman said. “That really resonated with me as a freshman because I know that I’ll only meet more people and become more fulfilled from here.” Caption and photo by Sunday Cardinal.