We are excited to announce this year’s high school musical is “Mean Girls, the High School Edition.”
It is my privilege to bring this show to life here in Pagosa Springs. This show an have a lot of controversy around it due to the themes of this show. As an educator, I feel it is important to bring to life shows that have messages and themes that are relevant to the times in which we live, as well as lessons that will help prepare our students for the real world.
This show has many themes that are important to address to our young members of our community.
In a world that has been taken over by social media, I feel that it is important to talk to students about how to use social media properly instead of using as a way to spread negative energy to their peers.
“Mean Girls the Musical” has a very good way of addressing how our words and actions can have an effect on everyone around us. The issue of bullying is very present in schools across the country, including our school.
Bullying can look a lot different than it did in years past. With the rise in social media platforms, exposure of different cultures and a higher awareness of those that may live differently than what our society presents as normal, it is very important to bring about a way of communication and inclusion that builds a society of mutual respect.
We have a responsibility to help this next generation to not only be well-educated, but prepared for the adult world of adapting to change. We are living in a world that is currently divisive, where we have trouble getting along with people who have different views.
This show helps bridge that gap.
“Mean Girls” is a great story that allows us to discuss difficult topics that can help this next generation heal the divide in our country. We do not need to agree with everyone on politics, religion, lifestyle and culture. However; we do need to have a respect for those that think, live, worship and work differently. There are so many ways we can agree to disagree and appreciate each other for who we are without making each other feel inferior. There are ways for us to process traumas that we may have experienced without it needing to make others suffer just because we did.
We are working in the schools to help students be aware that the use of words is very important. Words can be just as harmful as actions, and the platform doesn’t matter. Whether it is social media, email, text, verbal communication, etc., words can be a powerful tool for good, but also for bad. We are working to teach our students how to use social media and other forms of communication as a positive tool to build each other up.
I hope this show will not only inspire the next generation of our community to be more open-minded and inclusive, but also the past generations to be more understanding that words and actions matter. We have control over what we say to those around us. We have control to stop rumors, preventing the spread of hateful gossip.
Thank you for the opportunity to share this show with our community.
This show is rated PG-13 for some sensitive topics and minor language.
The show will run March 20-23, with five performances: March 20, 21, 22 and 23 at 7 p.m., and a matinee on Saturday, March 23, at 2 p.m.
We have two very talented casts for this show. Seniors will be honored during bows of our closing performance on March 23 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $15 in advance for all students and adults, and $20 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance at https://our.show/meangirlspshs.
Please come out and support your local high school students as they mount this very large production to share with our community.
