Support for the Alaska Live series of live music and conversation on KUAC is made possible by a grant from Design Alaska.

Design Alaska, strengthening community through support of the arts.

Welcome to KUAC's Alaska Live I'm your host, Lori Neufeld.

It is my pleasure today to welcome the cast and crew of Mean Girls.

It's Lathrop High School's musical production.

And I am going to have all of you introduce yourselves and your character names.

Can we start over here with Jonathan?

Hello, my name is Jonathan Matz, and I play Damian Hubbard.

My name is Remy Hinde, and I play Janis Sarkisian.

My name is Sha Winchester, and I play Gretchen Wieners.

I'm Isabelle Timmons, and I play Karen Smith.

My name is Ava Stewart, and I play Regina George.

My name is Adelaide Wietgrefe, and I play Cady Heron.

My name is Keagen Cole, and I play Aaron Samuels.

Also in the house, we've got Mr.

TJ Hovist.

He is the musical director.

And he'll be playing keyboard for accompanying the soloists and the cast and crew today.

And Brianna Argo is up from the pit and playing bass here, too.

So it's so great to have you all.

Does somebody want to introduce the first piece we'll be hearing from the show?

Yeah, our first piece is entitled "Mean."

It is the introduction to the show with Janis and Damian, who are the narrators of the story, and tell that this is a cautionary tale and not something to be too excited about and just to be wary about.

[chuckles] Right on.

Take it away, Mean Girls.

["a cautionary tale" playing] (SINGING) It's a cautionary tale of fear and lust and pride Based on actual events where people died No one died.

(SINGING) But how far would you go To be popular and hot?

Would you resist temptation?

No, you would not!

Just admit it Sometimes mean is what you are Mean is easier than nice And though mean can take you far Maybe this will make you think twice Kick!

Layout!

Fosse!

This is a cautionary tale About corruption and betrayal!

And getting hit by a bus!

You can't buy integrity at the mall, it's not for sale Truth This is a cautionary tale Our story begins across the globe in Africa.

Africa!

[laughter] Thunderous applause.

Oh, yeah, of course.

We've got a live studio audience here.

We can also applaud.

[laughter, applause] I forgot the plan if we were going into some scene, but that is the way Mean Girls opens.

Remy, thank you so much for sharing your incredible voice on that first song.

And Jonathan also featured in that first song was awesome.

Remy, you are one of the youngest members of the cast, I hear.

Yeah.

[chuckles] Are you not a senior yet?

I am a junior this year.

You're a junior this year.

You're no stranger to the stage, though, is what I understand.

I've been told that, yes.

[laughter] You've been on stage at state competition.

Yes, I've done solo and ensemble in All State.

I've also done some fact shows.

And last year I played Shrek.

Oh, you were in Shrek and you played Shrek.

That's awesome!

And this time you are playing the character of Janis.

And Janis breaks the fourth wall.

And for those of us who may not be theater insiders, what does that mean to break the fourth wall?

Yeah.

So breaking the fourth wall is basically there's a scene going on and there's action happening, and I stop the scene and give my opinions on it.

[laughter] To the audience, basically.

That's the fourth wall, got it.

All right.

[chuckles] Awesome.

So your character plays a bit of the narrator, too, then I'd say.

Yes, me and Damian both give our narration to the story.

Yeah.

[chuckles] And, Damian, you are part of that breaking the fourth wall narration.

And the two of you are not amongst the in crowd, I take it?

Not really.

No.

[chuckles] We're called art freaks in the show.

[chuckles] You're the art freaks.

[laughter] So, Jonathan, what made you want to try out for this because you're no stranger to the stage with Fairbanks Academy at Children's Theater, too?

Yeah.

Well, I never watched Mean Girls before auditioning.

But when I saw that we were doing Mean Girls, I looked it up and it looked pretty cool.

Plus, there was also Damian, which I'm just saying, I vibe with the character a lot.

[laughter] So not only did you audition for the character that you vibed with, you got that character.

You got that part.

That's awesome.

Were there any other characters in the show that you thought, well, I could probably do?

Maybe like Aaron, I don't know.

[laughter] I mean-- oh, don't look at me like that.

[laughter] It's a pretty female heavy show.

Yeah.

It is.

The title is Mean Girls.

So there's a lot of females on this stage right now.

But Damian is one of the characters that is not in the in crowd but is one of co-conspirators, I guess, right?

Yeah.

[laughter] Set the stage of that co-conspiratoring, what you do?

Well, me and Janis, we open up the show.

And then kind of throughout, sometimes, we'll just address the audience instead of our peers.

[laughter] It's much more interesting that way, wouldn't you agree?

Mm-mm.

And you're telling us about some plans you have for the new girl?

Possibly some parties.

Possibly some revenge parties.

Ooh.

[laughter] In true high school fashion, there is some popularity and some revenge going on.

Of course, yes.

Very nice.

Remy, I do believe in manifesting things.

So do you too?

Absolutely.

Excellent!

Well, let's do it right now.

What are some roles you would love to play because I know-- [laughter] I know you are into musicals, so, hey, let's do it.

Yeah.

So, oh, my God, I've literally dreamed to be asked this question.

[laughter] My ultimate dream role is Cathy.

I don't know her last name is.

Nope.

OK.

From The Last Five Years, Cathy from The Last Five Years.

It's a musical by Jason Robert Brown.

And I can't do the whole list, it'll take an hour.

But that's the one What draws you to Cathy from The Last Five Years?

Oh, my gosh.

Last Five Years, I've dwelled on this show for years and years and years and years.

Well, not years and years and years.

but Cathy basically goes through her marriage and her ending of her marriage, and she's in theater, and she's a struggling actor.

And I really just resonate with her.

And hopefully I will probably, hopefully not, resonate with her in my later life.

But the way the show is written is so beautiful.

How did you end up playing Janis in Mean Girls?

Well, I love Mean Girls, first of all.

I've always loved the movie.

But I've always already-- I've already resonated with Janis.

She's very much an outsider.

She's very artsy.

She wears whatever she wants, which I really appreciate.

And being in Lathrop's productions, I think we've already had some typecasting in our stuff.

So I just I felt like I had to be Janis.

Right.

[laughter] And Jonathan, what are some of the roles that you've played in the past or would love to play in the future?

Well, one role that I was very-- it was a very interesting role for me because I didn't really have a very developed voice for it, but it was very nice because I got to work with Mr.

Hovist and Miss Brazier on my voice with it.

But it was Lord Farquaad in Shrek.

You were in Shrek also?

Mm-hmm.

Yeah, I was the main antagonist.

[laughter] It was very interesting because the songs were high.

And that wasn't where my voice felt at the time.

But now that I've gotten to work, I feel like I could totally crush that role again.

I want a second try.

[laughter] And are you a senior this year?

I'm a junior.

You're a junior also.

Right on.

So you've got another year to see what they're going to do next year and try out for that.

Because you've been on stage with some productions in the past with Shrek and then as one of The Fact members, too.

Awesome.

And then I believe I also did a Fun Home with IIT last year too.

I did like three musicals at once... Oh, I went to see Fun Home.

That was an incredible production by the-- It was so fun.

Yeah, Fun Home, as in short for Funeral Home.

[laughter] Yeah, that was an amazing show.

Do we have a-- is it next, TJ?

Mr.

Hovist, are we going with something next here on the list?

Who is introducing this one?

Oh, I guess I can.

I'm Adelaide Wietgrefe.

I play Cady Heron.

And basically, this next song is me talking about my, I suppose, love life up until this point in high school.

Because she lived in Africa, so it wasn't as-- I think a big part of this musical is social media and that wasn't a huge thing for her back in Africa.

So now that she's here and realizing all these new things and meeting this new guy Aaron, this is her realization of her liking him, basically.

Yeah.

Nice.

["stupid with love" playing] When I was five, I fell in love With this Peace Corps guy I bared my soul beside the water hole Which made him laugh, which made me cry Miss Norbury is tough and a little weird but you get to like her eventually.

[chuckles] Like snake meat.

(SINGING) By 13, I gave up trying I decided, I would be a mathematician 'Cause math is real I memorized a lot of pi Because addition and subtraction and division Would never make me feel So stupid with love Like, I didn't get it I didn't get it, somehow Smart with math but stupid with love I didn't get it I didn't get it-- 'Till now Do you have an eraser?

I would love to.

[chuckles] (SINGING) So thank you, math, for being there To bring me joy And thank you, math, 'Cause now you've brought me this cute boy!

Is it two?

Yes!

(SINGING) He's like someone from TV He's like that guy who gives out roses to those women His clothes, his grooming And he's a foot away from me With a dreamy smile and shiny eyes that I could swim in He's is live and in the room And I'm stupid with love I wanna get it I wanna get it, but how?

Smart with math, but stupid with love I want to get it I didn't get it 'till now 2 over 0 is undefined.

Jinx.

What?

[chuckles] (SINGING) I'm astounded and non-plussed I am filled with calculust Does this guy work out?

He must All sweaty at the gym Could that image be more hot?

Let me just enjoy that thought School was rough but now it's not 'Cause now there's him It's all so simple Stupid with love But I can get it Watch this girl self-educate I learned math, so I can learn love You wanna bet it?

That I can get it?

Just wait Just wait Just wait!

Yeah.

[applause] Oh, yeah.

There it is.

Oh, Addie Wietgrefe, way to belt it out as Cady Heron.

Oh, man.

You're going to knock the socks off of that crowd, like you are here.

And so people who have seen the movie know that Cady, she moves from Africa to the Chicago suburbs.

And that is quite the culture shock for this high school girl.

She comes to high school for the first time.

She was homeschooled.

Oh, man.

Yeah, no, I think such a huge part of the show is this crazy transition because she's so ignorant to everything that's going on around her.

In one of our songs, she's basically getting pushed around the halls and she still is having fun.

She's like, oh, this is new.

I like all these people and maybe they hate me right now, but it's going to be OK, which I think is-- I don't know.

I just think that's very important.

That is a really good lesson that this does not last forever.

You can see the positive in even the times that are, I don't know what they call it, character building, but [groans] [laughter] So you grew up here in Fairbanks.

And how do you relate to your character who did not grow up in the place she's at but is feeling her way through?

So actually, fun story, I live out in the North Pole area.

And so when I started high school is when my mom started as an assistant principal there.

So what happened was I just went with her every day to West.

So it was pretty much what Cady was going through.

Not that drastic, though.

Because I didn't know anyone in Fairbanks really.

I didn't go to school with anyone there.

So I kind of had to find my own cliques.

And obviously, the clique issue is not as big as it is in mean girl at all.

But I had to find my people.

And that's kind of what Cady did, just as a less extreme level.

So I don't know, I really connected with that, I suppose.

Oh, wow.

So you actually are in North Pole but now you're West Valley.

I drive around a lot.

Most of my time, actually.

[laughter] And you're a senior this year?

Yes, I am.

Oh.

What's in store for you next year?

Oh, goodness.

Well, I'm thinking about going to Boise State and probably majoring in music, maybe some bio.

We'll see.

I'm still thinking about it.

But definitely thinking of going out of state, at least.

You're so typecast in this role.

[laughter] You're just singing about, oh, math is going to keep me grounded.

But that's really cool to hear that that's in your life right now, too, music and biology.

Yes.

Were you part of musicals and music as a kid, too, because, I mean, your mom probably, either you rebelled or you didn't?

[chuckles] I don't know what she would have done if I didn't latch on to music, honestly.

[chuckles] But I mean, I've been singing since forever.

And then I played French horn for a while.

And I got to high school and choir was still at Lathrop because we didn't have one at West Valley yet.

So me and one of my friends bust every single day back and forth from Lathrop to West Valley.

So I knew everybody at the Lathrop music department.

And I did Into The Woods as Little Red Riding Hood.

What was that three or four years ago?

That was a really long time ago.

Holy cow.

Awesome.

Well, it's so great to have you here.

Do we have a next scene and song?

Who's introducing this one?

OK, I guess I am.

Our next song is "Meet The Plastics," where you never guess, we meet the plastics.

We have Regina George, Karen Shetty-- Smith, and Gretchen Wieners.

And of course, our narrators are going to introduce them again.

And then they're going to introduce themselves.

Nice.

["meet the plastics" playing] Whoa!

Who's at that table over there?

Don't look at them.

Just don't.

(SINGING) We call those three "The Plastics" They're shiny, fake, and hard They play their little mind games All around the schoolyard They might insult your clothing Or make fun of your name Like they mocked Jen Morecock 'Til she burst into flames And Ms.

Morecock was a teacher Regina George is the queen bee She's always dressed up She always wins Spring Fling Queen We're just drones who work for her, then die (SINGING) My name is Regina George And I am a massive deal Fear me, love me Stand and stare at me And these, these are real I've got money and looks And I am, like, drunk with power This whole school Humps my leg like a chihuahua I'm the prettiest poison you've ever seen I never weigh more than one-fifteen My name is Regina George And I am a massive deal I don't care who you are I don't care how you feel That's Gretchen Wieners She knows everything about everybody.

That's why her hair is so big.

It's full of secrets.

(SINGING) Yes, Regina No, Regina Every waking hour I spend making sure Regina George can stay in power If Regina is the sun Then I'm a disco ball 'Cause I'm just as bright and fun If you've had alcohol I worm your secrets out of you And bring them to my master Then I watch Regina make your life a big disaster Disaster!

Regina is the queen But I'm the head of worker bees I am seated at her right hand Like a Jewish Princess Jesus That's Karen Smith.

She's the dumbest person you will ever meet.

I once saw her put a D in the word orange.

(SINGING) My name is Karen My hair is shiny My teeth are perfect My skirt is tiny It barely covers My perky hiney My name is Karen I may not be smart That's it.

Wait, why don't I know you?

Oh, I don't know.

I'm new here.

Wait, what?

I just moved here from Africa.

Oh, shut up.

Shut up!

I didn't say anything.

You're, like, really pretty.

Thanks.

Do you agree?

You think you're really pretty?

Oh, I don't know.

Oh, my god, I love your bracelet.

Where'd you get it?

My mom made it.

It's so fetch.

What is fetch?

It's like slang from England.

Have you ever touched a tiger?

No, those are mostly in India.

Because that's one of my life goals, to not touch a tiger.

Wow, you are really going to get noticed around here.

We should help you.

Can you give us some privacy?

(SINGING) Right We never really do this But how do you like to Have lunch with us this week?

Oh, I-- No, no need for you to thank us There's no need to even speak You're new and you don't know things You need good friends who can tell you what to think See you here same time tomorrow On Wednesdays we wear pink [all singing] Wear something nice and grab a tray 'Cause we don't do this every day Say here's where you belong Say here's where you belong No, really.

Say it.

(SINGING) Say, here's where I belong Sit with us tomorrow It'll be fetch!

[applause] Wow.

The Plastics, plus Cady from Mean Girls doing that really wonderful four-part harmony in at the Alaska Live studios today.

That was amazing.

Thank you.

Yeah.

[chuckles] Well, Ava Stewart, I guess I should talk to you first since you're the queen bee of The Plastics.

That's me.

[laughter] So was it your dream to be the queen bee of The Plastics?

Yes.

[laughter] I wanted it so bad.

[laughter] Were you a big fan of the original 2004 movie Mean Girls?

Absolutely, yeah.

[laughter] Did you ever see yourself in that Regina role?

Or she's pretty mean, so probably not.

You're probably in real life pretty nice.

I mean, as like-- [laughter] When Mean Girls as a concept was first introduced to me a couple years back, because I didn't really start musical stuff until high school, I was like, oh, Janis, and I started really thinking about it.

And I was like, wait, I want Regina so bad.

So I don't think Regina necessarily even suits me.

But I was like, well, isn't that the point of acting?

Make it happen?

So I did.

Having this role, has it made you look at the dynamics of how popularity works in high school?

Has it made you think about it a little bit more?

Or you're probably thinking-- you live it, but has it made you think about it a little bit more?

I thought about it in the way of lived experience, for sure.

How I really took Mean Girls, at least the message that I took from it, for the most part, was looking at how women interact with each other specifically.

And women are so trained, I feel, to bring each other down.

And Regina as a character is literally CEO of being mean to other women.

And I don't know, just looking at her as a character, I mean, she's definitely miserable with herself.

And I that's very telling of cruel people in real life.

She literally traumatizes her friends, quote-unquote, "friends," the other plastics.

She's miserable.

She has to be.

[laughter] So is this your first musical as a lead role, Ava?

As a major lead, yes.

I've only done-- this is my second production.

I did Shrek last year and I was the dragon.

And now I'm Regina.

Yes!

And that's it.

[laughter] And so do you want to take this as a hobby?

Or more of you want to do more of this as you don't know?

I think it will be a hobby for me.

I love singing.

And if it was that easy, I would definitely do it.

But I've got too much fear.

I'm like, nah, I'll stay here.

All I really need in life is to buy a house.

That's it.

Period.

That's all I'm asking for.

The American dream?

Yes.

[laughter] Are you going to stick around Fairbanks or Alaska for your next move?

I am going to attend UAF.

I am going to take full advantage of that exchange program because, girl, I am not paying out-of-state tuition.

So I'm going to stay at UAF, but I am going to use the exchange program.

I love that.

You'll be a Nanook for a little while, and use the exchange program, and end up somewhere in the Northwest.

I can totally understand 50 below is hard and you've done that.

And honestly, I love Alaska.

The only reason I'm leaving is because, well, I should probably get out of here for a little bit.

But I'm coming back.

We like to hear that.

Ava we like to hear that a lot.

So fun.

Oh, well, Karen Smith, Isabelle Timmons.

That's me.

[laughter] You play the quintessential dumb blonde of The Plastics, don't you?

I do.

That's me.

It doesn't seem to be your actual person, but you are a stage-- you're playing that on stage.

What drew you to being Karen in Mean Girls?

Well, honestly, I played donkey in Shrek last year.

So being a little ditzy and a little bouncy, oh, my gosh, it was-- I have a lot of energy, too, just like Ava.

A little bit less.

[laughter] But it works for me.

And I like being a little crazy.

[laughter] Excellent.

And what happens after you graduate in spring?

I plan on pursuing musical theater.

I got into the University of Northern Colorado.

But I'm still waiting to hear about some other schools.

Oh, that's amazing.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

And you're going to pursue musical theater?

Oh, [chuckles] yay!

Mr.

Hovist has to be pretty proud, I bet.

[chuckles] Yeah.

Two thumbs up from-- well, we've got one more Mean Girl to talk to here.

[chuckles] Ah, you play Gretchen, Sha Winchester.

I do.

Gretchen Wieners, she's the one that is-- how would you describe your Mean Girl character?

Definitely really nervous all the time.

[laughter] And you're no stranger to the stage, too.

You are in Show Choir, like some of these rest of these theater people.

Where does life take you after Lathrop?

I'm going to UAF for a year.

Yes!

We love to hear that you're going to be a Nanook.

And then I hope to go somewhere in New York for musical theater.

It's a good dream.

I love that.

Yeah.

Why New York?

I like it.

Yeah.

[laughter] Have you visited more than once?

No, just once.

With school or with family?

Yeah, just last year.

What did you do?

Well, we saw Hadestown.

We saw Wicked.

[laughter] You saw Wicked, did you just say?

Oh, yeah, the competition.

[laughter] What were you actually there for other than to see Broadway plays?

The competition, yes.

[laughter] And we won Show Choir.

You won Show Choir, best in the nation?

Well, sort of.

We got gold in the Show Choir category.

What was the competition... First place.

We got first place.

OK, that's first place.

Can't remember what the competition is called.

Yeah, that's first place.

We won.

You won.

You won gold, that's what I'm talking about in, New York.

Wow!

I'm glad I asked.

That's amazing.

I had no idea.

That's so amazing.

Oh, well, are we ready to do the next piece?

Who's introducing our next piece?

Me!

Yeah, Ava.

The next piece is someone gets hurt.

And this is the Halloween party where I find out that Cady wants Aaron Samuels and I steal him back literally just to be mean.

So I'm like, oh, so you want my ex?

Suddenly, I want my ex.

[laughter] That's about it.

Take it away, Mean Girls.

["someone gets hurt" playing] Wait, what's happening?

(SINGING) Yes, I look perfect Ice Queen, that's what you see It's what they all expect from me But it's all show!

Face it, you used me You saw the sexy clothes My supermodel pose What did you know?

Was I a game to you?

Was I a way to be cool?

I truly cared Was I the fool?

It's fine for you It's fine to flirt It's fine 'Till someone gets hurt 'Till someone gets hurt Feel my heart beating I'm just like her or you People forget I'm human too Yes, they do that This is performance This is all self-defense I thought you had the sense To see through that Was I too proud with you?

Was I too cold and forbidding?

And you chose her over me?

Are you kidding?

Poor little me All trapped in this fabulous show You could set me free But if you're going, go!

It's fine for you It's fine to flirt And God, you're hot Why do you even wear a shirt?

No, it's fine!

Damn, you're fine!

Damn, you're fine!

And it's fine!

'Till someone gets [vocalizing] 'Till someone gets hurt!

'Till someone gets hurt!

[applause] [laughter] Regina hit some high notes.

Way to go, Ava.

And Aaron Samuels, Keagen Cole, you hit some high notes, too.

[laughter] Oh.

Quite the performance you got going on there.

Keagen, I think that you're well cast for the role because you can sing.

You can belt it out.

Thank you.

Oh!

And Keagen, is it my understanding that you have already graduated from high school and you came back to high school?

You graduated from the Alaska Youth Academy for Military.

And then you had a diploma and you came back for your senior year.

What in the world?

This is a drama.

Why would you come back for that?

So on top of Mean Girls, there's all that drama.

[chuckles] So, yeah, I went down and I spent six months at the Alaska Military Youth Academy down on the military base.

And then I was like, you know what?

It's my senior year.

I'm going to go have fun.

And so I went back and I'm singing in choir.

And I'm playing orchestra and show choir.

And now I'm in a musical.

I don't know how I got myself caught up in this, but I'm in a musical.

[laughter] Had you been in any musicals before?

I have not.

Wow, this is your first one?

Yeah, I auditioned for Shrek.

But I was casted but I think I pulled out of it.

Yeah, all right.

Well, congratulations.

You're cast as lead role playing Aaron Samuels.

Tell me a little bit about your role in Mean Girls for those of you who haven't seen the movie or excited to see the musical.

So who I play is he's like a football jock.

So it's really weird because a kind of smart football jock.

He's in calculus.

Oh, he's in calculus.

[laughter] AP calculus.

AP calculus.

I'm not that smart.

But Cady comes into class and I'm like, whoa, new girl.

She's kind of cute.

And so I start just talking to her and then things move forward.

And he's a kind guy.

He doesn't mean any harm.

And he kind of just goes where his heart tells him to go.

He's very open.

Absolutely very open.

So he's a very simple character.

[laughter] So what's it like to be Aaron Samuels on the Mean Girls stage for the first time?

You've not been in a production before.

What's it like to be on that huge Hering Auditorium stage?

So it's very nervous because even though I've been in the music department since third grade.

So I've been in it for a while.

You've been in show choir and stuff?

Yeah.

So playing instruments and singing in front of people is not entirely new to me.

But acting is 100% different new territory for me.

So I am 100% scared.

[laughter] I feel like at one point, I'm going to fumble and I'm just going to cry on stage.

No.

That's not going to happen.

You've got the rest of the Mean Girls up there with you.

[laughter] And then they'll actually be Mean Girls because [inaudible].

[laughter] They won't be playing the part anymore.

They'll be actually.

Oh, well, I don't believe any of that is going to happen.

I think you're just going to absolutely knock them all-- knock the socks off of it.

Well, that's the hope.

Yeah, for sure.

And was it worth it just to be part of Mean Girls cast coming back for your senior year?

Oh, absolutely.

I would not take any of this back.

This was amazing.

It's pretty funny to be like, well, you could have skipped all of this drama, but no, you were in for it.

Yeah, no, I totally could have.

But like I said, I don't know how I got caught up in it, but I came back.

[laughter] What is in store for you next?

So I'm actually enlisting in the military.

I don't know which branch yet.

I've looked into Air Force and Army but trying not to go Marine.

Right.

Gotcha.

So it's between Air Force and Army, got it.

And if they station you in Alaska, you already know about the cold, and the midnight sun, and the surprising things that happen.

But what if they stationed you somewhere in, like, Georgia or something?

Shoot, I mean-- [laughter] It's hot there.

I just have to tell you, it's hot there.

I'm in it just to-- [laughter] I'm in it to move around.

One of the places I've really wanted to go to is Germany.

And actually, I don't know a lot of German but I took German classes when I was in fourth grade.

[speaking german] [laughter] Shoot.

I can't remember.

Yes.

[laughter] Ah, hmm.

Yeah, no, all of us are-- [laughter] Well, thank you so much for being here for Alaska Live.

Yeah, of course.

Oh, Brianna, I swear I want to talk to you just for a second because you are part of the pit.

You are playing bass and you've been playing bass for all of these numbers.

Welcome to Alaska Live, Brianna Argo.

Hello.

Hello.

So are you usually in the pit, or are you usually on stage, or it's a combo?

I'm usually in the pit.

I have never been on stage.

I don't sing.

[laughter] Yeah, I was on stage for six but for the pit.

Oh, right.

Gotcha.

So it was one of those where the pit was on stage, yeah.

What's the difference between playing in the pit orchestra and playing with the stage band?

It's a lot harder because you can't really see anything that's going on and I have to trust Hovist a lot with being with them.

And it's hard because not everyone always is paying attention.

[chuckles] Because otherwise, if it's an orchestra, it's a lot easier because we're not going with someone else.

We're going with a conductor but you also are going with everyone else and it's easier.

And I have to switch instruments a lot.

Oh, you play bass and what else?

Also bass upright.

I play electric and upright.

Gotcha.

That is a lot of switching.

Switching between them is hard as well because there's not always time.

So do you play upright bass in the orchestra too?

Yeah, I mainly play upright.

I learned electric for jazz band freshman year.

Well, I would have never known.

You seem like you're an old hand at it.

That's great.

And, oh, wait a second, I think that I might see you again on Alaska Live because aren't you going to be a UAF music student?

Yes, I am.

I'm going to major in music performance.

You're majoring in music performance?

Hopefully.

The auditions are next month.

I mean, I'm not going to think-- I don't think I'm not going to get in.

But [chuckles] it's still not certain yet.

I feel really positive for you, Brianna.

Because I want to see you in the halls and I want to see you on stage here more.

Well, I'm already on stage here because I also play in FSO.

Oh, see?

[laughter] You're already back there on the stand up bass?

Yeah, nice.

Well, thank you so much.

I wanted to make sure that I made that clear that you're going to be a Nanook.

[laughter] Oh, TJ, you cannot get away from speaking.

[laughter] Mr.

Hovist, you are the director and you decided to do Mean Girls.

I am the music director.

But I do have a great confidant, co-director in Mrs.

Susan Rice, who just moved back to Fairbanks but grew up here and went through school.

She just finished a very long professional career as a music teacher and an administrator.

She's back in our district.

And she gives us so much insight to how things are done outside of Fairbanks.

We get stuck in our Fairbanks world, our little pocket, and we forget that out in the world, there is-- I'm not going to say that we're not professional here but it's different when you're actually doing it professionally.

And she has that experience, as a performer, as a director, all these things.

So that's really nice.

And yes, one of my favorite things to do about my job is programming.

When I'm doing band music, I think about the kids I have and our strengths, and picking the music I think is really fun.

And that's really how I ended up on Mean Girls in my head.

It was stuck there because of these guys.

You knew who you had in show choir.

You knew who you had.

And honestly, we could have cast this at least three different ways.

You've asked about auditions a couple times.

It was really hard.

It was extremely hard.

And now we've been in rehearsal for four months and I can't imagine it any other way, really, because they're characters in my brain.

But definitely, it could have gone different ways.

And I just hope that everyone comes to see the show.

I think it's really important, the messaging, and then also these kids are just so exceptional.

I can't say that enough.

You don't have to have a kid or grandkid on stage.

This is for everyone.

100%.

Well, what are we ending the show with?

We're actually going to end with the act one finale.

And it features a lot of the characters and also the whole ensemble, but we couldn't fit them all in the studio.

So we've got some kids filling in here.

And if you like the music and you like these kids, you should come and see it.

And then you get to see act two as well.

So we held that from you.

Sorry.

[laughter] ["fearless" playing] Wait, who is my boss now Regina is gone?

I'll wear what I want Which is what I have on And a vest That's how it feels To be free, free I thought you would cave But you stood up to her You were strong, you were brave No, you know what you were You were fetch So fetch!

And we're free, free You were so fearless Woah-oh You didn't cry or hide or throw up So fearless Woah-oh No emotional trauma Just fearless!

Woah-oh Well some people need to grow up Woah!

Fearless!

Got no time for her drama She'll go cry to mama From now on Imma be Woah Woah-oh-oh Fearless Woah-oh-oh Fearless Woah-oh-oh Fearless!

Woah Fearless Woah-oh-oh Fearless Woah-oh-oh Fearless Woah-oh-oh Fearless!

A girl's got to do What a girl's got to do I did it for me, sure But really for you!

So that you can live fearlessly too Imagine fearless!

Woah-oh!

Imagine stronger, better, bolder!

And fearless!

Woah-oh!

Brush that dirt off your shoulder Imagine just dancing like no one was there Everyone staring but you do not care Not hunching your shoulders To make yourself small!

To walk right down The middle of the hall Not small Not small Walk tall Fearless!

I have danced with the Messiah Fearless!

I have climbed Kilimanjaro Fearless!

Who knows what I will do tomorrow?

It feels like the morning and Cady is the sun It feels like the movie where the underdog won It feels so strange Like things can change If you're fearless!

This is how life should feel Fearless!

Dancing at every meal Fearless!

Leaving the shed Don't be afraid Fearless!

Fearless!

Yeah.

[applause] Oh!

Oh, thanks to the cast, and crew, and the directors of Mean Girls, The Musical.

For KUAC's Alaska Live, I'm Lori Neufeld.

You can find links to more episodes of Alaska Live TV and download audio podcasts of the Alaska Live Radio Show online at KUAC.org.

Support for the Alaska Live series of live music and conversation on KUAC is made possible by a grant from Design Alaska.

Design Alaska, strengthening community through support of the arts.