Mean Girls: High School Version

Charlotte is a junior and this is her third musical at BHS! She is so excited for you to see all the hard work everyone has put in and she hopes you love it!

Kaia Olberg is a junior at BHS. She has been in theater her whole life and this will be her 5th show at Batavia! She is so grateful for this wonderful learning opportunity, and would like to thank everyone that made it possible! She hopes you enjoy the show!

Sydney is a senior and this is her second production at Batavia High School. She performed in 42nd street last year and is so excited to be back performing Mean Girls this year. She would like to thank her family and friends for always being there to support and encourage her. She hopes you enjoy the show! It’ll be fetch!

Erin is senior performing in her seventh show here at BHS.  She is thrilled to be playing Elizabeth Frankenstein and can’t wait for everyone to see this show come to life! Erin would like to thank her family for their endless support as well as the amazing cast and crew who have worked so hard on this show!

After four years of high school theater at BHS, Matthew is clocking out. He thanks you all for being apart of his theater journey.

Beth is thrilled to be a part of her fifth and final show at BHS! Beth is a senior and has been dancing for eleven years. She is so happy to be a part of The Monster: A Frankenstein Tale and has made so many great memories along the way. She would like to thank her family and friends who have encouraged her along the way. She hopes you enjoy Frankenstein!

This show will be Mitchell Moss’ eighth show done for the Batavia Fine Arts Centre, along with having his biggest role yet. Before Frankenstein Mitchell has really only had a couple named characters, and none of them being big story critical characters with emotion and passion. Mitchell has been performing since middle school with some roles in shows like Beauty and the Beast. Mitchell is astronomically excited to have the opportunity to share his passion by providing entertainment for members of his community, along with having the opportunity to see the profound effect that a fantastic theater program can have and offer.

Drew is thrilled to be ending his senior year with the self-proclaimed highlight of his career! He hopes you enjoy the insanity, and thanks everyone involved for the opportunity, including his director!

Lane Is a Junior and Is glad to be a part of Songs For A New World. His past shows include The Monster: A Frankenstein Tale, And Mean Girls. This is his Fifth show with the BHS Drama Program, and is happy to make an Impact on Drama Program and BHS. He’d like to dedicate his performance to his supporters and hope you enjoy the show!

Maddie Cooper is a senior at Batavia High School, and is thrilled to be a part of the fourth and final musical of her high school theater career! Her previous shows include The Spongebob Musical, 42nd Street, and Mean Girls. She is so grateful for all the friends and memories she has made in the past four years, and is proud of all the hard work everyone put into the show. She’d like to thank the show’s directors and choreographer, along with everyone in the cast and crew for bringing it to life. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Hailey Adams cannot believe this is her last show! After joining the program in her junior year, she has been overjoyed with all the opportunities given to her. She has loved not only being a part of Frankenstein as cast, but has loved assistant directing her second show. She has loved being a part of the process of the show and can not wait to perform it. Hailey wants to give a big thank you to everyone that is a part of the show, and especially a big thank you to Casburn for allowing her to be his assistant director for two shows!

Lucy is a junior and is thrilled to be a part of this amazing and unique production. She would like to thank the wonderful cast, crew, pit and production team for working so hard to make this show a reality. Enjoy!

Claire is a freshman and is very excited to be performing in her very first show at BHS! She is so thrilled to be a part of Mean Girls, as it is one of her favorite movies as well. Claire is also a member of Swingsingers and has done show choir all through middle school. She has seen everyone in this production working hard to create such a great show, and she hopes you’ll enjoy it!

Izzy Leslie is a freshman who is very excited to be making her acting debut in Mean Girls. She was working in tech crew in her eighth grade musical Xanadu, which pushed her to audition in high school. Along with Musical Theater, Izzy’s favorite hobbies are drawing, painting, reading, and walking her dog, Walter. She wants to thank her family and friends for supporting and encouraging her to go out for this Musical. Izzy is so happy you came and hopes you enjoy the show!! 

Jayden is a Senior and very excited to be the Student Music Director for this show! He thanks Mr. Barsch for allowing him help, and hopes you enjoy the show!

Audrey Boothe is a Junior at Batavia High School. This is her first ever show, but she has been involved in singing and dancing since she was a little kid. She would like to thank everyone who helped make this show possible.

Gianna is a sophomore and this is her second show at Batavia High School. She would like to thank her family, friends, and directors for making this experience possible. She is so grateful to be a part of this amazing cast and has had so much fun watching this show come together. She is looking forward to sharing this with you and hopes you enjoy the show!

Sama Taha (Ensemble)

Sama Taha is in the tenth grade and attends Batavia High School. This is her thirteenth musical of all time. She is elated to be in Batavia’s production of Songs for a New World. She is also in Swingsingers and But Seriously Folks. She would like to thank the stupendous cast and team for making this show possible, along with her family and friends for being so supportive.

Skylar Wik is a Junior at Batavia High School. Mean girls is her first musical production and she couldn’t be more excited to share with everyone. She really hopes everyone enjoys it and gets something out of it. She would also like to thank parents and everyone else that contributed to making this show possible!

Peter Angelini (John Polidori) – Peter is a freshman, this is his 3rd show at Batavia High School. Peter has been in theater since he was 8. He has been in Pan Jr, Under the Big Top Jr, Beauty and the Beast Jr, Kodachrome, and Mean Girls. He is very excited to be able to, once again, fulfill his passion of performing on the big stage. He is very grateful to be able to experience what our great theater program can offer. And he is very excited to see what comes in the future.

Lia Woods (Just One Step/Surabaya-Santa) Lia is a sophomore at Batavia High School and is very excited to part of this year’s musical. Her favorite past show has been Heathers (Heather McNamara). She is also a member of the drama club, Swingsingers and Chromatics. Her other hobbies include drawing, reading, and hanging out with her friends. She would like to thank her family for coming to every show and always supporting her, as well as the amazing directors and cast of Songs for a New World.

Mac is a senior and she is very excited to be doing her 9th show with BHS. She would like to thank everyone who has helped to give her the opportunity to perform. She would also like to thank the audience for coming. She hopes that you enjoy the performance!

Lexie is so excited for the show! She is a senior at BHS and is heavily involved in the drama department. Songs for a New World is her 9th production at BHS and 6th as a member of the stage management team. She would like to thank her fellow Stage Managers, Senithi and Lauren, for all of their time and dedication over the rehearsal process. She would also like to thank her family for all of their support. Break a leg everyone!

Ryan Anderson (he/him)

Ryan is a senior at BHS. He would like to thank all you who took time out of your day to watch this amazing show. Without Cast, Crew, and Production teams this show wouldn’t be possible. He would like to thank all who worked to make this show a success! He hopes you enjoy and fall in love with Kodachrome!

Lauren Smith is a senior at Batavia High School and this is her 6th show at BHS and 5th on the stage management team. She would like to thank the other stage managers, Senithi and Lexie, and all the actors who put so much time and effort into this musical. She is very excited for everyone to hear the beautiful music and voices in Songs for a New World, and enjoy the show!

Tatj is a senior and is glad to be involved in her 11th and final show her at BHS. She would like to thank Mr Casburn, Mr Cattero, Joe, Mike, Heather, and Adam for all they’ve taught her. She would also like to thank her friends, family, and all those involved with the shows for the constant support they’ve shown to her and this program. She hopes you enjoy the show with its amazing set and talented cast and hopes you continue to come see the amazing productions that BHS theater creates. Good luck next year guys!

Toby is very excited for his first play experience. He is a junior but it’s only his second year at BHS, he moved to Batavia towards the start of his sophomore year. Toby doesn’t have much stage crew experience other than a middle school play where he changed sets between scenes. Toby has always had an interest in sound and music and grew up in a very active family. While he may be socially awkward to new faces, Toby is very flexible and makes sure he can help anyone who may need it. He looks forward to everything that will come with being a crew member! :3

Mimi is a sophomore at BHS and is very excited for this year’s spring production. She’s been in 42nd Street and Mean Girls as a crew member, as well as Pride and Prejudice and Kodachrome as an actor. She is very proud of all the work that goes into this show, on and off stage! In her second year with the BHS Drama Program she hopes that she will keep making great memories with her fellow students. She would also like to thank all the adults that are part of the production taking time out their day to help the students make a great show. She hopes you enjoy Frankenstein as much as she does despite it being a little scary!

This is Gianna’s 5th show at the BFAC. She’d like to thank her friends and family for encouraging her to join crew. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Senithi Hewamanage is a junior and this is her 5th show at the high school, but 6th show overall. She is so excited to be stage managing for a musical for the first time, and can’t wait to for you all to see the hard work everyone has put into these performances. Enjoy the show!

Alia Khan is a sophomore at BHS, and this is her fourth production with the Batavia Drama Program. She is very overjoyed for everyone to see the play, as well as for everyone preforming. 

Claire is a sophomore and a stage crew member in the spring play. This is her third show as a crew member and she is very excited to be a part of this play! She loved her time in stage crew for the Pride and Prejudice and Mean Girls productions and learning the behind the scenes work that goes into the shows especially for sound and microphones. She wishes everyone the best of luck and hopes you enjoy the show!

Frankenstein is Sydney Mowen’s second production for the BHS theater program as a sophomore! She worked on the crew of “Mean Girls” last fall and is very excited to be in this cast.She enjoys theater and being onstage (and backstage) very much and hopes you enjoy Frankenstein. She is happy she found her people.

Sarrinah is a sophomore and is excited to be working behind the scenes on this year’s fall musical. She has previously been a part of last year’s musical, Mean Girls, and spring play, Frankensteins, but this year’s musical is her debut as Props Master. In her free time, she enjoys binging TV shows and spending time with her friends and family. Cheers to an amazing show!

This is Lily’s 9th and final show at Batavia High School. Since moving here in sophomore year, she has been an active member of BHS’s Drama Program. She would like to thank all of the people who work behind the scenes to help bring the show to stage, as well as the cast. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Riley is Sophomore at Batavia High School and is excited to be working on crew. She’s been in several musicals and plays, both in the cast and in the crew. She hopes you enjoy the show!

Jonah Tesdall is excited to play piano for the musical. This is his second year doing the musical, and will hopefully continue in years to come. He has been playing piano since he was 7 and has been looking for more ways to get involved with playing piano at the school. He would like to thank his friends and family for being supportive with his musical endeavors, and thank all of my band and music teachers for helping me on this journey.

Tommy Gray is a guitarist currently taking residence in Batavia, Illinois. He is a prolific jazz and jazz fusion guitarist, however he also dabbles in the occasional thrash metal song. Some of his favorite artists include Casiopea, Jeff Buckley, and Ghost, Masayoshi Takanaka, and Julian Lage. He has been playing guitar “seriously” for about 4+ years, and currently plans to attend a college for music education or performance, with an emphasis on jazz guitar.

Rozzie is a junior and this year’s production of Mean Girls is her first time participating in a musical pit. She plays many instruments but has a certain affinity towards piano – the instrument she’s been playing since she was four. Outside of school, Rozzie plays in numerous ensembles and has original music on all streaming platforms under the name “Rozzie”. She would like to thank her family and friends for always supporting her and her dreams!

Kyle is a senior at BHS and this is his second musical in the pit. He has played trombone for over 7 years and is a proud member of the Batavia marching band. He hopes you enjoy the show.

Sebastian Arellanes is a senior who is very excited for the upcoming show. After 42nd Street last year he has been looking forward to participating in Mean Girls. Along with musical pit, he plays for Batavia Wind Symphony along with Batavia Jazz Ensemble.

Quentin Ruffo is a sophomore in the BHS drama program, he has performed in Pride and Prejudice in the spring last year, and was in both of the recent musicals in the pit, he’s very excited to perform for you in Kodachrome.

Joshua Ramos, a junior at Batavia High School, has been playing the drums since age 10 and is part of the school’s wind ensemble, marching band, and jazz band. He also plays at his church. Through his involvement in the Mean Girls production, he’s built lasting friendships with the cast and crew, making this experience all the more memorable. He’s grateful for his parents’ support in his musical journey.

Kush is a Sophomore at BHS and is thrilled to be part of this year’s production! He’s played percussion for six years and was a part of show choir combo last year. Some of the things he does outside of this are marching band and tennis. He loves to spend time with all of the people involved in this production and would like to thank his parents and staff for giving him the opportunity to be a part of it. Enjoy the show!

Kale is a senior at Batavia, a percussionist, saxophonist, and a member of several bands at the highschool. They are also active in several ensembles outside of the highschool. Kale is very grateful to all staff, parents, and volunteers that make this show possible and cannot wait to present this incredible show to you!

Dominic Is a Batavia native, graduating from BHS in 1999, at which point he attended Illinois Wesleyan University, where he earned a BFA in Theatre Arts. Following a short stint as a freelance director, he settled in Quincy Illinois at Quincy Community Theatre and served as their Director of Student Theatre and Head of Education from 2003-2005 at which time he transitioned to the position of CEO and Managing Artistic Director from 2005 – January of 2011. Dominic has also been appointed and served a three-year term with the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, and served as an adjunct professor of Theatre Arts and Acting with Hannibal-LaGrange University from 2008 to 2010. A Theatrical Dominic met his wife Miranda on stage in Grease and they have four children, Brayden, Delaney, Mirabella, and Bianca.

Directing Credits Include: The Sound of Music, Urinetown, The Producers, Little Shop of Horrors (twice), Miracle on 34th Street, Steel Magnolias, Jesus Christ Superstar, On Golden Pond, The Graduate, Chicago, Little Brother, Lucky Stiff, Forever Plaid, Footloose, The Importance of Being Earnest, All Shook Up, Jake’s Women, Everybody, Death of a Salesman, Lost in Yonkers, Shrek, Beauty and the Beast, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, I Never Saw Another Butterfly, Dear Edwina, The Theory of Relativity, 9 to 5 The Musical, Arsenic and Old Lace, You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, Bridge to Terabithia, I Do! I Do! and many more. He is also the founding Director and coach for But Seriously, Folks… improv troupe founded in 2003.

Awards & Reccognition
* West Central Illinois 20 Under 40 recipient
* Individual Artist recipient for Wes Central Illinois?SouthEastern Iowa/North Eastern Missouri
* Arts Educator of the year – 2009
* Enid Ireland Award
* Batavia/Geneva/St. Charles 30 Under 30 recipient
* Batavia Hall of Honor

Kyle Donahue is thrilled to be working with the great cast and artistic team of songs for a new world! He has loved choreographing previous BHS productions of Mean Girls, 42^nd Street, Spongebob, Theory of Relativity, Mamma Mia, Chicago, and Cats!  He has choreographed and performed around the world on regional theatre, theme park and cruise ship stages. Some choreography credits include Pippin, Legally Blonde, Grease, All Shook Up, Oklahoma!, and Forever Plaid.  In the Chicagoland area, Kyle has been seen on stage at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook, Steel Beam Theatre, Fox Valley Ballet, and New American Theatre, and has choreographed for Buffalo Theatre Ensemble, North Riverside Players, Fox Valley Repertory, Rockford University, and College of DuPage. He serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Recreation at the Geneva Park District, and resides locally with his beautiful wife Julie and their four kiddos Lulu, Lincoln, Finn and River. He sends a big thank you to Dominic for this opportunity and the cast and artistic team for their hard work and dedication!

Peter Barsch teaches all curricular and co-curricular choirs at Batavia High School. Mean Girls marks his 20th show as Music Director. In addition to the last nine years of BHS shows, he has worked on Les Miserables, Ragtime, Beauty and the Beast, Into the Woods, The Producers, and more. Mr. Barsch holds a Master’s Degree in Music Education from NIU and two Bachelor’s Degrees from the Honors Program at Loyola University Chicago. Mr. Barsch has been listed in “Who’s Who among America’s Teachers” and was a Quarter-Finalist for the Grammy “Music Educator of the Year” Award. Mr. Barsch and his wife, Annie, live in Batavia with their three children.

Kate Streepey is a senior at Batavia High School, and Songs for a New World is her 9th show at BHS. She can’t wait for everyone to hear all the beautiful music in this show and experience the uniqueness of a black box musical. She also would like to thank all the parent volunteers who made this show possible. Enjoy the show!

Attilia Scavo is a junior at BHS and this is her first show with the theater program! She loves her role as Assistant Student Music Director and knows the show is going to be amazing. She would like to thank her family, friends, and teachers for supporting her. She hopes you love the show!