Stratford Performing Arts will present the musical “Freaky Friday” April 17 and 18 at the Stratford Auditorium, 231 N. Oak in Stratford. The production, directed by Catie Caton, is based on the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and four Disney film and television versions of the story released between 1976 and 2018.
Theatre-goers are invited to spend “just one day” with mother/daughter pair Katherine and Ellie Blake, played by Stratford senior Kourtney Willingham and freshman Aryah Tackett. In the classic story, both characters, while unknowingly holding a magical hourglass, wish the other could walk a day in their shoes, resulting in mother and daughter switching bodies.
Daughter Ellie, in her mother’s body, now faces the high profile rehearsal dinner and wedding to Mike, played by sophomore Carter Clark, the man she thinks is trying to take the place of her deceased father, and being a mother to her sibling, Fletcher, played by fourth-grader Ella Hall. Ellie must also impress “Weddings Magazine” as the “bride who is woman enough to cater, design and execute her own wedding.” Meanwhile, her assistant, Torrey, played by junior Ivorie Mounsey, is nervously trying to hold it all together.
Mother Katherine, finding herself in her daughter’s body, now faces the challenges of modern high school social hierarchy, going up against Ellie’s nemesis, Savannah, played by junior Abbie Wigley. Her friends, Hannah and Gretchen, played by sophomore Natalie Kirkley and seventh-grader Ella Lister, are trying to help her get permission to be a part of “The Hunt,” an epic scavenger hunt controlled by the coolest guy in school Listmaster Adam, played by eighth-grader Daxton Ross.
Both Katherine and Ellie experience the difficulties and joys of overcoming obstacles in each other’s shoes.
Stratford junior Rachael Vandiver will serve as stage manager for the production. Other cast and crew include Hannah Green, Shelby Lister, Zoel Esparza, Sayla Hall, Emery Harrison, Bristol Meyer, Blake Ortega, Morgan Boyles, Lundyn Anderson, Nora Hall, Dace Ahlgren, Alexx Orvis, Lydia Minson, Maddie Caton, Kenna Herrera, Isaac Adcox, Maddy Williams, Laynee Williams, Leah Green and Izzabella Timmons.
Performances begin at 7 p.m. and admission is $5.
