Freaky Friday
at Langley High School

Reviewed on May 7, 2022

Justin Neil
Westfield High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

It's the day before a family's grandiose wedding and everything is suspected to be in order. Staff? Check. Food Preparations? Check. An angsty teen against the whole ordeal? Check! However, when an argument between mother and daughter spirals into the two switching bodies, they must rely on some loving patience and a bit of teamwork to set things straight. In an engaging take on a contemporary classic, Langley High School explores the themes of compassion and self-acceptance in their vivacious yet lighthearted production of Freaky Friday.

This exciting production is based on Mary Rodgers' 1972 novel Freaky Friday. The stage adaptation was written by Pulitzer Prize winners Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey and was adapted into several films before hitting the stage. The plot centers around a controlling mother and a rebellious daughter who, amid a family feud, explore life in each other's shoes. Through acts of comedy and sentimentality, the two bond over valuable lessons of empathy and their shared love.

By enticing their audiences through well-crafted ensemble numbers and authenticity, Langley High School laid the framework for a solid 90s-esque show to boot. A particularly captivating number was "Go," where the ensemble of "students" donned flashlights in near pitch-black darkness, using the auditorium to their advantage by running through the aisles and out the doors to simulate a sense of eeriness and excitement that resonated with the crowd.

As the true stars of the family, Ellie and Katherine Blake, played by Tiffany Bennett and Claire Stephenson, both stole the show with incredibly powerful harmonies, an undisputed exhibition of chemistry, and nuanced acting expertise to match. Tasked with embodying each other's character, they tackled the obstacle with a deep understanding of their personalities and body language. Also fantastic was Ellie's "little" love interest, Adam, played by Conor Farah. His remarkably high-reaching vocals and onstage presence made his performance impressive to behold.

Ellie's innocently annoying younger brother, Fletcher, played by Caleb Toronto, won the audience's hearts with his childlike quips and animal-puppet sidekicks. On school grounds, Dr. Ehrin, played by Talia-Rose Diorio, provided phenomenally risqué comic relief that constantly had the audience roaring in laughter. Alongside her was Ms. Meyers, played by Samantha Brunjes. Her hilarious demeanor, paired with a bawdy personality and her "evocative" dance movements that had the audience going wild, made her role as the school's gym teacher all the more humorous.

The show contained many complicated set changes and quick transitions, which were executed swiftly and efficiently. In addition, the set's realism was captivating (Teddy Spaner, Killian Korchnak, Tori Ransom, Vic Scarpato), and included a spray-painted set of usable lockers, a simple yet ingenious front-facing car, and a moveable kitchen wall that was complete with multiple cupboards, a sink, and kitchen props (Annabelle Bozarth, Alina He). The atmosphere of the scenes was heightened by impeccable lighting designs (Mary Muir, Cassie Keating, Erin Young, Atlas Zecca), and the half professional, half student-led orchestra supported the singers flawlessly. Most impressive was the 5-minute special effects timer coded by Kira Lentz, adding the icing on the cake to the show's ingenuity.

Overall, Langley High School's production of Freaky Friday was both heartwarming and heart-pumping, leaving an inspiring message to love those who care for you, and to always "Be the person you never thought you'd be."

Zoey Miller
James Madison High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

What would it take to defy everything you've ever known in just one day? A scavenger hunt? A wedding? A magical hourglass? This question was answered in Langley High School's production of Freaky Friday, where science fiction meets reality and a mother and daughter must truly meet each other for the first time.

The story is as follows: On a seemingly ordinary day, busy mother, Katherine, and her teenage daughter, Ellie, get into a fight resulting in a broken hourglass. Little do they know the magic it possesses before they are magically zapped into each other's bodies. Now they must spend the day pretending to be the other person: Ellie as her mother frantically putting together the pieces of her wedding set to take place the next day, and Katherine as her daughter at school to confront her crush, her bully, and her failing report card. They must work together to switch back and learn to appreciate the other's hardships in the process. Originally a book, followed by several movie adaptations, Freaky Friday the musical premiered in 2016, at Signature Theatre here in Virginia.

What truly carried this production was the chemistry between all actors in the cast. The chaotic and accurate family dynamic between Katherine and Ellie as well as little brother Fletcher and mom's new fiancé, Mike, was pleasing and heartwarming to see, especially as it progressed throughout the show. Starting with moments like Fletcher and Ellie calling each other names, and ending with sweet, intimate moments like Mike carrying Fletcher to bed after he had fallen asleep in his mom's lap. Every interaction between the actors was timed and delivered perfectly to create the dysfunctional family picture that everyone knows so well. On top of the family, the entire ensemble felt like one cohesive unit throughout the show, seamlessly blending and interacting with each other to create the buzz that filled the stage everywhere you looked.

Tiffany Bennett and Claire Stephenson as Ellie and Katherine were an unforgettable pair in every way. Bennett was a show-stopping vocalist with a smooth and consistent tone all the way through. Stephenson portrayed the picture of a teenage girl trapped in a 40-year-old's body, including loud gestures and animated expressions. This was achieved, however, without sacrificing the beautiful character arc of coming to find a sweet spot for the family she previously disliked. The actor was able to find moments to be softer which complimented the rest of the choices and made the performance that much better. Together, the actors' voices and energies matched flawlessly and created a leading duo that could carry the show through to success.

Conor Farah played the role of Ellie's romantic interest, Adam, and did so with the ease and swagger of any archetypal high school heartthrob. Caleb Toronto played Fletcher and brought much to the role, committing to the silly baby brother role without losing the humanity and emotions behind the character.

The costume design by Ella Smith was fantastic; high schoolers and adults alike accurately looked their age with subtle but effective styling choices. The lighting, designed by Mary Muir, was fun and bright, including colorful backlights, a smoothly operated spot, and a projection to show the magic taking place as the lead characters switched bodies. The stage crew was especially impressive between every scene change, transitioning smoothly and quickly like they were never even there.

Langley High School put on an astounding production of Freaky Friday, that the cast and crew should surely be proud of, today and every day.

Campbell Wood
Thomas A. Edison High School
Submitted for publication to FCPS Community News

To ensure good luck, a bride typically needs to find something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue. But what if the something borrowed happens to be the body of your own daughter? Langley High School stunningly performed this bizarre conflict of a mother and her daughter in their rendition of Freaky Friday.

Based on the 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers and the Disney film adaptations, Freaky Friday is the strange story of an incompatible mother and daughter who magically switch bodies after touching an enchanted hourglass during an argument. The musical premiered at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia on October 6th, 2016.

Throughout the course of the show, the bond between a mother and her daughter grows stronger as the characters are forced to discover the difficulties of each other's lives while living in one another's bodies. This growth was executed accordingly through the chemistry of the controlling mother Katherine, played by Claire Stephenson, and the rebellious daughter Ellie, played by Tiffany Bennett. Each performer had the daunting task of portraying two different characters of different ages through their varying mannerisms and speaking tone. This was especially prevalent in Stephenson's performance, who, in a flash, seemingly transitioned from a stuck-up mother with excellent posture to a rambunctious teenager with a snarky tone. Their chemistry also was shown vocally, as their voices in duets worked impeccably well through challenging harmonies.

What truly brought out the energy and magic of this show was the committed and consistent ensemble, as well as the various smaller roles. One role that stood out, in particular, was the rowdy P.E. teacher Ms. Meyers, portrayed by the energetic Samantha Brunjes. Brunjens captured the entire stage with her almost terrifying energy as she gallivanted across the stage screaming at students without a loss of vitality. The ensemble was persistent in staying in sync with each other during dances and arm movements when showering the love interest Adam, played by Conor Farah, with jazz hands. No member of the ensemble went unnoticed, as each had displayed individual personalities to appropriately represent a high school student body.

The fictional Grover Cleveland High School was interchanged with the wedding setting seamlessly thanks to the speedy stage crew consisting of Jane Sullivan, Luca He, Conner Tone, and Lucas Kelly. Scene transitions lasted less than a minute while moving big objects like lockers and kitchen countertops flawlessly. The magic of the show was truly brought to life by the special effects, done by Kira Lentz. While Ms. Meyers paraded the stage, a beautiful yet large scoreboard was on display in the background. Coded by Lentz, the bright scoreboard increased the vibrance of the scene as it flashed a countdown clock featuring various colors.

Langley High School's Freaky Friday presented a chaotic conflict in a remarkably enjoyable way with their fun, vibrant cast and impressive technical elements. When searching for something borrowed at your next wedding, be sure it's not a magical hourglass.

Sarah Jakubowski
Broad Run High School
Submitted for publication to Patch (Fairfax/Alexandria)

Today and every day, the students of Langley High School's Saxon Stage throw their hearts and souls into their craft, and their production of "Freaky Friday" was certainly no exception. The cast and crew took Bridget Carpenter, Tom Kitt, and Brian Yorkey's musical adaptation of Mary Rodgers's classic novel and created a colorful, emotional, and mystical tale of family relationships that kept audiences at the edges of their seats, waiting to see what could come next.

Naturally, a story in which two characters switch bodies would require a great deal from its lead actors, but Tiffany Bennett and Claire Stephenson took those expectations and said, "I got this." As the duo of daughter Ellie and mother Katherine respectively, Bennett and Stephenson's performances expertly captured both characters' personalities, creating clear and seamless transitions between the two each time they swapped. Both actors also brought gorgeously strong vocals that blended and harmonized beautifully overtop Tom Kitt's score. The other members of the Blake family, little brother Fletcher (Caleb Toronto) and soon-to-be stepfather Mike (Alexander Rubin), gave beautifully grounded and heartbreaking performances as Ellie and Katherine's predicament brought about tension and confusion in the household and beyond. Also of note was Conor Farah's charismatic portrayal of Adam, Ellie's crush and List Master of the annual city-wide scavenger hunt. Farah's impressive vocal and emotional range in songs like "Go" and "Women and Sandwiches" brought the house down and provided a lighthearted presence when the stakes were high.

What truly brought the show together was the carefully crafted aesthetic displayed in the sets designed by Teddy Spaner, Killian Korchnak, Tori Ransom, Vic Scarpato, and the costumes designed by Ella Smith and Evey Burnette. Both departments took aspects of the 1990s time period and integrated them into the stage pictures, color palettes, and individual character looks. From the arcade-carpet pattern on the stationary set piece (Jackie Gauthier, Katie Chen) to Ms. Meyers's (Samantha Brunjes) bedazzled tracksuit, audiences could truly feel transported into the past. In addition, the attention to detail utilized to create the technical elements was nothing short of impressive, with the most effort seeming to go toward Kira Lentz's hand-made and coded scoreboard that nearly stole the show, despite only being present for a single scene.

Langley High School's production of "Freaky Friday" was a fresh and unique performance that radiated the love, care, and detail that was put into creating the experience. In the words of gym teacher Ms. Meyers, "watch your back," because Langley High School's passion for their craft, both onstage and off, cannot be stopped!

Frances (Franny) Stec
Osbourn Park High School
Submitted for publication to Insidenova - Sun Gazette

"Freaky Friday" has had its fair share of adaptations. First adapted from the 1972 book by Mary Rodgers into a movie in 1976, it was adapted again in 1995 and 2003. Then changed into a musical in 2016, Disney released another adaptation in 2018, this time directly based off of the musical. Finally, it was turned into a comedy-horror film in 2020. Needless to say, Langley High School had some big shoes to fill.

The show follows the lives of Ellie (Tiffany Bennett) and Katherine Blake (Claire Stephenson) as the mother-daughter duo switch places for 24 hours and have to blend in with the other's peers. In the body of Ellie, Katherine navigates being a teenager once again, dealing with bullies, "teen clichés," and an insane gym class. In the body of Katherine, Ellie deals with the stress of planning a wedding, taking care of two kids, and her "son" Fletcher (Caleb Toronto) running away. In order to switch back, the two of them must get a magical hourglass on the list for "The Hunt," an event where teenagers do crazy tasks in order to become the champion. Ultimately, the girls succeed, and now have a better idea of who the other is and what they have to deal with.

Ellie (Tiffany Bennett) displayed incredible vocals, especially during her song, "Oh, Biology," where Katherine deals with once again being in a teenager's body and feeling teenage hormones. She also worked well paired with Katherine (Claire Stephenson) during their song "I Got This," where each of the girls bragged about how they would excel at the other's life. She was a great comedic actor, and used hilarious facial expressions and body language to get the audience to root for her.

A favorite of the audience, Adam (Conor Farah) provided all the charm for the show, especially in his comedic song "Women and Sandwiches." He stood out as an audience favorite and brought a cute slice of romance into Ellie's life. He had great chemistry with Fletcher (Caleb Toronto) during their "bro" moments and made it a friendship the audience adored.

The costumes by Ella Smith, Evey Burnette, Logan Dooley, and Bella Levin added to the atmosphere of the show. From Ellie's AC/DC crop top to Katherine's wedding dress, each of the costumes felt authentically 90s and fit each character well. All of the costumes worked well with the show and added to the 90s aesthetic.

Each moment of "Freaky Friday" was unforgettable. The strong dancers in the ensemble made the production intense, and the cast of heavily comedic actors helped to make the show excel.

Sloane Helmick
Freedom High School
Submitted for publication to Falls Church News Press

Langley High School's production of Disney's Freaky Friday was 90s perfection. The hit musical adaptation, based on the 1972 book by Mary Rodgers, follows the turbulent story of Ellie Blake and her mother Katherine Blake as they navigate their opposing lives. Things get "freaky" when they get the opportunity to live in the other person's body after breaking a priceless hourglass from Ellie's late father, and Katherine's late husband. What ensues is a total perspective change, an epic hunt for glory and identity, a wedding and a heart melting story about family.

All eyes were on Ellie Blake (Tiffany Bennett) as she began the opening prologue. Her vocal abilities were stunning from start to finish and complimented the angsty teen she was portraying initially. Of course, Bennett played hand in hand with Claire Stephenson, who played Katherine Blake, Ellie's over-attentive mother. Stephenson's effortless air of authority read like a book on stage, and the chemistry between the two was both genuine and necessary. Bennett and Stephenson were required to be able to portray both mother and daughter, with precision and ease. It was impossible to tell where Katherine stopped, and Ellie began. In "Busted", the two really got to showcase their versions of each other, as each discovered secrets about the other, from cigarettes to totally tubular Twinkies. Unlike the Twinkies, their mother daughter relationship was so organic!

Stepping into the world of high school, audiences had the pleasure of meeting many other loveable characters. Among them was Adam, played by Conor Farah. Farah's performance as a high school boy was unparalleled, as were his vocals. From each perfectly timed hop out followed by an angels' chorus of "Adam", to easy-breezy, confident "sup", Farah stole the heart of everyone, not just Ellie. In addition to the budding romance between Ellie and Adam, Farah connected with Ellie's annoyingly adorable little brother, Fletcher, played by Caleb Toronto. Toronto was never without his boisterously British hand puppets. Fletcher reminded the audience what it was like to be a kid again, but also how it felt to have that childhood innocence dashed as reality comes thundering towards you. In "Parents Lie", Toronto reacted authentically to the heartbreaking news that was being thrown at him by Katherine, aka Ellie, as any hopeful ten-year-old would. The sudden plot twist of Fletcher's disappearance led to the uniting of Katherine and Ellie, and more lightheartedly led to "Women and Sandwiches." Farah and Toronto provided a stunning performance and a beautiful heart-to-heart that produced laughter and smiles across the board.

What's the 411 with tech? The lighting crew (Mary Muir, Cassie Keating, Erin Young, and Atlas Zecca) created a gorgeous design that both enhanced and dramatized the action on stage. The stage pictures were incredible, largely thanks to the lighting which elegantly showcased the actors. Hats off to Kira Lentz, who programmed and designed a working scoreboard from scratch, which was a major feature of "Watch Your Back!". This was extremely impressive and very memorable. Actors were artfully outfitted in 90s swag. Costumes, designed by Ella Smith, Evey Burnette, Logan Dooley and Bella Levin, were perfectly suited for the character they were assigned to. With so much to work with from the 90s, the team didn't waste a single creative fiber on their design, from pop-culture references to different high school tropes from that time.

Freaky Friday, the cult favorite, struck a chord at Langley. Oozing with cheesiness while simultaneously tugging on heartstrings, Langley left a lasting impression and not a dry eye in the house after the curtains closed.

Charlotte Nichols
St. Stephens & St. Agnes School
Submitted for publication to Connection

An angsty and misunderstood daughter. A hardworking and loving mother. These two complete opposites are forced to navigate each other's worlds after an untimely accident caused by a magical hourglass. On a rainy May afternoon, Langley High School transported the audience into the world of the Blake family with their production of Freaky Friday that warmed every audience members' heart.

With a book by Bridget Carpenter and music and lyrics by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, Freaky Friday the Musical was adapted by Disney Theatrical Productions. The musical debuted at the Tony Award winning regional theater, Signature Theatre, in Arlington, Virginia and has since been performed all over the country. The story follows Katherine Blake, an overworked mother who desperately struggles to understand her teenage daughter, Ellie Blake, who is still processing the death of her father. When the two magically switch bodies, they have "just one day" to find a way to switch back before chaos ensues even further.

Claire Stephenson portrayed the role of the overbearing mother, Katherine Blake, using a rigid posture and controlling movements and gestures. Stephenson was able to seamlessly transition to playing Ellie, where she used a more relaxed posture. Playing the role of Ellie was Tiffany Bennett, who perfectly embodied the grieving and confused character of Ellie. Bennet had a beautiful voice and a strong belt that was especially showcased in her song, "Oh Biology." Conor Farah portrayed the role of Ellie's crush, Adam. Farah was charming and sweet, and he especially showed his acting skills when in scenes as the character of Fletcher. His vocals were unmatched, and they shined in both his songs, "Women and Sandwiches" and "Go."

The technical aspects kept the audience captivated. The costumes, done by Ella Smith and Evey Burnette were spot on for each character and the time period of the 90s. Additionally, the set pieces, designed by Teddy Spaner and Stella Wang added life to each scene.

"After all of this and everything," every audience member at Langley High School left the theater with a newfound sense of understanding, hope, and acceptance.

Langston Muller
Albert Einstein High School
Submitted for publication to Fairfax County Times

Langley High School's production of Freaky Friday involved a good bit of magic; and not just that of a strange hourglass that kicks off its plot. In this musical, adapted from Mary Rodgers' 1972 novel and the subsequent Disney films, said hourglass swaps the minds of antagonistic mother and daughter Katherine and Ellie Blake. The two must then spend time in each other's bodies in order to better understand their relationship and hopefully reverse the curse. Langley added in a bit of their own sorcery into the proceedings in the form of a top-notch cast and crew who made a 50-year-old story feel new again.

The heart of that lies with Katherine and Ellie, who were brought to life by Claire Stephenson and Tiffany Bennett respectively. Of course, the swap early in the show forced both to entirely switch characters, something that could have proved a hefty challenge. However, both actresses nailed their performances. Stephenson carried the show's comedic elements in the first act as a teenage girl trapped in the body of her micromanaging mother and got a laugh on every joke. Her masterful use of physical comedy and perfect expressions made her an audience favorite, allowing her deft turn into more dramatic material, later on, to be much more impactful. Bennett, for her part, gave a more down-to-earth performance which helped anchor the high school shenanigans she found herself involved in. However, she never forgot the comedic nature of the show and watching her unsuccessful attempt to negotiate with school mean girl Savannah (Siannen Keough) was highly entertaining. Bennett's amazing vocals also contributed to her strong stage presence. While the two were excellent individually, their chemistry with each other was absolutely electric and forged both a comedic and emotional center to the show that never crumbled.

The rest of the cast kept this standard of quality going. Caleb Toronto was unrecognizable as a high schooler when playing Ellie's younger brother Fletcher, perfectly portraying an annoying younger sibling while still remaining an adorably sympathetic character. Talia-Rose Diorio and Samantha Brunjes brought considerable energy to the minor roles of school counselor Dr. Ehrin and gym teacher Ms. Meyers respectively, proving to be comic standouts of the show. The entire ensemble nailed whatever characters they were given, making each and every single one intriguing and entertaining. Whether they be an overcompensating cop with past relationship troubles (Brady Kastner) or a struggling antique store owner with no patience for children (Joana Lima Alves Montenegro), no character felt shallow or one-note. The true power of Freaky Friday's cast was giving life and depth to all characters large and small.

The 90s-inspired costumes (by Ella Smith, Evey Burnette, Logan Dooley, and Bella Levin) and hair (by Mia Mendonca, Rey Eiras, Cristina Sayegh, and Lily Bowers) also helped with this, truly immersing the audience in the show's world. Each character's look was perfectly designed, with additions like Ellie's ACDC tank top or Fletcher's Muppet shirt suiting them to a tee. The sets (by Teddy Spaner, Killian Korchnak, Tori Ransom, and Vic Scarpato) were very mobile and therefore able to keep up with the fast-paced scene transitions. Of particular note was Katherine's kitchen, which was turned around to represent an antique store later in the show.

Freaky Friday at Langley High School was polished and professional to the utmost degree but still understood that the human element is what makes theatre truly special, something quite fitting for a show pushing for empathy.