Windermere High School to present "Freaky Friday: A New Musical"

Windermere High School’s Kyleigh Fernandez, Manuella Muller, Nora Whittlesey and Adele Whittlesey are in for double the trouble as they take the stage. 

Fernandez and Adele Whittlesey were double cast to take on the role of Ellie Blake, a smart, funny, disorganized teenager who views herself as easily forgotten compared to her “perfect” mother, Katherine Blake. 

Nora Whittlesey and Muller were double cast to play Katherine Blake.

Well, until the characters swap bodies in “Freaky Friday: A New Musical,” which Windermere High will bring to the stage April 24-27.

“Freaky Friday” follows the life of a teen and her mother when they magically swap bodies and have to learn to live in the other’s shoes. They spend the day learning each other’s struggles while trying to switch back bodies before Katherine Blake’s wedding. 

Fernandez said “Freaky Friday: A New Musical” is a production Windermere High students can accurately portray and connect to given the age of one of its main characters and other characters. 

Photo by Liz Ramos

There are four feature films in the “Freaky Friday” franchise besides the musical. The cast watched some of the movies in preparation to bring the characters to life. 

Nora Whittlesey said she’s trying to play Katherine Blake as true to the character she’s watched on the screen but also adding her own personality. 

What makes the character portrayals tricky for the Whittlesey sisters, Fernandez and Muller is not only are they portraying their originally cast characters but also another character because the mother and teenager swap bodies. On top of that, the girls have to ask themselves how their counterparts would act as those characters. 

“Our Ellie characters were going to be a little more over the top than they did necessarily in the movie; slightly less like moody teenager and more overdramatic, super sarcastic, which is slightly different from what they did in the movies or in the Broadway musical,” Fernandez said. 

Adele Whittlesey said she has an easier time playing Ellie Blake, but she spends most of the musical playing Katherine Blake.

“The challenge for me is figuring out how to mimic some stuff that even my own mom does, to try and fit into this mom character and then also making the character your own while also still make it what the other person is doing as well, trying to have the same interpretation of the same character while also making your own choices,” she said. 

They have to be aware of every facial expression, tone of voice, stance and response they make as their counterpart will have to match it. Asking how the other actor might play the part helps to make better decisions on how to portray the character. 

Ricardo Rico, who will play Adam, said he is choosing to play his character more over the top as well. He said in the Broadway musical, the character is more laid back and chill with moments of comedy. 

Muller said her favorite part of the musical is how much her character gets to eat. 

“I got to try a Twinkie for the first time, and that was a really nice moment,” Muller said while giggling. “I think I have to run to a store and get some (for myself).”

From the singers and actors to student choreographers to crew members, the more than 50 students involved in the production are able to demonstrate their talents in various ways. 

Fernandez is looking forward to seeing all the dance numbers come together after all the rehearsal to perfect choreography. 

With a comedy, Nora Whittlesey said there’s pressure to ensure the audience laughs. She’s hopeful some of her favorite lines as Katherine Blake will land well with the audience. 

Muller agreed, saying Katherine Blake is the comedic relief of the show, so it’s “nerve wracking to see if the audience is going to take it well.”

Although the musical is catered more toward a younger audience, Nora Whittlesey and Fernandez said there are lines that have double meaning to provide comedy for adults. 

The students were looking forward to performing for Horizon Middle School students. The theater department has not performed exclusively for a middle school audience in the past. 

Rico said he hopes the performance will inspire students to pursue theatrical aspirations when they get into high school.