‘You’re more than your grades,’ high school thespians portray
November 13, 2024 at 11:21 p.m.
Blind Brook high schoolers have at least one common denominator in their experience that many, if not most, share: grade anxiety.
It’s the reality for a lot of students across the U.S., particularly those in high achieving school districts.
In a powerful move to make a statement about social segregation, Alexis Larsen (played by Abby Meron) takes off her jacket of prestige and drops it on the ground.By Sarah Wolpoff
“Ranked” was essentially written for them. And because circumstances seemed appropriate this year, Drama Club director and producer Christina Colangelo felt it was the right study for her students’ fall production that will premiere this weekend.
“There’s a different kind of stress happening in schools these days, with grades and pressure, which has kind of always been there, but it’s something we’re really recognizing right now,” Colangelo said. “Really, it’s the more internalized stress that I’m seeing; the pressure they’re putting on themselves to be the top of everything.”
The Blind Brook School District has been focusing on student mental health heavily in the last few years—though for a long time it had been a topic of interest due to achievement-affiliated stress, efforts to address anxiety ramped up in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Drama Club’s fall production, Colangelo said, is their way of looking at mental health through another lens.
Edgy and angsty with hints of humor, “Ranked” is a dystopian piece that takes place in a world where the academic record of students is directly linked to worth in the social hierarchy. Every week, grade-influenced leaderboards are updated and publicly displayed, determining if students are “Above Average” or “Below Average.” The students doing well are awarded with popularity, fancy uniforms and access to additional resources, while the students struggling are cast aside as outcasts.
Alexis Larsen and Ryan Summers (played by Abby Meron and Joshua Fitzpatrick) study for their upcoming exams together.By Sarah Wolpoff
When ostracization and future opportunity is on the line, stress is high. Are families willing to cheat to ensure their children see success? You’ll have to watch the show to find out.
“Even speaking for myself, I think that this show is very relatable because we do deal with a lot of stress and competition between us,” said Abby Meron, a senior who plays Alexis. “Also, with the college process and making sure those grades are up and that we stay at a good point…although it’s not as dramatic as this, the stress is there so it’s easy to relate to these characters.”
“Ranked” is relatively lowkey; it’s never been seen on a Broadway stage. Moreso, the licensing tends to get purchased by high schools and colleges—it’s a show meant to be performed by youth.
Two theater teachers from Granite Bay High School wrote the piece after gathering input and stories from their students in California about the pressures of student life in 2018. They premiered the show a few weeks after the Varsity Blues college admissions bribery scandal swept headlines in 2019.
“Below Average” students (played by Pablo Zeitune and Maya Hazan) look on in disgust as “Above Average” students describe them as lesser than.By Sarah Wolpoff
“The main message is about the stress, but the more hidden message is this idea of pushing that there’s more to life than grades,” said Joshua Fitzpatrick, a junior who plays Ryan Summers in the show. “It’s essentially high school meets social hierarchy…I think the premise of it will be interesting enough for people to want to come.”
“It’s every man for himself, which is not the message educators want kids to have,” Colangelo said. “At first, I was a little anxious about, will they get out of it what the script is putting out there? And I think it took us until really last week to understand how profound this message can be for kids that are struggling, that they’re more than their grades.”
Colangelo noted that for the most part, she feels her Drama Club students are good at managing their time and finding success. But there are many in the Blind Brook Schools community who she believes will take away just as much as the thespians.
In a musical number, cast members of “Ranked” dance around with their notebooks, reflecting how much studying has taken over their lives.By Sarah Wolpoff
“That’s why I’m really glad we’re going to be putting this on for eighth-graders,” said senior Aviella Kibel, who plays Kelly. Before “Ranked” premieres to the public, Colangelo arranged a special performance for middle schoolers this year due to the relevance.
“I think it’s a really important message for them to hear, especially going into high school,” Kibel said. “That you’re more than a grade; you’re more than a number.”
“Ranked” is a musical, but not in a grand production type of way. The story is told alongside pop-music style tunes and limited choreography.
The biggest challenge of preparation has also been the beauty—it’s entirely told from the high schoolers’ perspective, there are no adults portrayed on stage.
“High schoolers have a hard time playing high schoolers because we play it too realistically,” Fitzpatrick said. “We’ve been sort of quiet and more reserved, but we have to be more eccentric.”
As the highest ranking, and thus most popular, student in her class, Sydney Summers (played by Madilyn Klein) is not one to mess with.By Sarah Wolpoff
Funnily enough, Colangelo said that’s common. Age-appropriate casting can be difficult, especially in a show based on real feelings of anxiety, because students subconsciously lose sight of the acting.
“It means they feel more like real people for us, so you’re less out of body when you’re playing that part,” Kibel said. “It’s more challenging in that way, but then again it means you relate more to your character.”
Meron said, as an actress, that’s been a fun hurdle to conquer.
“A lot of what’s portrayed on stage is dramatic, and you have to show it in that way, but it’s stress that we all feel internally,” she said. “It’s just a matter of taking those internal emotions and turning it into something that will make sense to other people.”
Lily Larsen (played by Chloe Beal) looks in disbelief as John Cater (played by Pablo Zeitune) tries to tell her not to worry so much about her grades. The Blind Brook High School Drama Club students are rehearsing for their upcoming production of “Ranked.”By Sarah Wolpoff
“Two musicals in one year is a lot of work,” she continued. “But I definitely think this was a good, challenging pick.”
“Ranked” will perform on Friday, Nov. 15, and Saturday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://cur8.com/projects/16733 until two hours before showtime for $15.
If available, tickets can also be bought at the door an hour before showtime each night with cash or check only.
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