Coachella Valley students take on clique culture in 'Mean Girls' at Palm Canyon Theatre

School is still in session for a group of local student performers coming together for a musical production of the early 2000s film "Mean Girls."

The 30 students that compose the cast of this Palm Canyon Theatre production are from 10 valley schools and range from the ages of 13 to 19 years old. Although they come from different backgrounds, they all share a love for theater that bonds them —despite their characters' cattiness towards each other. '

"It really just feels like a family," said Torie Mendoza, who plays the lead character Cady Herron. "I think that's the biggest thing that is important to me and why I love it so much."

From the big screen to the stage

This run of "Mean Girls - High School Version" marks the first production staged through a new collaboration between Palm Springs Unified School District and Palm Canyon Theatre. According to a program note written by director David Green, who is also the manager of theatre and performing arts at PSUSD, his intention is to make this an annual summer tradition between the two entities, to build a full-fledged youth Summer Stock that all Coachella Valley youth can audition for.

Based on the 2004 film of the same name, this musical adaptation of "Mean Girls" made its way to Broadway in 2018, where it snagged 12 Tony Award nominations. This home-grown production is directed by Green and choreographed by Palm Canyon Theatre Co-Artistic Director Se Layne.

"There are so many talented young people in our area all chomping at the bit to grow even further and show audiences what they can do,” Layne said in a press release. "This collaboration with PSUSD is energizing for those of us in theater education, but it will also be a thrill for our community to see and thoroughly enjoy.”

The cast of this inaugural collaborative effort, which is comprised of students from not only PSUSD but Desert Sands Unified School District, Palm Canyon Theatre and Musical Theatre University, had only three weeks of rehearsal to learn and perfect this musical, which will make its regional premiere on opening night.

Set in the fictional North Shore High School, Cady Heron, played by Torie Mendoza, is challenged with adjusting from her life as a homeschool student in Africa to attempting to fit in as a "normal" teenager at her new suburban Chicago high school. Exploring the tacit laws that divide students into cliques, Cady finds herself in the midst of an elite group of students known as the "Plastics." Cady is subsequently entangled in the popularity hierarchies of high school, forced to choose between enjoying the perks she is granted by her social status or with changing the status quo.

Like a family on stage

Born and raised in the Coachella Valley, Mendoza's story share parallels to that of Cady as she, too, is homeschooled.

This is the 16-year-old actor's first time participating in a Palm Canyon Theatre production. When she decided to gave musical theater a try as a kid, she started with classes at a local dance studio. She quickly fell in love with theater, which further propelled her journey into the creative outlet.

In eighth grade, Mendoza joined Musical Theatre University, a pre-professional training program for students, selected by audition, from Palm Springs Unified School District (and occasionally neighboring districts).

"Musical theater has just been an outlet that I fit in so well. It really just feels like a family everywhere that you go, and I think that's the biggest thing that is important to me and why I love it so much," said Mendoza.

Her favorite part of "Mean Girls" so far has been bonding with her fellow castmates.

"This cast is so incredibly talented and so fun to be with on and off stage," she said. "Some of my favorite moments are being in the green room playing dodgeball. It's just so fun. We get to really bond together as this family and this community ... it's always my favorite part, and the show has been just incredible."

Something new

Taking on the role as head of the Plastics, aka the infamous Regina George, is Kaiya Treash. A local to the Coachella Valley, Treash has been performing theatrically in the desert since the age of 10. She became part of MTU as a teen, and previously participated in productions put on by Palm Canyon Theatre.

Treash is headed into her second year at Pepperdine University, and is planning on majoring in musical theater. She returned home for her summer break to participate in this collaborative PSUSD and Palm Canyon Theatre production.

"It becomes your whole life, and you have to be super dedicated to it," Treash said of theater. "I'm always at the theater every single day but ... nothing makes me as happy, or even comes close, to the rush I feel when I'm on stage performing for an audience."

This enthusiasm is echoed in Treash's sentiments about the musical itself. She described this theatrical adaptation of the film as maintaining the iconic characters "Mean Girls" fans have come to love while providing something different for new an old audiences to enjoy.

"You get to know the characters better through the songs and through the dances and it just gives it even more energy," said Treash.

Transcending time and audiences

Landen Hementera portrays Damian Leigh in this production of "Mean Girls," which marks his first time performing outside of his high school. Hementera said he first developed a passion for theater following his first introduction to the art during a Palm Desert High School production of "Cinderella." After moving to the Coachella Valley from the Philippines in 2017, Hementera said he was looking for a community of likeminded peers where he could be himself. He found that space in theater, and is grateful to have found a similar space in this show despite not knowing anyone else on the cast beforehand.

Hementera, who is going to be a junior this upcoming school year, said he's excited to portray a character like Damian who he can relate to. He's enjoyed being part of a show that has remained culturally relevant decades after its release.

"It makes fun of certain cliques or sometimes people, but it makes fun of every single person, so you can't get mad at it," said Hementera. "That's the experience we all had in high school, but just heightened. It's very dramatic, and it makes it very entertaining for everybody of all ages."

If you go

What: The Palm Springs Unified School District and Palm Canyon Theater present "Mean Girls High School Version"

When: July 7-16 (7 p.m. Thursday, July 13; 8 p.m. Friday, July 7 and July 14; 8 p.m. Saturday, July 8 and July 15; and 2 p.m. Sunday July 9 and July 16)

Where: Palm Canyon Theatre, 538 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

How Much: $38 for adults, $34 for seniors, $17 for students

More Info: palmcanyontheatre.net

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Palm Springs-area students to bring 'Mean Girls' to Palm Canyon Theatre