So I just finished coming back from my cousin (Steve’s cousin), Jason Robert Brown’s, musical “13.” Jason is a Broadway veteran and won a Tony for his score on the musical “Parade” which was directed by Harold Prince and played at the Lincoln Center theatre. He’s been touted as one of the best songwriters since Stephen Sondheim. For anyone who is not into Broadway musicals, that’s pretty huge.
Anyway, so Jason has been working on this show called 13 for a while. It’s a story about a 13 year old Jewish boy who moves to Indiana from NYC and attempts to get all the popular kids to come to his Bar Mitzvah so he can be/feel cool as well.
What’s amazingly impressive is that the entire cast is comprised of thirteen 13-17 year olds. The band/orchestra members/rock band are all in that age range as well. Uh- Ma-Zing! And they are all triple threats – amazing actors/singers/dancers. Amazing. I especially loved Sarah Niemietz as Patrice.
The musical opens up with a song about what it feel like to be thirteen. You want to feel like you belong, you’re constantly told what you can’t do, you just want to fit in and be liked. Throughout the show there are songs about geeks, and betrayal, and crushes, and gossip, and friendships… and you realize – “I think I’m still 13. I am in a perpetual state of 13.”
It especially made me think of the online world, which can be soo very High School. Yes it can. Don’t deny it. :) Popularity, stats, comments. At times it’s enough to make you sick. Other times it’s enough to make you high on life. I mean, who doesn’t want to feel accepted and liked for who they are and what they do? Everyone. Sometimes though, it just feels like too much work to keep up. And it is. Because there comes a point when you have to say “fuck it.”
As the play progresses the protagonist, Evan, realizes that striving to be liked and be popular comes at the cost of his real friends, who like him for who he is. And ultimately, being who he is makes for becoming popular.
I was reminded of myself at thirteen. That awfully awkward, tall and lanky kid who just could not for the life of her fit in anywhere. And how after much struggling to fit in, gave into herself. Because the realization comes after a while, that it doesn’t matter who does and doesn’t like you. But to know you have friends you can count on, and who care about you, can make you feel like the most popular (and lucky) kid in the room.
If you’re in Los Angeles, definitely take a peek at the show and let me know what you think.
Hannah January 20, 2007
Hehe i was the geeking one who lived in the Music department most break times! I was learning Grade 5 theory and really couldn’t do it lol. If i wasn’t just dossing around i was in a music rehearsal for some music group
angela sauceda January 22, 2007
So weird you posted about this show because I’ve been hearing great things about it and trying to get someone to go with me…now I really want to go.
Brandon January 22, 2007
Zadi, I know exactly how you felt. The school I go, if you not good at sports no one knows who the hell you are.
Justin January 22, 2007
A TONY?!!! Wait, a tony? For real? That’s amazing. That’s more then amazing that rocks!!! I would love to go see it. With any luck I can find the money and go.
In school you should have just gave in and became whatever people wanted you to be. Obviously I’m kidding. You might find this hard to believe but I was once an outcast too. No, it’s OK! Don’t cry for me.
Back to the musical. Is there a CD out I can buy?
Michelle Kenobi January 23, 2007
Wow, I love musicals. This sounds great. L.A. is only two hours away, so maybe I will check it out.
It was a lpeasure to meet you at CES, by the way. I just uploaded your interview with Steve and Irina Slutsky.
http://stage6.divx.com/Stage6_Live_at_CES/show_video/1094046