Middle school is a pivotal point in every kid’s life. Whether it’s navigating friendships, new responsibilities, or exploring identity, it’s an important part of growing up. And that’s what this year’s middle school show, “13 The Musical,” is all about.  

“13 The Musical” is a coming of age story about a middle school student, Evan, whose entire life is turned upside down when, due to his parents’ divorce, he is forced to move from the big city of New York to a small town in Indiana just before his Bar Mitzvah. 

The show holds a personal connection for many of the students in the production, allowing them to connect to the story on a more personal level. 

“I understand how he (Evan) feels personally because I’m a teenager, he’s a teenager, we’re going through a lot of the same things,” Asher Farkas ‘30 shared. 

Another student, Ella Burstyn ‘30, described the impact that relating to a character has on their performance.

“I definitely relate to … struggling with friendships, especially during middle school, because things change, and I can relate to that as an actor, and that’s what helps me bring it out,” they said. 

Many issues are taken into consideration when deciding what show to do. Time, relevance, and audience all play key roles in not only picking a show, but determining what kind of impact it will have. 

The director of the production Mr. Lee Kasper shared, “We’re in this moment where somehow the hardest part of a childhood is harder, so this show manages to speak to that.”

Another factor: the pandemic. This epidemic affected students in a number of ways, with many feeling isolated and struggling to connect with their peers and people around them – especially in an environment like middle school, where kids have always experienced these problems.

“I think that to me, the show, even though it was written before all of the pandemic stuff, still very powerfully speaks to that question of how do we figure out who we are in a world that looks past middle schoolers?” asked Mr. Kasper.

Mr. Kasper went on to explain his own view about the things middle school students go through. 

“Middle school is this really important period where a lot of kids feel like they’re out there in the wild on their own, and the teachers are there for them, but the adults in general look past them,” he said.  “I don’t think that should be the case.” 

That’s what makes a show like “13 The Musical” so powerful; it encapsulates and brings to light the feelings and experiences that kids all over the world feel in their everyday life.

What did the performers learn from this experience?

“Even if you’re not ready for change, it’ll come, and you have to accept it,” said Ella Burstyn.

“Even if bad things happen, you’ve got to keep going,” Joseph Bernstein ‘32 expressed.

“Don’t let what anyone says affect you, just focus on yourself.” Lavi Meyerson ‘31 remarked.