By Lucille Rieke There has been a lot of buzz recently about the Freaky Friday sequel in the works, Freakier Friday, but little do you know there is also a musical production of the hit 2003 Disney movie, and it’s playing right now at Catholic University! The musical, adapted from the movie of the same name, maintains the overall feel of Freaky Friday as we know it from Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan while adding some beautifully nuanced musical numbers to further the storyline. Scene from ‘Freaky Friday.’ Photo by Patrick Ryan. Freaky Friday revolves around a mother, Katherine, and her teenage daughter, Ellie, as they battle to be understood by one another. Katherine is getting married the following day to her fiancé, Mike, whom Ellie resents. Ellie is trying to navigate the trials and tribulations of high school while dealing with her pestering younger brother, Fletcher. In the midst of one of Katherine and Ellie’s fights, they break a magical hourglass given to Ellie by her late father. Upon breaking it, Katherine and Ellie switch bodies. In order to return to their normal selves before the wedding, they must find the identical magical hourglass gifted to Katherine that she sold to a pawn shop. The musical follows the pair on this “freaky” Friday where they are stuck in each other’s bodies, Ellie’s teenage mind trapped in her mother’s aging body, and Katherine’s adult mind forced to live another day of high school. Throughout the madness of a mother showing up to high school and her daughter trying to plan a wedding, we encounter Ellie’s friends, enemies, and crushes and meet Katherine’s wedding planners, caterers, and interviewers. The music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Brian Yorkey brings the characters’ struggles to life in a way the book by Bridget Carpenter couldn’t quite accomplish. Stella Monshaw invigorates Kitt and Yorkey’s music through her music direction; the actors shine in many beautifully sung solo numbers, such as “Busted” and “Parents Lie,” and the orchestra keeps the show’s rhythm and pop alive. Scene from ‘Freaky Friday.’ Photos by Patrick Ryan. Under the expert direction of Kathryn Chase Bryer, the cast of 23 delivered a full, passionate performance of a complex storyline, making it easy to follow and enjoyable to watch. The ensemble, from the adults to the teens, was focused and engaged, diving deep into their roles and helping to create the ecosystems that Katherine and Ellie each exist in Nikki Mirza’s choreography stood out, particularly in the energized and meticulous number “Oh Biology.” This hilarious number takes place while Ellie and her classmates dissect frogs, which then very cleverly become part of the dance. Savannah (the mean girl in school) and her army of minions exemplified Mirza’s choreography and leveraged their strong dancing as a power move over Ellie. The simple set and bare stage allowed the various locations the show takes place throughout to be seamlessly rearranged with movable kitchen counters that flipped to become lockers when rotating between Katherine and Ellie’s lives. Among many memorable performances by the students at Catholic University, Katie Vitale brought a present, determined performance as Katherine, deftly fluctuating between her role as Katherine and her role as Ellie in Katherine’s body. Her voice was rich and captivating and contrasted beautifully with Erin Fitzgerald, who played Ellie. Fitzgerald had gorgeous vocal tone and gave a fierce performance as Ellie, revealing a more nuanced character than just the angry teenager she is written to be. Madonnina Gullo played Savannah with prowess and commanded the stage in every scene. Ethan Turbyfill (Adam) had an angelic voice that reached every audience member, especially notable in the song “Go.” Lauren Rafoth (Fletcher) was a consistent charmer and truthful comedian. She beautifully portrayed an annoying little brother while still showing his lovable qualities. In one of the most heartwarming moments of the show, Fletcher sleeps on Katherine’s lap while she sings “After All of This and Everything,” a showstopping song beautifully sung by Vitale and aided by Rafoth’s adorableness as Fletcher. A show that balances all the classic musical theater elements at once, Freaky Friday is a whirlwind of dance, music, comedy, family drama, and strong acting. It’s a fun time and inspiring to watch these actors shine under the Hartke Theatre lights. Running Time: Approximately two and a half hours including one intermission. Freaky Friday plays October 24 to 27, 2023, presented by The Catholic University Musical Theatre Department, performing at Hartke Theatre, 3801 Harewood Road NE, Washington, DC. Tickets ($20–$25) are available at the box office 202-319-4000 or online. Lucille Rieke is an actor, musician, singer, and teaching artist based in Washington, DC, and San Francisco. She is currently a sophomore at American University studying Theatre Performance and Public Relations. You may have seen her recently in American University’s production of Daughters of Leda (Alex/Eve) or Once (Ex-Girlfriend). Lucille is honored to have the opportunity to write with DC Theater Arts as part of the DC Theater U program and cannot wait to begin seeing more theater in the future. Freaky Friday Book by Bridget Carpenter Music by Tom Kitt Lyrics by Brian Yorkey CAST Ellie: Erin Fitzgerald Katherine: Katie Vitale Fletcher: Lauren Rafoth Mike: Cayden Wallace Gretchen: Alaina Gust Hannah: Aleyna Francis Savannah: Madonnina Gullo Adam: Ethan Turbyfill Adult 1: Scarlett Spano Adult 2: Daniel Schlegel Adult 3: Alexis Griess Adult 4: Robert Garza Adult 5: Racheal Brandon Adult 6: Angelo Carucci Teen 1: Chase Nestor Teen 2: Kate Roddy Moore Teen 3: Ryan Dickson-Burke Teen 4: Allie MacDonald Teen 5: Mary Kelly Teen 6: Gianna Angela Female Swing: Sophie Rivkin-Fish Female Swing: Claire Sligh Male Swing: Jackson Biggs CREATIVE TEAM Director: Kathryn Chase Bryer Music Director and Conductor: Stella Monshaw Choreographer and Intimacy Choreographer: Nikki Mirza Scenic Designer: Samina Vieth Lighting Designer: Katie McCreary Costume Designer: Margaret E. Weedon Audio Engineer: Michelle Janota Assistant Director: Anna Sheehan Assistant Choreographer: Madonnina Gullo Stage Manager: Erin Peters Assistant Stage Manger: Daniel Campbell Fight and Dance Captain: Mary Kelly