The Big Production

April 1, 2008
Gr 9 Up-Ridgeport High School is an ordinary public school with an extraordinary theater department. As the students prepare to perform "Grease", their spring musical, junior Brianna goes from motivated good girl to overachiever, relying on uppers and downers to get her through her jam-packed days. There is the usual cast of drama students within the main plot: the diva, the tech geek, the reluctant performer, the jock who can act, the homosexual, and the student director. The multiple points of view stay true to teen language, including instant messaging. The drug-use subplot is not explicit and is quickly and neatly resolved; Lerangis mainly shows the effects of the pills on Brianna (short temper, shaking hands, confusion, and delirium). Nice-boy Harrison deals with his racist, homophobic, Greek father, providing a father-son strained relationship as another narrative thread. Unlike Paul Ruditis's "Drama!" series (S & S), the theatrical aspect of the book isn't too technical and, in fact, provides much of the drama and hilarity. Overall, a solid and well-cast production."Terrilyn Fleming, Colby Public Schools, KS"

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