East sophomore Reina Ryan is no stranger to the stage. Leading roles are her forte. 

“I have always really liked to sing,” Ryan told Spark. “I grew up on Disney princess movies, like musicals, so that’s what got me into it.” 

Stepping into the world of theater, Ryan’s first role was starring Edwina in “Dear Edwina Jr.” in third grade. 

Performing for a long time, Ryan noted all of what is included in theater. 

“I get nervous, I freeze up, I’ve forgotten a line, it’s just the experience,” said Ryan. 

Her favorite role so far has been Wednesday Addams in the Hopewell Junior School production of “The Addams Family”. 

Often playing lead roles, Ryan’s friends and family come to watch and support her. 

“I invite my friends and when I see them in the audience it’s like 10 times more scary to see them,” said Ryan. “It’s scary but it’s also nice because a lot of kids don’t actually know that I do this. It’s fun to have kids be like ‘I didn’t know you did this’.” 

Before she joined theater, Ryan always kept an eye out for her friend, East sophomore and a member of the theater crew Kiri Smith, in the audience. Smith met Ryan when they were in eighth grade, and the two have been close friends ever since. 

“I admire how motivated she is and how she puts so much effort into everything she does,” Smith told Spark. 

Ryan is a hardworking person in all that she does, according to Smith. 

“Sometimes I see her pull up her script in the middle of class,” said Smith. 

Ryan starred as Cady Heron in the East Theater production of “Mean Girls the Musical” from March 27 through March 29. Ryan rehearsed with the rest of the cast five days a week from 3:15 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

“Cady’s really fun to play because she changes so much throughout the show. In the beginning, she’s very innocent and she’s not stupid, but she’s naive,” said Ryan. “It’s so fun to be able to go from that to being one of the mean girls.” 

Her favorite song to perform as Cady Heron is “Apex Predator,” a duet with the character Janice, played by Kierstyn Flynn. 

“[Theater’s] really community-oriented, and that’s why I really, really like it,” said Ryan. “Even if you’re a leader, or you’re ensemble, you’re still in the same productions and you are all working towards the same goal.” 

According to Ryan, being a part of the theater group has taught her how to succeed in group settings. She has even met some of her best friends through theater. 

East sophomore Brooke Hall met Ryan and they became close friends during the spring production of “Mama Mia!” in their freshman year of high school. 

“One day before rehearsal we both went to Tropical Smoothie Cafe with some of our mutual friends and we started talking,” Brooke Hall told Spark. “Since then, we have been best friends and have only gotten closer.” 

Hall described Ryan as compassionate, intelligent, and devoted. Even when her schedule is full of theater and homework, she still finds a way to get it all done, said Hall.

“Since getting her role as Cady Heron, she has been working endlessly to memorize her lines, remember her blocking, and perform her songs to the best of her abilities,” said Hall. “All she has done during the rehearsal process for “Mean Girls” showcased her best traits and has shown just how talented and hardworking she is.” 

Even though she is always busy, she still manages to maximize the amount of effort and passion she puts into everything she does, according to Hall. 

“She has a very positive attitude towards everything, which flows with her hard work to create beautiful things,” said Hall.

Besides theater, Ryan also participates in the Science Olympiad and the Speech and Debate team. Though she loves the arts, she takes a particular interest in math and STEM classes. She is currently enrolled in Chemistry and AP Biology. 

Ryan knows many people who she believes would thrive in theater, but they are not able to see themselves in that position. 

“People need to get [the idea] out of their heads that they need to be really good at one specific thing. Maybe they’re like “I can’t sing so I can’t do it” or “I can’t dance so I can’t do it,” said Ryan. 

According to Ryan, to succeed in theater students just have to be willing to put in the effort and to stand in front of an audience. 

“It’s a community effort. You’re on stage, but there’s like 30 people on stage too,” said Ryan.