The Big Production

The Big Production, by Peter Lerangis, is the second book in the Drama Club series. Washington D. C.'s Ridgeport High School is an ordinary public school with an extraordinary history of theatrical productions. As the students prepare to perform Grease, their spring musical, junior Brianna goes from motivated good girl to an 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 multi-narrators' points of view stay very true to teen language including instant messaging between various characters. The drug use subplot has very little explicit use--most shows the effects of the drugs on Brianna (short temper, shaking hands, confusion and delerium). Another main character, nice boy Harrison, deals with his racist, homophobic, Greek father providing a father-son strained relationship as another sub-plot. Unlike similar novels (such as the Drama! series by Paul Ruditis), the theatrical aspect of the book isn't too technical, and in fact provides much of the drama and hilarity. Case in point is stage manager Charles' reaction to opening night: "By opening curtain, Charles wanted to kill Gabe for adding a motor to the car, which went off all by itself as the cast were taking their places. By the first musical number, he wanted to kill the cast. By the start of the second act, he wanted to kill himself. These were excellent signs. The wish for mass murder, he had come to realize, was healthy in the theater, as long as one refrained from the accomplishment thereof" (214). The Big Production would be enjoyed by many students grades 7 and up, not just those interested in drama.

Here at Ridgeport High School, theater is everything. With tons of awards and the reputation of having Tony winners as alumni, every generation has to make sure that the momentum keeps going. Brianna Glaser is proud to be co-president of the Drama Club. The drawback of having that position, though, is that it does take up a pretty good amount of her time. But Brianna can't let this effect her at all. She does, in fact, have to make time to study, choose a college, and try to be the top of her class while trying not to get lovestruck. But since the Spring Musical is coming up, Brianna finds it hard to fit academics into her schedule. Especially since this year's musical will be the world-renowned Grease, one show everyone will want to be in. Of course, from here on out, it isn't smooth sailing for Brianna. From accidents on the stage to some of the main performers having to drop out, it's bad enough that Brianna can't keep herself together, but will she be able to keep the musical together before opening night? There's always drama in the DC! Peter Lerangis keeps this new series going with THE BIG PRODUCTION. Fast-paced and very dramatic (of course!), readers who enjoyed the first book, The Fall Musical #1 (Drama Club), will not want to miss this next one. Reviewed by: Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen