The De Soto High School Theatre Department will present “Mystic Pizza” – a musical based on the 1989 romantic comedy that launched Julia Roberts’ career.
Showtimes are 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 29, Friday, March 1, and Saturday, March 2 in the high school auditorium. Tickets are $6 for students and $8 for adults.
Set in 1989, the musical focuses on three teenage girls trying to navigate the complexities of life, love and family while working in a small-town pizza joint. They serve everyone from the “townies” to the privileged country club set.
De Soto High senior Jada Pinson portrays Daisy Arujo, who she describes as fun, flirty and eccentric.
Pinson said she has been acting since she was a child and enjoys being part of the show.
“It’s a really good cast,” Pinson said. “There’s a lot of talent.”
Fellow senior Oceana Boyer-Faulker said the character she plays, Daisy’s sister, Katherine “Kat” Arujo, is a smart, but hopeless romantic who is saving up money to attend Yale University, adding that her life gets more complicated when she meets a boy and learns about love.
Boyer-Faulker, who performed in five previous plays, said this show has a small-town feel like De Soto.
Josh Mahue, another senior, plays Kat’s love interest, Tim Travers, who has a secret.
The three cast members agreed all ages will enjoy the 1980s music featured in the musical, including “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” “Manic Monday” and “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.”
The cast also includes seniors: Riley Belleville, Shelby Harrison, Jasmen Pratt, Karlie Kemper, Ella Bradley, Hank Schrader, Kegan Hoelzer; juniors: Cameron Blickenstaff, Josie Guertzgen, Cameron Merseal, Cali Petty, Jaden Kozloski, Peggy Chandler, Lexy Northcutt, Josephine Foster, David Imhoff, Delaney Martin, Kaitlyn Kamler, Jackson Preuss, Ashlyn Smetzer; sophomores: Kalli Cooper, Quinn Williams, Alexander Trimble, Tiger Germanceri, Cheyenne Crafton, Noah Burgett; and freshmen: Brynn Hoelzer, Olivia Walker, Kendall Davis, Caden Hill, Andrew House and Jaelynn Van Meter.
De Soto High theatre instructor Samantha Roop is directing the play. Music directors are Seth Harris and Suzanne Harris, with Chris Howard as pit band director. Isabella Henderson, a senior, is the production stage, sound and publicity director.