Island Trees senior Kina Higgins made history this fall when the high school drama club produced "The Average Lives of Wayton High", a full-length production written by Higgins over the last two years.
"The Average Lives of Wayton High", a heartfelt piece filled with several storylines touching on the hardships teenagers face daily, was showcased at Island Trees late in November.
When the time came to approach the drama department, Higgins said that she was extremely honored they took it on, and couldn't be happier with the final product.
"It was really great to see," said Higgins, who took on a leading role of Kimberly O'Callaghan. "I could not have asked for a better cast, they brought my characters to life perfectly."
According to Peter Gibbons, director of fine and performing arts, the show was a huge hit amongst all in the community.
"The other kids in the school were so excited for her," said Gibbons. "It was a huge turnout for every show. I was really impressed, as was everybody. People went crazy when it was all over."
Higgins has been an active member of music and the arts in the Island Trees School District since her years in the middle school. She said that growing up in the local community inspired her writing, as did movies like Mean Girls.
Gibbons said that although the production featured such an array of themes, they all came together perfectly in the end. Central themes Higgins wrapped into her story included anti-bullying, popularity, peer pressure and young love.
"The messages portrayed were really incredible," he said. "There were storylines galore that all came together with comedy."
Higgins, who is set to graduate this June, is looking to pursue a double major in Visual Arts and Theater Arts next fall. In the meantime. she is hoping to spread her work to similar theater groups.
"I am looking into getting the play copyrighted and bringing it to other local schools," the high school senior explained. "I think it would be great to see others perform it too."
