Steel Beam Youth Theater in St. Charles has a new Janis in Mean Girls; Maddie Martin, one of IMPACT’s recent students, is tackling the role with a mix of humor, courage, and vulnerability that makes her unforgettable on stage.
For Maddie, the decision to audition for Janis began lightheartedly. “My best friend wanted to be Damien, so I thought it would be really funny if we were the iconic duo,”. But as she explored the role, she realized Janis was far more than comic relief and tended to be misunderstood. A lot of people think she’s the villain in the story, but in reality, she was in a bad mental health state. Maddie “wanted to show the audience that in the end it isn’t just Janis being a bad person.”
That determination to give Janis depth paid off on opening night. The audience was buzzing with energy. “It was so good. They were such a lively and interactive audience. When we would break the fourth wall, they were right there with us, always laughing, always reacting. It was so fun.”
The role has also stretched Maddie in new directions as a performer. She’s no stranger to playing sassy characters, but Janis demanded something rawer – anger, especially within Act Two. Maddie shared that it took her a while to bring out the intense level of anger needed to play Janis accurately.
One of Maddie’s highlights in the show is her powerhouse solo, I’d Rather Be Me. “It’s so fun to do. I get a lot of freedom with it, and the audience eats it up too.”
But bringing Janis to life hasn’t been all spotlight and applause; it’s been a summer of serious hustle. During the week of IMPACT, Maddie would work a full day before heading straight to rehearsals that stretched into the night. “It was exhausting,” she admitted, “but I wanted to make sure I was there for those last rehearsals before tech. It was important to me to give it everything I’ve got.”
That dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. Maddie has poured herself into every rehearsal, every note, and every scene; living out the very words she chose to describe Janis: “Determined, resilient, and strong.”
Those qualities define both the character and the performer. With her talent, drive, and fearless approach to the stage, Maddie is showing audiences that Janis isn’t just unforgettable; she’s unstoppable!
