AUBURN — What could be more daunting for a boy nearing the age of 13 than moving to a new school? And the school is in a town in Indiana, halfway across the country from his home in New York City. And his parents are divorcing. And his Bar Mitzvah is approaching.

That’s the situation for Evan Goldman, the central character in “13,” a musical coming-of-age story on the Community Little Theatre stage which opens June 6 and runs through June 15.
Richard Martin directs a cast of young actors in what is described as “a grown-up show about growing up.” It’s a hilarious high-energy production with a rock score.
Martin said the cast has some experienced actors and some newcomers.
“That gives the show a very nice dynamic,” Martin said. The performers are in a familiar world in this play. They can relate to things that matter to them, and in one way or another, it’s familiar territory for an audience of all ages.
Evan is played by Scott Veneble, who has performed in Lewiston High School Drama Club shows.
“He wants to be a cool kid,” Martin explains. However, Evan has to navigate all the usual horrors of life in middle school until he realizes that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it.
Evan finds a friend in Patrice, the somewhat-quirky girl next door. She is played by Kaitlyn Prophett.
He also befriends Archie (played by Oliver Hall), a geeky schoolmate, and Evan finds he must deal with Brett (Eric Yim), the star quarterback who is threatening to ruin his life.
Most of the cast members play middle schoolers about 13 years of ago, but there’s one 10-year-old in the show, Shauna Leblanc, who already has made four or five appearances in CLT productions. Other performers are from a variety of schools in the L-A area.
Martin also said the audience will want to watch for cameo appearances by three CLT veterans, (Dan Kane, Sean Wallace and Dan Crawford) who appear as comedic rabbis.
The scenes in “13” range from New York to the small Indiana town and its school hallways, the gymnasium and a movie theatre.
There’s an abundance of upbeat musical numbers in this show by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown that reached Broadway in 2008.
Among the ensemble songs are “A Little More Homework” and “A Brand New You.”
Musical direction is by Paul G. Caron and choreography is by Vincent Ratsavong, assisted by Olivia Mayo.
“13” is a show that everyone will be able to identify with, Martin said. It is the fourth show of Community Little Theatre’s 74th season.
Performances of “13” are at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, June 6-7 and 13-14; at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 12; and at 2 p.m. Sundays, June 8 and June 15.
For tickets, call 783-0958 or go online to www.laclt.com.
Great Falls Performing Arts Center is at 30 Academy St.., Auburn.