At least, that’s what IML thought when we heard about 13, a new musical that recently premiered at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

In the story, nearly-13-year-old Evan Goldman has survived his parents’ divorce and his mother moving him from New York City to the strange world of Appleton, Indiana. He has one mission: get all the cool kids in school to come to his Bar Mitzvah, or else spend the next five years banished to the land of the Geeks. Along the way, he and his classmates learn a few things about who they are, where they’re going, and what’s really important in the end.

In addition to great music and dancing, 13 features a cast made up completely of young people. IML talked to two of the show’s stars: Ricky Ashley, who plays Evan, and Sara Niemietz, who plays his friend Patrice -- the loyal friend who Evan dumps in order to be more accepted by the popular group. Ricky and Sara talked to IML about what it’s like to perform in a show that explores all the ups and downs of the big 1-3.

IML: Can you tell us how old you are and where you go to school?

Sara: I’m 14 years old. I’m in 9th grade and I go to my local public high school in Saugus, California.

Ricky: I’m 17 and a senior in high school in Jericho, Long Island.

IML: How did you get involved with the show?

Ricky: The show happened in 3 stages. First there was a reading in New York, a workshop in Los Angeles, and then this production. Jason Robert Brown, who wrote it, went to French Woods Festival performing arts summer camp in upstate New York and that’s where I’ve been going for 9 years. So Jason auditioned for the reading in the first place at my summer camp, so I got the part there. I did the reading in New York and then when they did the workshop in Los Angeles they didn’t audition in New York, so I wasn’t available for that one. And when the stage production came around, although they thought I was too old, they couldn’t find another Evan they wanted so they auditioned in New York and I wound up getting the part!

Sara: When they did the Los Angeles workshop in February 2006, my agent submitted me on an audition for that. I went in and auditioned, and went on a couple callbacks after that initial audition, and then they told me I got the part. We rehearsed for the workshop for about three weeks and then we did two performances at the Kirk Douglas theatre in LA. Then some time went by, I didn’t hear anything about it, then back in October there were auditions for the show at the Mark Taper Forum and I had a callback for that, and then they told me I got the part. We started rehearsal at the end of October and opened in January. So basically I have been with Patrice, my character, for a year now…since I was thirteen!

IML: How much input did you have with the writer, composer, and director as the show was being put together?

Sara: In general they would ask us, do you relate to that or does that make sense, or they would ask us how we felt about stuff. I think they did a great job…they were very accurate about what it’s like to be 13.

Ricky: Yeah, I would say we’ve been very involved. Dan and Jason (the writer and composer) sort of eavesdropped on our conversations in order to get inspiration or to hear expressions kids would say. For instance, one of the characters was supposed to say, “Word!” and the kid playing the part had an awkward look on his face, and the writer was like, “Do you not say that?” and he was like, “Nobody says ‘Word’ anymore!” So they changed it. That kind of thing has happened a lot.

IML: Is there a particular song or songs that you relate to more than others?

Ricky: I definitely have a personal connection to the song “Getting Over It.” There was a period in my life where things were a lot harder for me, or in general when things get really difficult and I tried so hard to manipulate my life into what I want it to be, I just realize that I can do my best, but life is life. The people around me aren’t going to change and I can only do my best for myself. I related to the song in that sense. It’s not a matter of giving up; it’s a matter of understanding that the world isn’t always going to be what you want it to be.

Sara: The song I relate to best is the song my character sings, “What It Means To Be A Friend,” because I think everyone can relate to when you have someone who’s your best friend and you really trust them and stuff, and then they let you down or it turns out they were not what you thought they were. The song is pretty much about what a friend is and I think everyone can relate to that.

IML: What has the reaction been from young people who have seen the show?

Sara: It’s been really good! Some of them have gone my Myspace page or I’ve seen them after the show and they really liked it. It’s been fun lately because we’ve been doing the show for a lot of school groups, and they’ve really liked it. We feed off the audience and wait for their laughter, or if they think stuff is sad, it totally helps to have their feedback.

Ricky: Everyone I’ve talked to has loved it. Kids come by the stage door or I hear them talking about it. I’ve gone online and I’ve seen different reviews and blog posts and it’s a great feeling.

IML: What would you like audiences to take away from your performances as Evan and Patrice?

Ricky: I think what’s important to take away from Evan’s story is that although people may be a different race or religion, we are all the same. We all go through the same issues. And when you’re an adult, you all go through the same issues, just in different ways. Life repeats itself over and over again. And I think from the character of Evan, it’s important for people to realize that no matter what happens in their life, it continues…it will go on. People will change, people will do things to hurt you…but your life will always go on. And things will always work out.

Sara: I’d like them to just go away and think, that was really accurate, I don’t feel like I’m the only one going through that, or it’s been done before. I’d like them to feel like, I’m not alone.

IML: How do you keep up with your regular life while you’re doing a show every night, especially when it comes to schoolwork?

Sara: My school has really worked with the show thing very well. We have to do 3 hours of school here every day. Sometimes we do a little more so we can “bank up” hours in order to have some extra time for rehearsals or interviews or something. There are 3 tutors who can help us if we’re having trouble, but it’s a lot of independent work, just doing my schoolwork and turning it back in to my high school.

Ricky: I’m staying in a temporary apartment, and my mom and dad have been switching back and forth coming out from New York to be with me. The tutoring has been really difficult for me because I’m in 4 AP (Advanced Placement) classes at my high school, and I’m doing the best I can. I’m getting my schoolwork done, but it is difficult because everyday life here is just so hectic. It’s also been hard to keep in touch with my friends because of the time difference. But all totally worth it!

IML: It seems like everyone in the cast got along really well. What was it like among you guys behind the scenes?

Ricky: Everyone gets along great. There’s no cliques or anything. There might be certain groups who hang out more with each other outside of the show, but that’s mostly because of age. What’s nice is that the age barrier hasn’t been a big deal. Although I’m 17 and a lot of the other kids are 13 or 14, I don’t have a problem communicating with them. We always have fun together and we have great chemistry together. A lot of people tell us that the chemistry between Sara and me onstage is amazing, but that’s because she and I are really close friends!

Sara: Yeah, we’re all really good friends. At first we weren’t really sure of each other, but as more time went by we became closer friends. Three of the other kids were in the workshop so I’ve known them for a while, and I’ve made really good friends with Ricky. We feel like a family…we’re together more than we’re with our own families.

IML: In your opinion, what is it about being 13 that is such a big deal?

Sara: It seems like there is just so much going on, and there are all these huge changes out of nowhere. You’re just having a good time, nothing’s really different, then all of a sudden the homework gets harder and people start acting crazy.

Ricky: It’s funny…because I can see it in all these kids, especially the boys. The big Puberty issue! 13 is this age where everything starts to change: your voice, you grow more, everything is just different. Your friends start to change. Going from middle school to high school is a big transition. It’s a big turning point in your life where you change who you are. It’s cool to see the younger kids in the cast going through the changes I went through.

IML: So what’s next for you both?

Sara: I’ve been recording some stuff, some pop stuff. Selling my CD “Without A Net” through MySpace. I’m going to start writing some songs. I do hope to have a recording contract someday.

Ricky: I’m going to go home and graduate, then head to college next year…but I’ll always be performing.

IML: What’s your advice for kids who really want to start performing but are feeling too shy or nervous to try it?

Sara: My advice to be to just keep working at it and working at it. Performing has really added a lot to my life because I can express myself through singing and dancing. A chance to go shine. Whenever life got crazy, I could calm down by singing a song or something. The only way I can think of to make anything happen is to just keep practicing. Always look for new opportunities, whatever it is, if you like to write or paint or play an instrument or sing, whatever you like to do, stay committed to it. It’ll happen if you keep working at it long enough.

Ricky: I was very shy when I was younger too. I never talked to anybody. I only started performing because my sister did; I just started tagging along with her. I always liked to play the piano and keep to myself, and I never wanted to even sing for anybody. What made me come out of my shell was that no matter what I do, people are going to form an opinion of me. I can either impress them or not. If I think I have something inside me and it’s something I love to do, it’s not fair to myself to keep that inside. I sat at the piano and one time, I just sang because I felt it, and though I was embarrassed I just couldn’t hold it back. But now I’m proud of what I have and what I can do, and why not share that with people. So all I can to say to someone who’s afraid is…what’s the worst that going to happen? You’re going to feel better about yourself. Go for it. Do what you can do to make yourself known.

IML: Thanks, guys! And good luck!

Ricky: Thanks!

Sara: Thank you!

You can check out more information about 13 and hear some of the music at composer Jason Robert Brown’s Web site.

Read more about young celebrities in Celebs Say....