‘Between the Lines:’ rewriting your own story

Some days it feels like no one is really watching, like you could disappear and nobody would notice. For Deliliah McPhee, that feeling is all too real. In “Between the Lines,” she escapes into a fairy tail world where the character she meets starts to question the rules written for them, and she begins to realize that maybe she has the power to rewrite her own story too.

“Between the Lines” runs from Jan. 20 through Feb. 8. Performances will take place on Jan. 30, Feb. 1, 6, 7, and 8. 

The musical follows Delilah, a teenage girl who often feels overlooked in her everyday life. When life becomes overwhelming, she turns to a fairy tale book to comfort. What starts as a quiet escape soon becomes something more, as the characters inside the book begin questioning their own roles. As the real world and the storybook start to blur, Delilah slowly discovers she may have more control over her life than she ever realized. 

Sean Cooper, who is both a performer and a technical director of this show, plays two very different characters. In the real world, he portrays Dr. Ducharme, a calm and supportive school psychiatrist. Inside the fairy tale, he plays Repsculio, the villain of the story. Although Repsculio appears intimidating at first, Cooper explained there is more to the character than meets the eye. 

“When the storybook is closed, he is secretly a very tender hearted character who loves butterflies,” Cooper said. He also shared what makes the show special to him. He described the production as fun, creative, and full of strong performances, adding that it is worth seeing for its music, cast, and visuals.

Representation plays a major role in “Between the Lines.” Jazzy Maestro, who plays Jules in the real world and a bold mermaid in the fairy tale, spoke about how personal the role is to them. As a non-binary performer, Maestro believed playing Jules allows them to bring their real identity onto the stage. 

“This is really my identity,” Maestro said. “I am really talking about things that I personally deal with.” At its core, the musical explores what it feels like to be different and the desire to be seen and accepted.

Clarisee Nichole plays Grace, a single mother struggling with financial stress and heartbreak, as well as Queen Maureen, a sarcastic and comedic fairy tale queen. She described the show as an opportunity for audiences to step away from everyday stress and enjoy a meaningful story.

“I saw a lot of really relatable themes in that story,” Nichole said. “It’s nice to block out the rest of the noise and just come and see a story.”

At the center of the production is Delilah, played by Aniliza May. May described Deliliah as someone who struggles with self confidence and finding her place in the world. Having moved several times in her own life, May said she personally connects with Delilah’s experience of being new and trying to find where she belongs. 

The musical tells a story about growing up, feeling lost, and learning to accept who you are. It offers audiences a thoughtful and entertaining experience that students and community members alike can relate to. 

Go check out “Between the Lines” with your friend and see the story come to life on stage!