Two Branksome Hall students are stepping into the spotlight on a major professional stage. Grade 10 student Shazdeh and Grade 8 student Zoë have both been cast in the upcoming Mirvish production of 13 Going on 30: The Musical, which runs from December 1, 2026 to January 24, 2027.

13 Going on 30: The Musical is a new musical comedy based on the hit 2004 film. The story follows Jenna Rink, an adorably awkward 13-year-old girl who wishes she could skip over the misery of high school. When her birthday wish comes true, Jenna magically wakes up as an adult to find herself “thirty, flirty and thriving”—the editor of a fashion magazine with a seemingly perfect life. But as she begins to unravel the mystery of who she has become, Jenna is taken on a journey to discover what—and who—really matters.

The Mirvish production’s 44-member cast features 22 teenagers played by an exciting group of new Canadian musical talent, many of whom are just getting started in their careers.

“At Branksome Hall, we believe the arts are an essential foundation for a complete education,” said Angela David, Instructional Leader, Arts. “Participating in creative endeavours of this calibre fosters creativity, critical thinking, self-advocacy and problem-solving skills that serve our students for a lifetime. Shazdeh and Zoë exemplify our core school values and our commitment to innovative learning, demonstrating how creative expression empowers young women to step into leadership roles with confidence and purpose. We are particularly proud of how Shazdeh and Zoë have modelled our Arts Mission: We ignite artistic wonder and empower our community to connect while creatively exploring the shared human experience.”

“Being a part of this production is a dream come true for me, said Shazdeh. “I’ve always loved musical theatre, and I’m so excited to perform on a professional stage. I’m so thankful for all of the arts opportunities that Branksome provides, as they have helped me enhance my skills to get me where I am today.” 

Zoë shares a similar sentiment, remarking, “I’ve always dreamed of having a career on stage and in film, so getting to be part of a professional Mirvish production with so many talented artists at age 13 feels incredibly special. It makes me even more excited to keep working toward my dream of performing for the rest of my life.”

Shazdeh and Zoë are participants in Branksome’s High Performance Program. Designed to support students in Grades 5–12 pursuing high-performance pathways in athletics, the arts or other disciplines, the program helps students balance the demands of training, performances, travel and academics. Through a three-tiered approach to support, the program aims to help students pursue excellence in their discipline while continuing to thrive academically and personally.

Congratulations, Shazdeh and Zoë—we can’t wait to see you on stage this winter!

See the cast announcement on YouTube here.