Final Curtain Call – Pine View’s MEESical Is a Must-See Tribute to a Principal Who Always Strived To Make a Difference
– By James McFadden –
Tickets To The Final Performance, Monday April 7th, 7 PM
When I sat down to watch MEESical with my daughter, a student-written play honoring Pine View High School’s retiring principal, Mike Mees, I didn’t expect much more than a lightheartedly awkward sendoff. I certainly didn’t expect to be moved to the edge of tears—or to walk away thinking about the kind of legacy most of us only dream of leaving behind.
But that’s precisely what happened.
Written and performed by Pine View students, MEESical is a labor of love in the form of a musical—a full-stage tribute to a man whose quiet daily choices shaped thousands of lives over a 22-year career. And with just one performance left—Monday, April 7 at 7 PM – it’s a show you honestly don’t want to miss.
I sat down with Miley Smith, Arabella, McKenzie Beecher, Rebekah Francis, and Breelle Paxman, along with their instructor, Kelly Thomas, to talk about the play from their perspectives, and I think it’s fair to say we all had a pretty fun time remenising and talking about the nuances that brought us all together as they prepared for their Saturday night performance. I will share some notable quotes at the end of my thoughts, but first, let’s talk about the show.
A Story of a Life Well Lived
Mike Mees’ career didn’t start in the principal’s office. He began as an athletic director and assistant principal, working behind the scenes, helping students build their confidence one choice at a time. (For everything that led him to Pine View, you’re just going to have to go see the play.) He once had a shot at a pro football career, but chose to pass it up to show up every day for students.
That’s the version of Mees the students chose to write about—not the administrator behind a desk, but the person behind the name: a kid born with curiosity, a teenager who once tried to impress a girl by rolling tires down a hill (you’ll find out how that turned out), and a young man who decided he could make a bigger difference in a school than on a football field.
High School Theater Has Never Felt This Personal
The students didn’t just act in this show. They wrote it. Every scene, every joke, every heartfelt moment came from them. And it shows.
Parker Brock, who plays Mike Mees throughout the musical, brings an infectious joy and full-hearted commitment to the stage. Watching a young actor throw himself into the role with such confidence reminded me just how brave theater really is. Most adults wouldn’t dream of performing in front of a crowd like this—and yet these students do it with laughter, poise, and unshakable spirit.
Each actor seemed to carry a scene straight from Mees’ life into their own hearts. As I watched, I found myself drawn not only to the story of Mees but to the students telling it. Their courage, their professionalism, and the way they lifted each other up on stage left an impression I won’t soon forget.
When asked how he felt about the production, Mr. Mees had this to say. “I would like to say that at this time in my career, I am honored to share a special moment with these talented students and their director. For me, the main focus has always been on the students. It was an absolute pleasure to see their amazing talent displayed through this musical. I will never forget their time and effort and the special place it has in my heart.”
And you still have one last chance to see this amazing production!
You Will Laugh. You Might Cry. You’ll Definitely Remember.
Packed with tender, emotional scenes that hint at the deeper insights of who Mees really is—a man who dedicated his entire life to helping other people succeed. No fanfare. Just presence, consistency, and care.
Breelle Paxman summed it up best during my interview with the cast:
“He doesn’t get enough credit for all the credit he gave us.”
This Isn’t Just a Play. It’s a Legacy.
Kelly Thomas, the school’s theater instructor, admitted that she’s still in awe of what these students accomplished. They had no experience writing a script. They doubted themselves. They faced obstacle after obstacle. And yet they didn’t quit.
Why? Because Mike Mees never did.
Now, they’ve created something unforgettable—not just for their school but for everyone who’s ever had a mentor, a leader, or a principal who made them feel seen.
One More Night. One More Chance to Say Thank You.
The final performance of MEESical is happening this Monday, April 7, at Pine View High School. Doors open at 6:30 PM, and the show starts at 7:00 PM.
If you’re a Pine View alum, a community member, a parent, or someone who’s been touched by great educators, you owe it to yourself (and to Principal Mees) to be in that audience.
Because this isn’t just a farewell.
It’s a celebration of a man who quietly changed the lives of thousands.
And as far as these students are concerned, it’s a standing ovation he absolutely deserves.
Get your tickets now and help us pack the house!
Notable Quotes From My Time With A Few Of The Cast
Did you find this experience difficult?
Breelle Paxman
I think what was hard about the show was that we wrote it from scratch, so the whole process was crazy because it’s not what we usually do. But since we wrote it, we could change it as we went, and now we know the show better than we’ve known other shows because it’s ours, yeah, And so it was easy to improvise and change things that weren’t working.
Did you know all these things about Mr. Mees before you started writing the play?
Arabella
I didn’t even know he was our principal until we started the musical. But I think that it’s really good that we are doing the musical because now people are gonna remember how much he affected our school!
Kelly Thomas
I mean, most students don’t know much about him. I think we take for granted the people who are our guides and mentors. I mean, we take school for granted all the time, right? I have to be here. This is what we do. But when you get into a pattern or routine for so long, you kind of take for granted or bypass the things that give it substance and value, and so watching them discover things about someone who’s been at the helm for 20-some years helped even me gain a deeper appreciation.
Breelle Paxman
Something we weren’t able to put in the show is that Mr. Mees is like the Captain America of Pine View High School. Not a lot of people know this, but there was a bomb at our school. Mr. Mees grabbed the bomb and ran out of the school with it. Like, he’s literally the hero of Pine View, you know, and there’s a line in the show, like he doesn’t get enough credit for all the credit he gave us, like he doesn’t get enough credit for that. He was so selfless, and he’s just this amazing person, and he’s so supportive. And it’s not like, if you’re awesome and cool, you’re not always going to get a musical written about you. The impact that he’s left and just how much of a hero he is is just really inspiring to all of us.
Miley Smith
This show has definitely been a process because we actually got to be involved in the writing of it. And, you know, we’ve gotten to use some of our favorite songs and transform them into something else. So, in doing that, we had to relearn the lyrics, which was a challenge. But it’s also become a huge sense of community because we’ve all come together to make this really unique project that none of us have ever done before. And it’s been super awesome and crazy and chaotic, as well as community building.
What did you find the most rewarding as you developed this production?
Rebekah Francis
I’m just gonna say, so I jumped in during the middle of the process. I wasn’t here at the beginning, but I really wanted to help. And so most of the props were things that me and the others created, and we had to take charge. I’m like, we need to do this. It was nice being able to do something creative with the props and all of the other stuff.
As we were winding down our chat together, I had a parting thought to leave with them.
I want to say something about all of your comments. I have done a lot of interviews with people who work in the community, and you would be amazed at how many of them have also done extraordinary things. So many people in our community are like Mike, and we don’t realize it, or we simply don’t hear the story, so thank you for telling his story!
Kelly Thomas
That’s the beauty of theater! You tell a story, then you tell another story tomorrow, and then another, and you get to share in these amazing stories together and with the world!
