A New Day

Juanita, who dresses like a Catholic Luna Lovegood, is teased by her new classmates until she’s rescued by Charity, a spunky African American and the stage manager for the Christmas musical - the biggest event of the school and the town. Charity coaxes her into auditioning for the lead role of Mary.

The ancient music teacher, Brody Adderson, who is vexed by the intrusion of Hispanic students in “his school,” refuses to give the role to Juanita although she blows everyone away at the audition. She doesn’t represent the archaic tradition of Washington High.

Kyle, a shy heartthrob, who plays Joseph, quietly roots for Juanita but won’t fight for her because of the Svengali like hold her competition, mean-girl, Addie, has on him.

Some of the talented Latino students, who Adderson has blackballed from the musical, want to have a Thanksgiving show showcasing Juanita. Charity’s father, Chance, a teacher at the school, goes over Adderson’s head and gets the principal’s approval. Adderson’s furious and tries to stop the show, while Addie tricks Kyle into helping her tear down the show’s decorations. Juanita catches Addie and Kyle and it destroys her.

Juanita looks forward to the show lifting her spirits and her popularity, but her mother forbids her from performing when she finds the “sleazy” clothes she’s been changing into at school. Juanita’s wants to die.

The show has to be canceled though after an unexpected blizzard shuts down the school and the town until after Thanksgiving. When school reopens, rehearsals for musical are down to the wire, but it may have to be cancelled too. Kyle’s finally done with Addie and he can’t bear to rehearse with her. In a rare show of decency, at the last minute, Addie feigns illness. The principal gives Juanita the role of Mary. Adderson quits in protest, hoping to derail the musical.

The principal reluctantly turns to Charity to save the musical. Under extreme pressure she does a masterful job directing. She updates the music, adds minority students and lets Juanita mesmerizes the audience full of towns people. The Christmas musical will never be the same again.

In a gracious act, Kyle calls Addie up to join in the last song. At the final curtain call, Charity recognizes Mr. Adderson, who had slipped in the back of the auditorium, sharing that he taught her all she knows about directing. As everyone sings “We Wish You A Merry Christmas,” Chance and Alondra sit together holding hands as Alondra accepts that Juanita is destined for stardom.