A Grade 8 student at Immaculata High School is headed for a Toronto stage this winter. Sienna Rader has been cast as Becky in the North American premiere of 13 Going on 30 – The Musical, which opens at Toronto's Princess of Wales Theatre in December, according to the Ottawa Catholic School Board.
Rehearsals begin in November, and the show is scheduled to run from December 1, 2026, to January 24, 2027.
Landing a role in a professional musical is the payoff for a demanding routine. The board said Rader trains six hours a week in dance, practises her vocal scales every day and regularly busks in the community for up to an hour and a half at a time — a schedule she has balanced alongside schoolwork and everything else that comes with being in Grade 8.
The role will also mean a significant change to everyday life. Rader will spend three months in Toronto rehearsing and performing, continuing her education through homeschooling supported by her mother along with the educators and administrative staff at Immaculata.
The board described the arrangement as an example of what can happen when a school and a family work together to support a student's individual needs and aspirations. With her teachers and school community behind her, Rader can focus on making the most of the experience without setting her education aside.
She also spoke about the news in an interview with CTV Morning Live, giving viewers a glimpse into the dedication behind her upcoming role.
For the Ottawa Catholic School Board, the story ties into its spiritual theme for the year, Nourish New Beginnings — a reminder, the board said, that new beginnings can happen in a classroom or hundreds of kilometres away under the bright lights of a theatre.
Rader's family, teachers and school community at Immaculata are cheering her on as she steps into the spotlight.
