Girls on the Wall

Filmmaker Heather Ross's documentary Girls on the Wall—focusing on a program designed to change young lives through musical theater—notes that 50 percent of the inmates at the State Juvenile Justice Facility for Girls in Warrenville, IL, return after their release. In an attempt to reduce the recidivism rate, the institution brings in Music Theater Workshop founder Meade Palidofsky, who helps the charismatic but troubled teens put on a show, with some assistance from a choreographer and a music director. “Ms. P.” aims to encourage communication and self-expression so that her charges can channel their frustration into performance, let it go, and move forward. The participants start by writing short biographies, which feed into a multipart narrative; some go all out, but others, like Whitney, find it hard to open up (Whitney eventually lets down her guard and becomes the star of the film). Although she doesn't interview any other relatives, Ross makes an exception for Whitney's father, who talks about the violent assault that led to his daughter's incarceration. Other primary subjects include Christina, a habitual runaway, who discusses her mother's crack addiction, and Rosa, a talented rapper, who reveals a history of sexual molestation. As rehearsals continue, morale plummets, but Ms. P. doesn't give up and the troupe eventually gets their act together. During the course of the seven-month program, two of the girls make parole, and the film ends with an upbeat epilogue. DVD extras include deleted scenes and a “making-of” featurette. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (K. Fennessy)