Deb was still new to this high school in Peabody. She had arrived a year ago, a stranger dropped into the junior class, knowing no one and lacking all their shared history. She had found her way to the vaunted theater program, establishing a foothold in a realm that felt magical. This show was headed to a high-stakes statewide competition. Did she really think she belonged on that stage? She had resolved to find out.
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Deb (left) and the rest of Peabody Veterans Memorial High School’s drama cast arrived in Danvers, where they would rehearse for the Massachusetts High School Drama Festival. (Jessica Rinaldi/Globe Staff)
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