Monster High: The Movie Cast Breaks Down Musical Numbers

Monster High: The Movie cast members Miia Harris (Clawdeen Wolf), Ceci Balagot (Frankie Stein), and Nayah Damasen (Draculaura) breakdown the musical numbers.

Monster High has been such an iconic franchise, pretty much right from the moment it appeared on the scene. Since launching in 2010, Mattel’s Monster High has stood for creating a more accepting world where everyone feels proud to be their authentic self and let their inner monster shine. 2022’s Monster High: The Movie is no different. This film is here to tell a new generation to embrace what makes them unique and encourage them to be themselves. 

Miia Harris (Clawdeen Wolf), Ceci Balagot (Frankie Stein), and Nayah Damasen (Draculaura) totally agree and were thrilled to be a part of the newest film, Monster High: The Movie. During an exclusive interview all three admit that they love the dolls and the original cartoon. Balagot says Monster High dolls were “the only toy around that mixed a little bit feminine with a little bit edgy”, which we totally agree with. 

Damasen was a fan of the cartoon first, and then when she realized there were dolls she thought to herself, even better. “I just have so many memories of playing with Draculaura and Claudine and Frankie, and now I get to actually be with them.”

Harris confesses that she loved Monster High to the point where her and her friends would play Monster High at recess. “We would pretend to be the characters I would always pretend to be Clawdeen. I would howl at the moon and run around like a werewolf. I’ve really prepared for this my whole life.”

Monster High: The Movie Cast Breaks Down Musical Numbers

If you have seen the trailer then you know Monster High: The Movie is a musical — there is no getting around that. There are several catchy songs and incredible dance numbers. Mama’s Geeky just had to ask the cast about these because they are intricate, detailed, and extremely impressive.

Ceci Balagot immediately jumped in, eager to discuss all of the work that went into making these musical numbers as amazing as they are. They explain that the first week, which they lovingly call boot camp, was the team trying to get them used to the hours that they would be working — which is a lot. “We would wake up at 6am and then get out and get warmed up. And then learn all the dances for a whole week, pretty much from sunrise to sunset.”

What Balagot wasn’t expecting to be as difficult as it was is lip-synching to the songs in the right way. They admit it was really hard for them and is a whole skill set they had to learn. They are also used to dancing without hair, or their hair pulled tightly back into a ponytail, so doing the dance moves with Frankie’s long hair was disorienting. 

On top of all of that, the cast had to perform the dance numbers in heels and contacts. “I will forever thank Heather and Brenda, our choreographers, for their patients with us, and just their whole artistic vision because they have us dancing on tables. But I wouldn’t have that musical number any other way.” adds in Nayah Damasen.

Miia Harris says “There was so much passion put into every aspect of this project, including the dances and the musical numbers. And I think the story of Monster High: The Movie is amazing. It’s so important. And what makes the story better other than musical numbers!”

Full Monster High: The Movie Cast Interview

Be sure to check out the full interview with Miia Harris (Clawdeen Wolf), Ceci Balagot (Frankie Stein), and Nayah Damasen (Draculaura) to hear all about their love of Monster High, what it was like when they first saw themselves in costume, and so much more.

As Miia Harris says, “love is the center of the message of this film. Claudine and Frankie and Dracula, they only make these meaningful friendships once they let themselves be true to who they are. And I think that’s just a really exciting thing that kids need. And I wish I would have been told that a little bit younger. We all get to that point eventually. But I think that’s such an important lesson.”

Tune into Monster High: The Movie to see for yourself, when it comes to Nickelodeon Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT). Monster High: The Movie will stream on Paramount+ the same day.

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About Monster High: The Movie

Monster High The Movie follows Clawdeen Wolf (Miia Harris, Just Beyond), who was born half human and half werewolf, after she arrives at her new school, Monster High.

She quickly makes friends with her classmates Frankie Stein (Ceci Balagot, Dispatches from Elsewhere) and Draculaura (Nayah Damasen, Grey’s Anatomy), and for the first time in her life, Clawdeen feels like she has finally found a place where she fits in and can truly be herself, despite keeping her human half a secret.

When a devious plan to destroy Monster High threatens to reveal her real identity, Clawdeen must learn to embrace her true monster heart and find a way to save the day alongside her new friends.

Monster High: The Movie premieres Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon and streams that same day on Paramount+.