Theatre Chit Chat
That's Your Opinion...Here's mine
Mean Girls
Mean Girls is playing at the August Wilson Theater located at 245 West 52nd. It runs two hours thirty minutes with one intermission. The musical is an open ended run.
Tina Fey wrote the book. She is known for her role in 30 Rock.
Casey Nicholaw is the director and choreographer. He was nominated for six Tony Awards for Mean Girls (2018), Something Rotten! (2015), Aladdin (2014), The Book of Mormon (2011), The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) Spamalot (2005).
Scott Pask is the scenic designer. He won four Tony Awards for Mean Girls (2018), The Book of Mormon (2011), The Coast of Utopia (Parts 1 & 2) ( 2007) Les Liaisons Dangerous (2008), and The Pillowman 92005) and was nominated for two Awards for The Bands Visit (2018) and Pal Joey (2009).
Greg Barney is the costume designer. He won a Tony Award for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006) and was nominated for four Tony Awards for Tuck Everlasting (2016), Something Rotten (2015), Kinky Boots (2013) and Legally Blonde (2007).
Taylor Louderman was nominated for a Tony Award for Mean Girls (2018).
Jennifer Simard was nominated for a Tony Award for Disaster (2016).
The place is Kenya, Illinois the present.
Damian Hubbard (Grey Henson) and Janis Sarkisian (Barrett Wilbert Weed) are telling the audience that this story is about a student that killed another student, well not killed but causes an accident.
Jennifer Heron (Erika Hennington) has been in Africa with her mom (Jennifer Simard) and dad (Brendon Stimson). She has been home schooled and she is looking forward to going to high school. It’s not what she expects. Kids are making fun of her. Damian and Janis take her under their wings and give her advice on what to do.
In math class she get all the difficult questions the teacher Mrs. Norbury (Jennifer Simard) put on the board right. Cady develops a crush on fellow class mate Aaron Samuels (Kyle Selig). He excels in math too. Kevin Gnapoor (Cheech Manohar) wants her to join the math club.
The in group leader Regina George (Taylor Louderman) thinks the world revolves around her. Gretchen Wieners (Kristine Alabado) and Karen Smith (Kate Rockwell) are part of the group. Regina set the rules on what to wear and do. She invites Cady to be part of the group.
Regina and Aaron was a couple until she dropped him for another guy. When she finds out Cady likes him she takes him back. To get even she gives Regina protein bars and tells her she will lose weight eating them. Of course it has an opposite effect.
Cady becomes the head of the group.
Regina had a burn book where she puts pictures of her classmates with nasty comments. When she finds out about the protein bars she gets even. She brings the book to the principal Mr. Duval (Rick Younger) and tells him she is a victim of the book she found. Cady claims it’s her book.
Other things happen—well go see the show!
It’s geared for a younger audience. But if you’re older you will enjoy it too.
It had something to say. Be yourself; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Open your mind to different people and not make fun of them.
Taylor Louderman and Jennifer Simard (playing three roles) were outstanding. The rest of the cast ALL of them shined.
Scott Pask (scenic) and Gregg Baine (costumes) were remarkable.
Review by Rozanna Radakovich.
Photos by Annazor.
To read a candid interview with cast, scroll down to the left for photos. Click on photos for this and other shows.