Overview
Synopsis
How fetch! After years in the making, Mean Girls: The Musical hits the stage with the favorite characters from the movie, powerful music, and timely pop culture and news references. Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard welcome the audience to their “Cautionary Tale”: Cady Heron is the new girl at North Shore High School in Chicago, desperate to fit in and find friends. Janis and Damian befriend the new girl, and when The Plastics set their sights on Cady, Janis convinces naive Cady to be their “friend” in order to bring down Queen Bee Regina George’s reign. Along the way, Cady loses herself, her friends, and her crush, all for the chance to be popular and loved. When dethroned Regina gets revenge by releasing the Burn Book, Cady is brought down and must mend her broken relationships with Janis, Aaron, and even Regina. With dynamic songs for young performers, Mean Girls is an anthem to friendship, loyalty, girl power, and being true to yourself.
Show Information
- Book
- Tina Fey
- Music
- Jeff Richmond
- Lyrics
- Nell Benjamin
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Mean Girls (2004 film)
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 2018
- Genres
- Comedy, Satire
- Settings
- Contemporary, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Chicago, High School, present day
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Heavy
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, Ensemble Cast, High School, Large Cast, Mostly Female Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Includes Late Teen, Adult, Mature Adult Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Mean Girls is a musical based on the 2004 film of the same name written by Tina Fey and starring Rachel McAdams, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, and more. The movie was adapted into a musical beginning in 2013 with book by original writer, Tina Fey, music by Fey’s husband Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Legally Blonde lyricist Nell Benjamin. The show was set to be directed and choreographed by the renowned Casey Nicholaw.
By 2017 the show had its first premier in Washington, D.C. at the
to read the context for Mean Girls and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
The show begins with Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard acting through the fourth wall and inviting the audience to listen to their story, hoping the audience takes something away from it (“Cautionary Tale”).
The scene then moves over to the real world where the new girl in town, Cady Heron, prepares for her new life in Chicago. Being from Kenya, Cady is unsure of what to expect from a typical high school. However, she quickly learns that being different is not so cool, and the
to read the plot for Mean Girls and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
Act One
*"A Cautionary Tale" – Janis and Damian
*"It Roars" – Cady and Ensemble
"It Roars (Reprise)"† – Cady and Ensemble
*"Where Do You Belong?" – Damian, Janis, Cady, and Ensemble
*"Meet the Plastics" – Regina, Gretchen, Karen, Janis, Damian, and Cady
"Stupid With Love" – Cady
*"Apex Predator" – Janis and Cady
"What’s Wrong with Me?" – Gretchen
"Stupid with Love (Reprise)" – Cady and Aaron
*"Sexy" – Karen and Ensemble
"Someone Gets Hurt" – Regina, Aaron, and Ensemble
*"Revenge Party" – Janis, Damian, Cady, and Ensemble
*"Fearless" – Cady, Gretchen, Karen, Taylor, and Ensemble
"Someone Gets Hurt (Reprise 1)" – Regina
Act Two
"A Cautionary Tale (Reprise)" – Janis and Damian
*"Stop" – Damian and Ensemble
"What’s Wrong With Me (Reprise)" – Gretchen and Mrs. George
*"Whose House Is This?" – Kevin, Cady, Gretchen, Karen, and Ensemble
"More Is Better" – Cady and Aaron
"Someone Gets Hurt (Reprise 2)" – Janis and Damian
"World Burn" – Regina and Ensemble
*"I’d Rather Be Me" – Janis and Ensemble
"Fearless (Reprise)"† – Cady
*"Do This Thing" – Cady, Ms. Norbury, Kevin, Mathletes, and Ensemble
*"I See Stars" – Cady and Full Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A version of a play, book, or story that has been altered to fit a different medium, style, or audience. For example, a novel adapted into a stage play or a classic play rewritten in a modern setting. Adaptations maintain the core elements of the original while introducing new creative elements.
The sequence of steps and movements in dance, also the orchestrated and rehearsed movements for actors, based on the script.
The imaginary wall between an audience and actors. To “break the fourth wall” means that actors acknowledge that the audience is there.
A type of song, usually early in the musical, in which the protagonist expresses their desires. The "I Want" song establishes the character's objectives.
Telling a story, often accompanying or guiding the central action of the play.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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