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Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
Enjoy the best stories and perspectives from the theatre world today.
From a pop culture phenomenon in the 2000s to a feminist shift in Broadway representation, Mean Girls always comes along at a time when we need it the most.
Twenty- five years ago, the box office was dominated by action-packed fantasy film franchises; from pirates to wizards, superheroes to jedis – audiences couldn’t escape the spectacle. That is so not fetch.
But, a new kind of film was emerging through the decade: movies written by women, about women, and for women.
Not necessarily a genre, but a movement, reaching the height of its popularity in the 2000s. Think Bring It On, a 2000 teen comedy written by Jessica Bendinger; Erin Brockovich, a 2000 biographical legal drama by Susannah Grant; Legally Blonde, a 2001 comedy written by Karen McCullah Lutz and Kirsten Smith; The Princess Diaries, a 2001 coming-of-age film written by Gina Wendkos; The Devil Wears Prada, a 2006 comedy-drama written by Lauren Weisberger. We could do this all day long.
These aren’t solely romantic comedies either – a genre mainly identified as being “for women.” These stories feature flawed female protagonists as they navigate life, challenges, relationships with other women, and love. Audiences were asking for and engaging with (mostly) realistic, relatable, and relevant characters.
An iconic submission to this category? The 2004 teen comedy Mean Girls, written by Tina Fey. The story explores social dynamics and the high school experience through the eyes of teenage girls, focusing on bullying and the idea of “fitting in,” told with humor and authenticity. Plus, there’s a Burn Book, a wayward school bus, Mathletes, and lots of pink.
Lauded as one of the greatest comedies of all time, Mean Girls had immense staying power, ultimately creating a pop culture phenomenon. References, quotes, memes, and more – to this day – are heard and seen everywhere. Mean Girls isn’t like a regular movie. It’s a cool movie.
In 2013, Fey confirmed a stage musical adaptation was in the works and the production transferred to Broadway in 2018.
A successful movie-to-musical adaptation requires finesse, striking at the heart of what makes the story so relatable: an overarching message of acceptance. A successful musical also needs great music, written by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin. Featuring beloved tracks such as “I’d Rather Be Me,” “World Burn,” and “Meet the Plastics,” Mean Girls was nominated for 12 awards at the 72nd Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, Best Book, and Best Musical.
Mean Girls tells the story of Cady, the new girl at her public high school, who has been homeschooled her entire life. After befriending other outsiders, she infiltrates the popular clique at school: the “Plastics.” What starts as a revenge story becomes a tale of staying true to yourself, discovering your chosen family, and an ode to self-respect.
Lively and hilarious, Mean Girls speaks to generations of women, from teenagers to their grandparents. Cady and the “Plastics” may be a certain age of a certain era, but the universal message speaks to all women, especially those who developed a tough outer shell in high school, protecting the tender human parts of themselves.
Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Broadway saw a marked shift in women-centered storytelling, with an increasing number of women taking the helm behind the scenes. Before the Mean Girls adaptation was a Legally Blonde adaptation with a book by Heather Hach. Other modern classics such as Waitress by Jessie Nelson and Sara Bareilles, SIX by Lucy Moss and Toby Marlow, The Color Purple with a book by Marsha Norman, and Wicked with a book by Winnie Holzman have changed the landscape of theatre.
Mean Girls has a knack for showing up at a time when we need it most, inciting change as industries start to realize the need for more stories by, for, and about women.
In an interview with Variety in 2018 upon the opening of the musical, Fey said, “I think it’s long overdue. I’d like to believe from here on out, this gives people a point of reference.” She went on to say, “I think in comedy rooms, especially, women are treated like expensive cappuccino machines. Where it’s like, ‘We have one. Why would we have two?!’ That’s too much pressure on that one person — to carry that, to be the African-American writer, the female writer. It’s always about changing the chemistry of the room. The more diverse the room is, it automatically becomes better.”
Of course, Mean Girls the musical was both a critical and cultural success, spurring its own film adaptation. A movie turned musical turned movie-musical – right on time.
The women-centric movie-movement of the 2000s never went away, it only evolved into bigger, more emotional, and wilder stories to suit the social temperament and landscape of the 2020s. Think Promising Young Woman, a 2020 drama by Emerald Fennell; Priscilla, a 2023 biographical drama by Sofia Coppola; The Substance, a 2024 horror film by Coralie Fargeat.
Another submission to the cultural register: Mean Girls, a 2024 musical comedy by Tina Fey.
Over 20 years later and Mean Girls is still reaching new audiences on the big screen and on tour, taking part in seismic cultural shifts. Now that is fetch.
The only question is: what new iteration will we see next? Until then, wear pink, celebrate women’s stories, and uplift the women in your life. And when you look in the mirror, be sure to tell yourself “You’re, like, really pretty.” Because it’s true.
DETAILS
Mean Girls
Feb 25 – Mar 2 • Buell Theatre
Tickets