**** Recommended Paramount Theatre’s production of Mean Girls is very pink! Actually, it’s very funny and it has a couple of interesting twists. I really liked the production – the voices, the spectacular choreography and staging, the costumes and even the very pink scenic design. Although my friend Helen loved the show, it left me cold. I remember those girls. It’s not a good memory. 4 spotlights
The high school years can be wonderful, truly awful or something in between. Some ‘invisible force’ classifies everyone – cool kid, math nerd, jock – and closed groups are formed. Once the pecking order is established. It rarely changes. It’s particularly awful for the new kid in school, who doesn’t fit in anywhere.
Steven Klenk, Elizabeth Stenholt and Lucy Godinez in Mean Girls. Photo by Boris Martin.
Cady Heron, beautifully voiced by Elizabeth Stenholt, was homeschooled while her mother worked in Africa. Now she’s excited to be in a real school for the first time in her life. The first people she meets are outsiders Janis Sarkisian (Lucy Godinez) & Damian Hubbard (Steven Klenk) who clue her – and the audience – into who’s who in school.
According to Janis and Damian, the school is ruled by a group of girls they’ve dubbed the ‘Plastics,’ led by the ‘Queen Bee” Regina George (Dariana Mullen) and her acolytes/sidekicks, Gretchen Wieners (Angel Alzeidan) and Karen Smith (Julia Hope Budd), whom they call the dumbest girl in school.
Julia Hope Budd, Dariana Mullen and Angel Alzeidan in Mean Girls. Photo by Boris Martin.
Cady loves math and she’s quite good at it. In her AP Math class, she did so well Kevin G (Ben Mathew) invited her to join the Mathletes. Instead, she fell in love with Aaron Samuels (Diego Vasquez Gomez) and asked him to help her with math.
Regina decided Cady might be worth knowing so she invites her over. When Cady shows up at school wearing pink, she becomes something like a Plastic, at least until Regina finds out Cady likes Aaron, and goes after him.
Elizabeth Stenholt and Diego Vasquez Gomez in Mean Girls. Photo provided.
Cady, Janis and Damian concoct a plan to dethrone Regina, which works at least until Cady starts acting just like Regina, with dire consequences as Regina gets her revenge.
Kudos to the incredibly versatile Veronica Garza who plays Mrs. Heron, Cady’s mom, Ms. Norbury, the math teacher and Mrs. George, Regina’s mom, all with different wigs and different voices!
Dariana Mullen as Regina George in Mean Girls. Photo by Boris Martin.
The principal, Mr. Duvall (Austin Nelson, Jr.) and Coach Carr (Jacob Simon) try to keep order. Also appearing: Sexy Corn (Matty Bettencourt), Tyler Kimble (Tola Abitogun), Marwan Jitla (Jeremiah Alsop), Mathletes Moderator (Abby C. Smith)
Ensemble: Tola Abitogun, Jeremiah Alsop, Matty Bettencourt, Anna Louise Bramlett, Nicole DiSandro, Ben Dow, Veronica Garza, Madison Jaffe-Richter, Josua Messmore, Austin Nelson Jr., Hannah Remian, Nataki Rennie, Morgan Schonecker, Jacob Simon, Abby C. Smith, Amanda Walker, Elaine Watson
The cast of Mean Girls. Photo by Boris Martin.
Orchestra: Kory Danielson, Conductor / Key 3; Matt Beck, Fluute, Clarinet, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone; Hardin Butcher, Trumpet, Flugelhorn; Steve Duncan, Trombone, Bass Trombone; Justin LaForte,, Guitar 1 (Acoustic, Electric, Nylon, Stratocaster, Ukelele, Banjo); Chris Forte, Guitar 2 (Acoustic, Electric, Nylon), Chuck Webb, Bass (Acoustic, Electric, 5-string Electric); Andy Chen, Key 1; Charlotte Rivard-Hoster, Key 2; Jim Widlowski, Drums, Percussion.
Mean Girls was written by Tina Fey, with lyrics by Nell Benjamin and music by Jeff Richmond. It is based on the 2004 film also written by Fey which was inspired by Rosalind Wiseman’s book, Queen Bees and Wannabes. Mean Girls premiered in Washington, D.C. in 2017, opening on Broadway in 2018.
Karen (Julia Hope Budd, from left), Cady (Elizabeth Stenholt), Regina (Dariana Mullen) and Gretchen (Angel Alzeidan) rock “Jingle Bell Rock” at North Shore High’s talent show. Photo by Boris Martin.
The Paramount production was directed by Devon Hayakawa, with choreography by Kasey Alfonso, and music direction by Kory Danielson. Kotryna Hilko designed the costumes, Milo Bue the scenic design with lighting designed by Greg Hofmann, video design by Erin Pleake. Amber R. Dettmers is the stage manager.
Mean Girls runs through October 11th at the Paramount Theatre, 23 East Galena Blvd, Aurora. Valet parking is available, plenty of street parking too.
Running time is two hours, 30 minutes, with an intermission. Performances: Wednesdays at 1:30 and 7:00 p.m.; Thursdays at 7:00 p.m.; Fridays at 8:00 p.m.; Saturdays at 3:00 and 8:00 p.m.; Sundays at 1:00 and 5:30 p.m. Tickets range from $56-$158. FYI (630) 896-6666 or www.paramountaurora.com