Everyone who loved the 2004 movie on which the new Broadway musical Mean Girls is based will be queuing up at the August Wilson Theater where Barbie pink reigns supreme. While you can never be sure about adaptations, you can count on Tina Fey’s witty words to lift even the most sophomoric subject to pure comic gold. It’s not just that this is high school, duh, the drive to dominate is understood in terms of jungle hierarchies. The class queen bee, Regina George (Taylor Louderman) is “apex predator,” determining all that matters in the cafeteria and fragile egos of her peers, especially the two girls, eh, attending maids in mega heels and mini skirts (Ashley Park and standout Kate Rockwell). In comes the new girl, Cady Heron (Erika Henningsen), a transfer from the wilds of Africa, whip smart and eager to fit in. She learns, just play by the rules: never wear a tank top two days in a row.

The other secret ingredient for this musical’s pop is Casey Nicholaw’s choreography and direction. Built on a sequence of high wattage production numbers for a talented cast that includes Barrett Wilbert Weed as an art nerd and Grey Henson as her very gay sidekick, the show feels original even as it obeys Broadway conventions. One dance number gives new purpose to lunch trays. Jeff Richmond’s music goes along well, underscoring teen angst for “Where Do You Belong,” and “What’s Wrong With Me?” and exuberance: “Fearless.” Adding to Mean Girls’ fresh look is Scott Pask’s scenic design and Finn Ross and Adam Young’s video design, flashing photos for Instagram appeal. 

At Sunday night’s opening SNL and 30 Rock actors came to support Fey’s latest success: producer Lorne Michaels, of course, Kate McKinnon, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin with his wife Hilaria expecting their next. Diane Sawyer, Emma Thompson, Glenn Close, Jerry Seinfeld and his family, and many more cheered, having just witnessed this unabashed hit.

Regina Weinreich

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