The 2018 Broadway musical adaptation of the 2004 cult film, featuring a book by Tina Fey and score by her husband Jeff Richmond, targeting millennials’ nostalgia while updating the story for the #MeToo era.
From Screen to Stage
“Mean Girls” opened on Broadway April 8, 2018, with Tina Fey adapting her own screenplay for the stage. The musical added contemporary references to social media, replacing the film’s three-way calling with Instagram subposting and updating Regina George’s burn book to a digital format.
The show earned 12 Tony nominations but won none, competing against the juggernaut that was “The Band’s Visit.” Despite awards snubs, it became a commercial success targeting millennials who’d grown up quoting “On Wednesdays we wear pink” and “Stop trying to make fetch happen.”
Barrett Wilbert Weed (Veronica from “Heathers”) as Janis and Grey Henson as Damian earned particular praise for expanding their roles beyond the film. “I’d Rather Be Me” became an anthem in LGBTQ+ spaces, with Damian’s character given more agency and dignity than the 2004 film’s gay best friend stereotype.
The musical closed March 2020 due to COVID-19, never returning to Broadway but spawning a successful 2024 film adaptation that combined elements of both the original movie and stage show.