This article contains spoilers for "Mean Girls."
Every stage-to-film musical adaptation requires reimagining, rearranging, or removing elements that wouldn't gel well with the camera and the editing room. Retelling "Mean Girls" (every version of which has been penned by Tina Fey) involves the monumental assignment of adapting layers-upon-layers of its sources, starting with Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 nonfiction parent book "Queen Bees and Wannabes," and then moving onto the original 2004 Mark Waters-directed film based on Wiseman's book, the 2018 Casey Nicholaw-directed Broadway stage musical adaptation (which also features music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin), and, finally, the 2024 "Mean Girls" movie musical directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.
Naturally, the "Mean Girls" movie musical had to scrap several songs and gags from the Broadway stage musical to leave space for makeovers. Theatre heads who've experienced the stage version are bound to notice some major exclusions, including those listed below.
Every stage-to-film musical adaptation requires reimagining, rearranging, or removing elements that wouldn't gel well with the camera and the editing room. Retelling "Mean Girls" (every version of which has been penned by Tina Fey) involves the monumental assignment of adapting layers-upon-layers of its sources, starting with Rosalind Wiseman's 2002 nonfiction parent book "Queen Bees and Wannabes," and then moving onto the original 2004 Mark Waters-directed film based on Wiseman's book, the 2018 Casey Nicholaw-directed Broadway stage musical adaptation (which also features music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin), and, finally, the 2024 "Mean Girls" movie musical directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr.
Naturally, the "Mean Girls" movie musical had to scrap several songs and gags from the Broadway stage musical to leave space for makeovers. Theatre heads who've experienced the stage version are bound to notice some major exclusions, including those listed below.
- 1/12/2024
- by Caroline Cao
- Slash Film
We may not have an official release date for the movie musical version of “Mean Girls” just yet, but production is underway and, according to actress Auli’i Cravalho, it’s “been amazing,” thanks to the guidance of Tina Fey.
Cravalho, best known for lending her voice to Disney’s heroine Moana, is set to play Janis in the new version of the movie. The role was originated in “Mean Girls” by Lizzy Caplan, and on Broadway by Barrett Wilbert Weed. Not much is known about this iteration of Janis yet, aside from the fact that this time around, she’ll apparently have some green in her hair, for which Cravalho was particularly excited.
Both the original film and the stage adaptation of “Mean Girls” were written by Tina Fey, and she is returning once more for the movie musical, while also reprising her film role of Ms. Norbury. And, as Cravalho tells it,...
Cravalho, best known for lending her voice to Disney’s heroine Moana, is set to play Janis in the new version of the movie. The role was originated in “Mean Girls” by Lizzy Caplan, and on Broadway by Barrett Wilbert Weed. Not much is known about this iteration of Janis yet, aside from the fact that this time around, she’ll apparently have some green in her hair, for which Cravalho was particularly excited.
Both the original film and the stage adaptation of “Mean Girls” were written by Tina Fey, and she is returning once more for the movie musical, while also reprising her film role of Ms. Norbury. And, as Cravalho tells it,...
- 3/29/2023
- by Andi Ortiz
- The Wrap
Tina Fey just pushed herself back into one of her most iconic roles.
Fey will once again portray math teacher Ms. Norbury in Paramount+’s upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls, which itself was an adaptation of the 2004 Fey-written film in which she first played Ms. Norbury. (Help!)
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In other Mean Girls movie-musical news, Tim Meadows will also reprise his role as Principal Duvall.
Fey shared the big news during her Thursday appearance...
Fey will once again portray math teacher Ms. Norbury in Paramount+’s upcoming film adaptation of the Broadway musical Mean Girls, which itself was an adaptation of the 2004 Fey-written film in which she first played Ms. Norbury. (Help!)
More from TVLineBlood & Treasure Not Returning for Season 3Star Trek: Picard Season 3 Premiere Recap: Who's Up for One Last Ride?Paramount+ Announces Price Increase
In other Mean Girls movie-musical news, Tim Meadows will also reprise his role as Principal Duvall.
Fey shared the big news during her Thursday appearance...
- 2/17/2023
- by Andy Swift
- TVLine.com
The Bridge and Tunnel series isn't getting a third season. Epix has cancelled the half-hour romantic comedy series from Edward Burns. The news comes as it's been revealed that Epix will be rebranded to MGM+ in January.
Written, directed, and produced by Burns, the Bridge and Tunnel TV series is set in the early 1980s and revolves around a group of recent college graduates. They set out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their working-class Long Island hometown. The cast includes Sam Vartholomeos, Caitlin Stasey, Gigi Zumbado, JanLuis Castellanos, Brian Muller, Isabella Farrell, Erica Hernandez, Barrett Wilbert Weed, and Burns. Read More…...
Written, directed, and produced by Burns, the Bridge and Tunnel TV series is set in the early 1980s and revolves around a group of recent college graduates. They set out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their working-class Long Island hometown. The cast includes Sam Vartholomeos, Caitlin Stasey, Gigi Zumbado, JanLuis Castellanos, Brian Muller, Isabella Farrell, Erica Hernandez, Barrett Wilbert Weed, and Burns. Read More…...
- 9/29/2022
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
In today’s TV news roundup, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” introduces a Season 13 twist, and Karamo Brown, Tony Hawk and Leslie Jones are set to compete on “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune.”
Casting
Contestants announced for “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” will include Karamo Brown, Yvette Nicole Brown, Nicole Byer, Drew Carey, Rachael Leigh Cook, Jennie Garth, Chris Harrison, Teri Hatcher, Tony Hawk, Robert Herjavec, Leslie Jones, Jeannie Mai, Joel McHale, Maria Menounos, Chrissy Metz, Kevin Nealon, Patton Oswalt, Paul Reubens, Alfonso Ribeiro, Rob Riggle, Sherri Shepherd, Joe Tessitore, Chandra Wilson and Constance Zimmer. Premiering Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. on ABC, the series will feature a spin on the typical “Wheel of Fortune” style by pitting celebrities against each other. Watch the announcement video shared by ABC below.
Dates
USA Network announced premiere dates for three of its shows, giving “Straight Up Steve Austin” a Season 2 premiere of Jan. 11 at 11 p.m., and setting a Jan.
Casting
Contestants announced for “Celebrity Wheel of Fortune” will include Karamo Brown, Yvette Nicole Brown, Nicole Byer, Drew Carey, Rachael Leigh Cook, Jennie Garth, Chris Harrison, Teri Hatcher, Tony Hawk, Robert Herjavec, Leslie Jones, Jeannie Mai, Joel McHale, Maria Menounos, Chrissy Metz, Kevin Nealon, Patton Oswalt, Paul Reubens, Alfonso Ribeiro, Rob Riggle, Sherri Shepherd, Joe Tessitore, Chandra Wilson and Constance Zimmer. Premiering Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. on ABC, the series will feature a spin on the typical “Wheel of Fortune” style by pitting celebrities against each other. Watch the announcement video shared by ABC below.
Dates
USA Network announced premiere dates for three of its shows, giving “Straight Up Steve Austin” a Season 2 premiere of Jan. 11 at 11 p.m., and setting a Jan.
- 12/15/2020
- by Eli Countryman
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Barrett Wilbert Weed (Mean Girls on Broadway) is set for a recurring role in Bridge and Tunnel, Epix’s upcoming half-hour dramedy written, directed and produced by Edward Burns. Set in 1980, Bridge and Tunnel revolves around a group of recent college grads setting out to pursue their dreams in Manhattan while still clinging to the familiarity of their working-class Long Island home town. Weed will play Lizzie, the artsy, sarcastic older sister of Pags (Brian Muller), who dreams of rock stardom for her all-girl punk band, Wildfire. She joins an ensemble cast that includes Sam Vartholomeos, Caitlin Stasey, Gigi Zumbado, JanLuis Castellanos, Brian Muller and Isabella Farrell. In addition to Burns, the series is also executive produced by his producing partner Aaron Lubin and Lori Keith Douglas. Weed recently starred as Janis Sarkisian in Tina Fey’s Broadway musical Mean Girls, based on the movie. She originated the role...
- 12/2/2020
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Social media icon and musician Cameron Dallas will make his Broadway debut in the role of “Aaron Samuels” in Tina Fey’s Mean Girls, the show’s producers have announced.
Dallas will play the role in a four-week run during Kyle Selig’s leave of absence starting Tuesday, January 14 at the August Wilson Theatre on 245 West 52nd Street in Manhattan.
“Cameron is a tremendously talented young performer,” said a statement from the show producers. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the cast of Mean Girls and know he will be as captivating on stage as he is on screens all over the world.”
Dallas rose to fame through his creative use of Vine, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, where he has over 40 million combined followers. He has starred in fashion campaigns for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna and Carolina Herrera. In 2016, he starred in and executive produced a documentary series for Netflix called Chasing Cameron.
Dallas will play the role in a four-week run during Kyle Selig’s leave of absence starting Tuesday, January 14 at the August Wilson Theatre on 245 West 52nd Street in Manhattan.
“Cameron is a tremendously talented young performer,” said a statement from the show producers. “We’re thrilled to welcome him to the cast of Mean Girls and know he will be as captivating on stage as he is on screens all over the world.”
Dallas rose to fame through his creative use of Vine, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, where he has over 40 million combined followers. He has starred in fashion campaigns for Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabanna and Carolina Herrera. In 2016, he starred in and executive produced a documentary series for Netflix called Chasing Cameron.
- 12/20/2019
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Broadway's Mean Girls and Atlantic Records have released the official music video for 'I'd Rather Be Me' from the award-winning hit musical featuring Barrett Wilbert Weed, who currently performs as Janis Sarkisian in the show. The video had its exclusive premiere yesterday via Rolling Stone, who called it both 'empowering' and 'uplifting.' 'I'd Rather Be Me' is featured on the 'Mean Girls Original Cast Recording,' out now. The 'Mean Girls Original Cast Recording,' was produced by Jeff Richmond, Nell Benjamin, Tina Fey, Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Lorne Michaels and co-produced by Pete Ganbarg, Craig Rosen and John Clancy.
- 10/24/2018
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Mean Girls‘ Janis Sarkisian lends a helping hand to a fellow outcast in the uplifting video for the song “I’d Rather Be Me.” Barrett Wilbert Weed, who portrays Janis in this video as well as the Broadway adaptation of the teen comedy, has been with the musical since it was first being workshopped in 2016.
For the video, a young girl tries to join a lunch table full of pink-wearing Plastics. They reject her, but she finds inspiration in the theater where Weed (as Janis) performs her big second act solo alone on the stage.
For the video, a young girl tries to join a lunch table full of pink-wearing Plastics. They reject her, but she finds inspiration in the theater where Weed (as Janis) performs her big second act solo alone on the stage.
- 10/23/2018
- by Brittany Spanos
- Rollingstone.com
Barrett Wilbert Weed, who is currently belting out “I’d Rather Be Me” eight shows a week as Janis Sarkisian in Broadway smash “Mean Girls,” lovingly adapted from Tina Fey’s hit comedy that introduced the world to “fetch” and “grool,” is no stranger to the theater scene.
After attending a self-described arts version of “Hogwarts” and performing in productions like “Rent” while studying at Elon University, Weed went on to originate heroic roles like Veronica Sawyer in the Off-Broadway run of “Heathers: The Musical” and now planning “revenge parties” as Janis at the August Wilson Theatre. You might have seen her recently singing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” garnering a standing ovation by the end of the number.
On her day off, Weed, a Helen Hayes Award winner, talked with Variety about her pride in delivering such an empowering message every night, her dream of playing Elphaba in “Wicked,...
After attending a self-described arts version of “Hogwarts” and performing in productions like “Rent” while studying at Elon University, Weed went on to originate heroic roles like Veronica Sawyer in the Off-Broadway run of “Heathers: The Musical” and now planning “revenge parties” as Janis at the August Wilson Theatre. You might have seen her recently singing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” garnering a standing ovation by the end of the number.
On her day off, Weed, a Helen Hayes Award winner, talked with Variety about her pride in delivering such an empowering message every night, her dream of playing Elphaba in “Wicked,...
- 6/7/2018
- by Tara Bitran
- Variety Film + TV
Is it cliche to say the Mean Girls musical is so fetch? Because it totally is. The show made its Broadway debut in April, and now the full album is here. Not only do the catchy tracks include references to iconic moments from the 2004 film, but we can't get over how talented the cast is. Taylor Louderman hits all the right notes as the infamous Regina George, while Barrett Wilbert Weed (who plays Janice) will blow you away with her show-stopping number "Apex Predator."
The release of the musical's cast recording certainly comes at the perfect time, as the 2018 Tony Awards air next month. The show is up for 12 awards, including best musical and Louderman for best leading actress in a musical! While we'll have to wait and see if Regina George takes the crown - er, Tony - for the latter, in the meantime, you can grab your best...
The release of the musical's cast recording certainly comes at the perfect time, as the 2018 Tony Awards air next month. The show is up for 12 awards, including best musical and Louderman for best leading actress in a musical! While we'll have to wait and see if Regina George takes the crown - er, Tony - for the latter, in the meantime, you can grab your best...
- 5/29/2018
- by Kelsie Gibson
- Popsugar.com
Okay, I've got to spill the Tee This week we're having a Blast with the star swing of Mean Girls, the incredible Tee Boyich We're pouring out Oyster Bay and Bulleit while Tee tells us what it was like to make her Broadway and Equity debut covering Barrett Wilbert Weed's role in Mean Girls with literally two hours of rehearsal time...when she Wasn't Even The Janis Cover...
- 5/25/2018
- by Broadwaysted
- BroadwayWorld.com
Every year, the featured acting races at the Tony Awards prove to be the most daunting to predict. Whereas the lead races rarely have more than a dozen possibilities, there is a true embarrassment of riches to sift through when it comes to the supporting players. Before you make your 2018 Tony predictions in advance of the May 1 announcement read our breakdown of these four tough categories based on our official Tony Awards odds.
Featured Actor in a Play
Nathan Lane should send the Tony Administration Committee gift bags for placing him in the Featured category. His towering portrayal of Roy Cohn is likely to win. Lane’s co-star James McArdle should also find a spot for his neurotic Louis. The other sure bet is Anthony Boyle’s heart-wrenching and Olivier winning performance in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
We could simply fill out the category with the other “Angels...
Featured Actor in a Play
Nathan Lane should send the Tony Administration Committee gift bags for placing him in the Featured category. His towering portrayal of Roy Cohn is likely to win. Lane’s co-star James McArdle should also find a spot for his neurotic Louis. The other sure bet is Anthony Boyle’s heart-wrenching and Olivier winning performance in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.”
We could simply fill out the category with the other “Angels...
- 4/30/2018
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Tina Fey introduced an exhilarating performance of "I'd Rather Be Me," a song from her ongoing Mean Girls Broadway musical, on Thursday's Tonight Show.
Cast member Barrett Wilbert Weed, who plays Janis in the production, offered an emo edge to the arena-rock-styled number, venting about the drama of high school life over surging violins and guitars. "So your best friend screwed you over, acted nice when she not nice/ Well, I have some advice 'cause it's happened to me twice," she belted. "Here's my secret strategy – it always works because...
Cast member Barrett Wilbert Weed, who plays Janis in the production, offered an emo edge to the arena-rock-styled number, venting about the drama of high school life over surging violins and guitars. "So your best friend screwed you over, acted nice when she not nice/ Well, I have some advice 'cause it's happened to me twice," she belted. "Here's my secret strategy – it always works because...
- 4/20/2018
- Rollingstone.com
He’s known for playing the wise-cracking character of Damian in Tina Fey’s 2004 high school comedy Mean Girls. And on Tuesday, actor Daniel Franzese, 39, returned to the halls of North Shore High School to visit Broadway’s Mean Girls musical.
The stand-up comedian, who is currently on his “Yass! You’re Amazing!” tour, snuck backstage on his visit — posing for pictures with the cast including actor Greg Henson, who plays Damien in the musical, and actress Barrett Wilbert Weed, who plays Damian’s sidekick Janis Sarkisian.
As a treat for fans who see the show, Franzese also signed a...
The stand-up comedian, who is currently on his “Yass! You’re Amazing!” tour, snuck backstage on his visit — posing for pictures with the cast including actor Greg Henson, who plays Damien in the musical, and actress Barrett Wilbert Weed, who plays Damian’s sidekick Janis Sarkisian.
As a treat for fans who see the show, Franzese also signed a...
- 4/11/2018
- by Dave Quinn
- PEOPLE.com
Those high-school girls who laughed themselves silly at Tina Fey’s 2004 movie “Mean Girls” are now old enough to take their own teenaged daughters to this bouncy musical adaptation of that girly movie. The show’s high fun factor comes as no surprise — its undying theme of high-school-as-living-hell lends itself to the gaudy excesses of the Broadway musical form. You can’t have too much pink or too much bitchery in a show about pretty, popular “Apex Predators” (as one of the witty songs would have it) who pounce on their helpless prey and leave their victims traumatized for life.
Director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw (direction = 9/10, choreography = 6/10) gets this material. The stage swirls with non-stop traffic, if not perfectly executed dance movement. And Gregg Barnes’s costumes come in vividly clashing colors. The staging is actually too busy, too colorful, too loud, as if Nicholaw doesn’t want us to notice that...
Director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw (direction = 9/10, choreography = 6/10) gets this material. The stage swirls with non-stop traffic, if not perfectly executed dance movement. And Gregg Barnes’s costumes come in vividly clashing colors. The staging is actually too busy, too colorful, too loud, as if Nicholaw doesn’t want us to notice that...
- 4/9/2018
- by Marilyn Stasio
- Variety Film + TV
At least one of the characters in Broadway’s Mean Girls would describe this musical adaptation of Tina Fey’s 2004 not-for-teens-only film comedy as absolutely fetch. And fetch it is, whether that word ever happens or not.
Vibrant, beautifully sung and visually splendid, this funny charmer – book by Fey, music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin – broadens the original Paramount movie – a bar-raiser for teen flicks – to full musical comedy scale without sacrificing any of the mordancy and compassion that made a superstar of Lindsay Lohan and a generational descriptor of the title.
Directed and choreographed by The Book of Mormon‘s Casey Nicholaw (and produced by, among others, Lorne Michaels, who surveyed this preview performance with the same inscrutable, puckered expression caught occasionally by the cameras of Saturday Night Live) Mean Girls, at the August Wilson Theatre, stays true to the plot (and well-remembered jokes and catchphrases...
Vibrant, beautifully sung and visually splendid, this funny charmer – book by Fey, music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin – broadens the original Paramount movie – a bar-raiser for teen flicks – to full musical comedy scale without sacrificing any of the mordancy and compassion that made a superstar of Lindsay Lohan and a generational descriptor of the title.
Directed and choreographed by The Book of Mormon‘s Casey Nicholaw (and produced by, among others, Lorne Michaels, who surveyed this preview performance with the same inscrutable, puckered expression caught occasionally by the cameras of Saturday Night Live) Mean Girls, at the August Wilson Theatre, stays true to the plot (and well-remembered jokes and catchphrases...
- 4/9/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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