WASHINGTON — Before “Show Boat” and “West Side Story” made Broadway history in 1927 and 1957, respectively, both chose D.C.’s National Theatre to make their world premieres.
So the precedent has been set for “Mean Girls: The Musical” to launch its way to Broadway success after making its world premiere this month at National Theatre from Oct. 31-Dec. 3.
“It’ll be the first time any audience in the world has seen our musical,” actress Ashley Park told WTOP. “Before we take it to Broadway in the spring, we’re doing an out-of-town tryout here. So we get to work out anything we want in the story, develop characters more and just see what our show feels like in front of an audience — and D.C. is the audience that gets it!”
Based on Tina Fey’s 2004 film adaptation of Rosalind Wiseman’s 2002 book, the story follows the naive new-girl-in-town Cady Heron (Erika Henningsen). She tries to fit in with her new classmates, while plotting to overthrow the popular trio The Plastics, comprised of Regina George (Taylor Louderman), Gretchen Wieners (Ashley Park) and Karen Smith (Kate Rockwell).
“She is basically plucked from her life home-schooled in Africa and she comes to Chicago, Illinois, and is dropped into this life as a high schooler,” Park said. “The premise is just a highschooler finding where she belongs and where she fits in and all the insecurities.”
The plot will already be familiar to most folks, who enjoyed the film’s pop-culture glory.
“‘Mean Girls’ is that movie that if it was ever playing on TV or if I was on an airplane and couldn’t fall asleep, I’d always turn it on,” Park said. “It’s one of those movies that I can watch at any time. For our generation, we grew up with it. It’s kind of like our ‘Sixteen Candles.'”
Playing the respective roles of Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams are Erika Henningsen and Taylor Louderman, who were actually Park’s best friends at the University of Michigan.
“It’s kind of crazy that we’re all doing this together,” Park said. “[Erika] does not leave the stage at all. Literally all of Act One she’s on stage! She’s a friggin’ star. It’s unbelievable. She’s singing constantly, so it’s going to be a totally different experience to watch a Cady Heron singing the way that she does. She just brings a lot of strength and a lot of charisma to the character.”
Speaking of singing, the songbook features brand-new original music by Jeff Richmond (“30 Rock,” “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”) and lyrics by Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”).
“I’ve been so shocked that this is Jeff Richmond’s first musical; he was born to write for musicals!” Park said. “It really is an original score. It doesn’t feel like any other musical I’ve ever heard. I come from a background of Rodgers & Hammerstein revivals, Sondheim, even pop-rock shows. [‘Mean Girls’] has its own sound and taste. There’s an homage to every genre.”
Fans will take ownership of watching their favorite film moments come to life as showtunes.
“When a character goes into song, the audience will be so excited because they’ll recognize these moments and see them become these huge production numbers,” Park said.
Rick Younger, a Baltimore native and proud University of Maryland alum, plays the school principal and insists the musical works regardless of whether or not you’ve seen the movie.
“It’s the kind of show where if you saw the movie, fine, but if you haven’t seen the movie, you can still appreciate what’s going on,” Younger said. “The music takes it to another level.”
While Younger loves the song “World Burn,” Park’s favorite is the Act One finale “Justice.”
“It’s the most joyful number I’ve experienced on stage,” Park said. “It’s when they kick [Regina] out and they’re raising up Cady as the new leader. They’re celebrating this freedom. … The most emotional thing is [when] Cady comes forward as the new Queen Bee. I’m literally on this table holding Erika’s leg. It’s really meta because I’m holding up my best friend in real life.”
Such staging belongs to Tony-winning director Casey Nicholaw (“Aladdin,” “Book of Mormon”).
“He is such a vet and knows exactly how to steer us all,” Park said. “It’s pretty sensational working with him. He directed ‘Aladdin’ and ‘The Book of Mormon,’ so he really understands huge comedies and big pictures and knows how to zoom into really specific moments.”
While Nicholaw is a seasoned Broadway veteran, Fey makes her anticipated Broadway debut.
“I have always looked up to Tina Fey,” Park said. “She is a strong, smart woman — one of the strongest and smartest of our time. I think she is an icon in that way. I remember auditioning for her thinking, ‘Oh my god, I cannot believe I get to say the word ‘fetch’ in front of Tina Fey!’ … She is literally the most humble, generous, down-to-earth person. She’s all about the work.”
How has Fey changed in the 13 years since she penned “Mean Girls” as her first script?
“She gets to come back with the perspective of [having] a 12-year-old and a 6-year-old,” Park said. “She’s lived more life, so she gets to come back with this different perspective and a whole different group of people. … She [writes] in her book ‘Bossypants’ that the best thing a boss can do is just hire people they trust then let them work — and she really does that.”
As the cast goes to work, a whole new generation will discover the magic of “Mean Girls.”
“What’s been amazing is seeing teenagers who didn’t grow up with the movie, how accessible the story is to them now,” Park said. “I joke that I never thought I’d go back to high school. I get to go back to high school with a different perspective. Isn’t it our dream to go back to high school and do it over? I get to go back to high school with my best friends from college!”
Which leaves us with one final question: Is this musical pretty fetch?
“Oh, it’s more than fetch; it’s fabulously super fetch,” Younger said. “Hashtag #superfetch.”
Click here for more details. Listen to our full chats with Ashley Park and Rick Younger below:
