I personally like to refer to the early 2000s as the golden age of rom-coms. Hits like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Bridget Jones Diary are comfort movies I always find myself going back to for a good time. One movie that rocked the rom-com world — and became the quintessential teen movie of the new millennium — was Mean Girls. With iconic lines that dive into the psyche of teens, Mean Girls is a modern-day classic. If you are looking to relive the 2000s, grab your flip phone and tracksuit because the MEAN GIRLS musical is in Sacramento.
In case you haven’t seen the movie, MEAN GIRLS follows Cady Heron, a teenager who moves from Africa to the suburbs of Illinois. After being homeschooled her who life, Cady is thrusted into the world of high school with its cliques, drama, and unspoken rules. She quickly befriends outsiders Janis and Damian, who convince her to infiltrate the “Plastics”, led by queen bee Regina George. After some backhanded and backstabbing moments, Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign. But soon she learns when you mess with the queen bee, you’re sure to get stung.
While teaching a valuable lesson about friendship, this show was filled to the brim with humor. The humor really shines through with Karen Smith and her song, “Sexy.” Karen, the lovable but ditzy member of the Plastics, embraces her airhead persona in this number, which pokes fun at the teen girl obsession of being hot rather than scary for Halloween. The song satirizes the stereotypical “dumb blonde” trope by making Karen’s confidence her superpower. She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but she is authentically herself.
Of course, MEAN GIRLS wouldn’t be what it is without Regina George herself and oh boy, Maya Petropoulos was a stellar Regina. She fully embodied Regina, being charismatic, cunning, and completely in control of the entire school. Some of her most powerful moments were during “World Burn” during which she proves she isn’t just a mean girl, she is force of nature you don’t want to mess with.
MEAN GIRLS takes the iconic 2004 film and cranks up the drama, humor, and high school chaos with show-stopping songs and unforgettable performances. Through its exploration of power, identity, and the impact of gossip, the show delivers both sharp comedy and meaningful lessons about self-acceptance and kindness. Whether it’s Gretchen still trying to make “fetch” happen or Cady learning the hard way that “ex-boyfriends are off-limits to friends”, the musical proves that high school may be full of drama, but the real glow-up comes from staying true to yourself. And if all else fails—just remember: On Wednesdays, we wear pink. Catch MEAN GIRLS now through Feb. 23 at the SAFE Credit Union Performing Arts Center. Learn more here.
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