When the film “Mean Girls” opened in 2004, with the creative and comedic talents of Tina Fey behind it, it captured something true about our desire to belong and the difficult realities of navigating the high school experience. The movie managed to do this with biting humor and a lot of heart. The “Mean Girls” musical, with music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin and book by Tina Fey, captures this same magic with a Broadway twist. “Mean Girls,” playing at the Aronoff Center for the Arts through November 17, takes the best of the movie’s original themes, modernizes them for a current audience, and adapts the story fabulously for the stage. The original characters and some dialogue, scenes and costumes remain the same. But the musical adds beautiful and dynamic set design, electrifying dance numbers and new interpretations of the characters that pop off the stage. The Cincinnati audience leapt to their feet for a standing ovation after the final number.

I knew the 2004 high school era well since it was my own. The original “Mean Girls” film poked at some of the cliques, styles and ideas that played a role for turn of the millennium teenagers. In one of the musical’s early songs, “Where Do You Belong,” the cliques are a little different 15 years later, but Cady Heron’s bafflement regarding where to sit for lunch remain the same.

The “Mean Girls” musical beautifully reflects on the realities — and dangers — of coming of age in a social media era. The use of the stage backdrop to plaster posts, likes and comments in a scrapbook format was effective and even a little scary. You could see the damaging repercussions of online rumors and meanness reverberating out in a never ending spiral, with even parents and strangers weighing in. In between moments of laugh-out-loud humor, the musical challenges the audience to think about bullying, gender, sexuality, diversity, feminism and how the world might encourage young people to grow up strong and inclusive rather than insecure and exclusive.

One of the highlights of the night was CCM graduate Eric Huffman as Cady’s North Shore HS friend and navigator, Damian Hubbard. His dynamic performance captured hearts throughout the room, and the audience cheered enthusiastically at the conclusion of rousing tap number “Stop,” a song about thinking twice before you post something online.

All of the lead performances were stellar. Mary Kate Morissey, who recently toured as Elphaba in “Wicked,” managed to be both snarky and vulnerable
while singing some powerful songs as art student Janis Sarkisian. Mariah Rose Faith was an excellent and powerful Regina George, and Danielle Wade navigated the complex transformations of Cady Heron with ease. I was impressed with the complexity that Megan Masako Haley (as Gretchen Wieners) and Karen Smith (as Jonalyn Saxer) brought to the “plastics.” By the end of the show, you really are rooting for all of these characters to succeed in some way. I also really enjoyed the multiple mother figures brought to life by Gaelen Gilliand, including the role of the math teacher who pushes her students to be their best selves.

The scene transformations were compelling. The crowded hallway and party scenes felt like high school, and the use of dance props such as school desk and lunch trays was beautifully executed. The set also captured magical moments, such as stars, and the lead up to “Burn,” in a way that felt like a completely different environment.

You don’t want to be the person missing out on this party! Get your tickets to “Mean Girls” now!

Caitlin Tracey-Miller loves museums, art, reading, and freshly baked ginger cookies. She works at the Cincinnati Art Museum and enjoys going on adventures with her husband and toddler.