Mean Girls High School Version
A fetch opportunity for high schools and youth theatre groups to license this queen bee!
Open to all U.S. and Canada groups. All performers MUST be ages 18 and under.
Show Essentials
10
Roles
+ Ensemble
PG13
Rated
2
Acts

Full Synopsis

Act One

Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard introduce the audience to Cady Heron, breaking the fourth wall and inviting them on their journey ("A Cautionary Tale"). Cady and her parents have moved to a Chicago suburb from Kenya, Africa but Cady soon realizes that her high school classmates do not readily accept others who differ from them. Despite this, she is ready to accept the challenge of fitting in at the high school ("It Roars"), only for Cady to find that no one seems to like her or even acknowledge her ("It Roars (Reprise)"). Janis and Damian decide to help her as she tries to find her social group ("Where Do You Belong?"); describing the clique of high school social royalty dubbed "the Plastics" in particular. The trio consists of Regina George, the "Queen Bee"; Gretchen Wieners, Regina's nervous, eager-to-please second-in-command; and Karen Smith, the stereotypical dumb blonde. Regina and her fellow Plastics decide that the new girl will eat lunch with them for the rest of the week ("Meet the Plastics"). When Cady tells Damian and Janis about the invitation, the latter asks her to say yes to the Plastics and tell them everything they say. Damian tries to explain why they hate Regina, but Janis interrupts him.

In AP Calculus, Cady meets the dreamy Aaron Samuels and immediately falls for him ("Stupid with Love"). Kevin, head of the Mathletes, is impressed with Cady's performance in class and asks her to join them, but Gretchen warns Cady that joining the Mathletes is social suicide and Regina puts down Kevin to make him leave. Cady thinks Regina is nice for "protecting" her, but Janis warns her that Regina is dangerous. Amazed and intoxicated by her newfound power, however, Cady does not pay attention to Janis’s words ("Apex Predator"). At the mall, Gretchen asks Cady if she has met any boys she likes. When Cady tells her about Aaron, Gretchen becomes horrified because he is Regina's ex-boyfriend, which makes him off-limits to her friends. The Plastics and Cady retire to Regina's house, where they meet her "cool mom" and Gretchen and Karen show Cady their old Burn Book, where they put photos of their classmates and write mean comments about them. When they come across Janis' photo in the book, Gretchen explains that she and Regina used to be best friends. Regina claims Janis freaked out when she was unable to invite her to her thirteenth birthday party and ended up in art therapy. Later, Gretchen confides in Cady that, because of the state of her friendship with Regina, she has lost all confidence in herself ("What's Wrong With Me?").

The next day, Aaron discusses his previous relationship with Regina, how she made him feel like he was not himself, and that he has sworn off of dating. After an awkwardly concealed verbal slip-up results in him explaining a math problem to her, Cady believes that if she acts stupid, Aaron will help her with her work, and therefore talk to her more ("Stupid with Love (Reprise)"). After using this tactic, Aaron invites Cady to his Halloween party. Karen explains that in high school, Halloween revolves around looking sexy and having a hot costume ("Sexy"). Cady fails to realize this and shows up at the party in a "scary" costume, embarrassing herself. Later at the party, Gretchen tells Regina about Cady's crush on Aaron to get her approval. Spitefully, Regina decides to flirt with and manipulate Aaron until he agrees to get back together with her ("Someone Gets Hurt"). Cady sees Aaron kissing Regina and is devastated.

Furious, Cady shows up at Damian's house and tells him and Janis what happened. Damian tells Cady that the real reason Regina and Janis stopped being friends was that in 6th grade, Regina accused Janis of being a lesbian. When the latter was unable to deny it, her classmates bullied her until she left school. The three friends decide to work together to get revenge on Regina, starting with giving her Kälteen Bars to make her gain weight. They also trick Gretchen by sending a fake Candy Cane Gram to Cady from "Regina" saying that they are now best friends. This leads Gretchen to reveal Regina's secret hook-ups with football player Shane Oman, among other vengeful acts ("Revenge Party"). After the Plastics' disastrous "Rockin' Around the Pole" dance at the school talent show, people start noticing Regina's weight gain. Later, when she breaks one of the Plastics' arbitrary clothing rules, Cady stands up to her; banning her from sitting at their table. Everyone is relieved to be freed from Regina's rule ("Fearless"). Cady tries to apologize to Regina for kicking her out, but she insinuates that her reign is far from over ("Someone Gets Hurt (Reprise)").

Act Two

Following the winter break, Cady has undergone a complete makeover befitting of her new "Queen Bee" status leading Karen and Gretchen ("A Cautionary Tale (Reprise)"), though Damian and Janis disapprove of this. After Cady tells Janis that she cannot attend her art show because of a trip with her parents, Damian and the other girls of North Shore High School try to hamper Cady's ever-growing social obsessions and make her stop acting dumb for Aaron by telling her about their own negative past experiences with obsessive behavior ("Stop"). Gretchen and Karen convince Cady to lie to her parents and throw a "small" party while they are gone that weekend. Gretchen starts to notice similarities between her friendship with Regina and Cady while Mrs. George wonders why her daughter refuses to confide in her; reminiscing about the old days when Regina was a child. Concurrently, Gretchen contemplates being friends with Cady ("What's Wrong With Me? (Reprise)").

Following Gretchen and Karen's advice, Cady throws a party in an attempt to get Aaron to come over. However, she becomes intoxicated and crazier ("Whose House is This?"). When Aaron shows up, they sneak off to her bedroom, where Cady tells him the "funny" story about how she pretended that she was dumb to make him like her. Aaron becomes upset and says he liked the smart and kind Cady, not her new Plastic self ("More is Better"). He leaves, but she chases after him and runs into Janis and Damian outside, who have come to confront her after the art show. They tell Cady that she betrayed their trust, lied to them, and has gone full Plastic. Cady accuses Janis of being in love with her, just as Regina did years ago. Janis and Damian are disgusted by Cady's behavior, with the former throwing a picture she submitted to her art show at Cady; revealing that the winning painting was of the three of them ("Someone Gets Hurt (Reprise 2)").

When Regina discovers that she was not invited to Cady's party and that the Kälteen Bars were the cause of her weight gain, she decides to get revenge by releasing the Burn Book after adding "Regina is a Fugly Cow" to it in order to take the blame off of herself. She throws copies of the Burn Book pages all over the school, revealing the insults about everyone they know, except Karen, Gretchen, and Cady ("World Burn"). All of the junior class girls begin fighting over the insults. Janis and Damian see an insult in the book that only Cady could have written about him. At a required assembly about the Burn Book, Ms. Norbury tries to bring the girls together. Janis explains her philosophy to the school, referencing her failed friendships with both Cady and Regina; empowering the girls to stand up for themselves ("I'd Rather Be Me"). When Regina storms out in anger and disbelief, Cady tries to apologize, but the former Plastic gets distracted and hit by a passing school bus.

The accident prompts Cady to reevaluate herself and realize what a monster she has become. After learning Ms. Norbury was about to be fired due to the things she wrote, Cady takes full blame for the Burn Book, despite not having written the entire thing herself. She is suspended for three weeks and banned from the Spring Fling ("Fearless (Reprise)"). When Cady returns to school, Ms. Norbury offers her a way to earn extra credit and save her grade: joining the Mathletes at the state championships. The team wins, and Cady feels redeemed ("Do This Thing"). She then sneaks into the Spring Fling with Aaron's help after kissing him. There, she runs into Regina, and they have a heart-to-heart before making up.

Cady is elected Spring Fling Queen, but after noticing how fragile and cheap the plastic crown is, she breaks it into several pieces and gives them to each girl in attendance - telling them they are all "real, and rare." She apologizes to Janis and Damian, and they move forward as friends once more. Cady, Damian, Janis, Gretchen, Karen, Aaron, and Regina join together, finally accepting each other ("I See Stars").

Casting
← Back to Mean Girls High School Version
Cast Size: Medium (11 to 20 performers)
Cast Type: Ensemble Cast
Dance Requirements: Standard

Character Breakdown

Cady

A new junior at North Shore High School, Cady grew up in Africa and was homeschooled by her wildlife biologist parents. She is warm, bright, and strong enough to take on The Plastics. Is the emotional heart of our story.

Gender: female
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: Gb5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Regina

Regina is the Queen Bee of the Plastics. When she shines her light on you, you feel like the most important person in the world. When that light goes cold, you want to die. She is regal, still, and “hot”, but at her most vulnerable moments, she is just a kid in over her head.

Gender: female
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: Gb5
Vocal range bottom: F#3
Janis

An “Art Freak” and social outcast, Janis is not afraid to be weird or make others uncomfortable. She paints herself as an objective observer, but, like so many of us, she longs to avenge the devastating events of eighth grade.

Gender: female
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: F5
Vocal range bottom: Ab3
Damian

Outgoing and an active member of the student activities committee, Damian is a fiercely loyal friend to Janis and they have the close rapport of a comedy team.

Gender: male
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: F2
Gretchen

One of the Plastics. Desperate to please Regina and to maintain her position in the Plastics, Gretchen is a nervous wreck. She is a “banker” meaning she befriends people to “bank” their secrets so she can trade them later for her own benefit. Her fragility at times is heartbreaking.

Gender: female
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Karen

One of the Plastics. Although her intellect and personality never had a chance tto develop, Karen is essentially kind, relaxed, and a generous laugher.

Gender: female
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: Gb5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Aaron

A cute boy with a good moral compass and a backbone. He’s not immune to all the female attention he gets, but he’s not going to let himself be a pawn in their chess game either. Broadway and pop tenor.

Gender: male
Age: 15 to 18
Vocal range top: Bb4
Vocal range bottom: B2
Mrs. George/Ms. Norbury

Mrs. Heron is Cady’s intellectual mom who can’t understand why her daughter is devolving before her eyes. Ms. Norbury is Cady’s world-weary Calculus teacher who pushes Cady to be her smartest self. Mrs. George is Regina’s “cool mom.” She’s desperate to look young and feel like one of the teens. She’s also desperate for Regina not to repeat her mistakes. Great singer. Distinctly defines these three characters. Eclectic Broadway vocal mix.

Gender: female
Age: 30 to 50
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: G3
Mr. Duvall

The principal of North Shore High. Mr. Duvall may have once taught computers at Joliet penitentiary, but nothing prepared him for the harsh realities of out-of-control junior girls. Funny and a strong singer.

Gender: male
Age: 30 to 50
Kevin G.

Kevin is the extremely driven captain of the North Shore Mathletes. He is a confident student and a decent rapper.

Gender: male
Age: 15 to 18
Full Song List
Mean Girls High School Version: Overture
Mean Girls High School Version: Mean
Mean Girls High School Version: It Roars
Mean Girls High School Version: It Roars (Reprise)
Mean Girls High School Version: Where Do You Belong?
Mean Girls High School Version: Meet the Plastics
Mean Girls High School Version: Stupid With Love
Mean Girls High School Version: Apex Predator
Mean Girls High School Version: What’s Wrong With Me?
Mean Girls High School Version: October Third
Mean Girls High School Version: Sexy
Mean Girls High School Version: Someone Gets Hurt
Mean Girls High School Version: Revenge Party
Mean Girls High School Version: Transformers
Mean Girls High School Version: Rockin’ Around the Pole
Mean Girls High School Version: Fearless
Mean Girls High School Version: Entr’acte
Mean Girls High School Version: Mean (Reprise)
Mean Girls High School Version: Stop!
Mean Girls High School Version: Cady Thinks (Lying)
Mean Girls High School Version: What’s Wrong? (Reprise)
Mean Girls High School Version: Whose House is This?
Mean Girls High School Version: Whose House (Tag)
Mean Girls High School Version: More is Better
Mean Girls High School Version: Someone Gets Hurt (Reprise)
Mean Girls High School Version: World Burn
Mean Girls High School Version: I’d Rather Be Me
Mean Girls High School Version: I’d Rather Be Me (Tag)
Mean Girls High School Version: The Karen Variations
Mean Girls High School Version: Do This Thing
Mean Girls High School Version: Do This Thing (Tag)
Mean Girls High School Version: I See Stars
Mean Girls High School Version: Bows
Mean Girls High School Version: Exit Music

Connect

Billing

Based on the Paramount Pictures film Mean Girls

Requirements

You must give the authors/creators billing credits, as specified in the Production Contract, in a conspicuous manner on the first page of credits in all programs and on houseboards, displays and in all other advertising announcements of any kind.
Percentages listed indicate required type size in relation to title size.
You agree to bill the Play and the Authors in all programs (on the title page), houseboards, displays and in all advertising and all paid publicity, in the following manner:
 
MEAN GIRLS
100%
HIGH SCHOOL VERSION
50%

Book by
TINA FEY

50%

Music by
JEFF RICHMOND

50%

Lyrics by
NELL BENJAMIN

50%

Based on the Paramount Pictures film Mean Girls
33.33%
 
ADDITIONAL TITLE PAGE BILLING: The following billing must appear on the title page of all programs and in all advertising and publicity wherever and whenever the full production credits appear, in a type size not less than 25% of the non-logo title of the Play:
Original Broadway Production Produced by
    Lorne Michaels Stuart Thompson Sonia Friedman  
  Paramount Pictures Marisa Sechrest Ars Nova Entertainment Berlind Productions  
Steve Burke Scott M. Dellman Roy Furman Robert Greenblatt Ruth Hendel Jam Theatricals
    The John Gore Foundation The Lowy Salpeter Company James L. Nederalnder  
    Christine Schwarzman Universal Theatrical Group    
   

Executive Producer
David Turner

     
 
SHORTENED BILLING: In advertisements of 1/4 page size or less, where only the title of the Play, performance dates and venue are provided, the following “shortened billing” is permissible:
MEAN GIRLS
High School Version

Video Warning

In accordance with the Performance License, you MUST include the following warning in all programs and in a pre-show announcement:

ANY VIDEO AND/OR AUDIO RECORDING OF THIS PRODUCTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

Included Materials

ItemQuantity Included
APPROVED CHANGES1
APPROVED CHANGES1
ENHANCEMENT TRACK DIGITAL1
KEYBOARD-CONDUCTOR ACT 11
KEYBOARD-CONDUCTOR ACT 21
LIBRETTO/VOCAL BOOK25
PIANO VOCAL SCORE2
SONG PACKET1

Production Resources

Resource
CHOREOGRAPHY VIDEO GUIDES
CUSTOMIZABLE SHOW POSTER
FULL SCORE ACT 1
FULL SCORE ACT 2
HOW DOES THE SHOW GO ON?
LOGO PACK DIGITAL
PERFORMANCE ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING
PRODUCTIONPRO-DIGITAL SCRIPT/SCORE
REFERENCE RECORDING
REHEARSAL ACCOMPANIMENT RECORDING
REHEARSCORE APP
SCENIC PROJECTIONS
SCENIC PROJECTIONS PRO
STAGE MANAGER SCRIPT
STAGE WRITE APPLICATION
STREAMING LICENSE
TRANSPOSITIONS-ON-DEMAND
VIDEO LICENSE

STANDARD ORCHESTRATION

InstrumentationDoubling
BASSACOUSTIC BASS , 5-STRG FRETLESS BASS, 5-STRING ELEC. BASS
DRUMSCHINA CYMBAL , DRUM SET , MARK TREE , PADS , PICCOLO SNARE , SHAKER (2 SIZES) , TAMBOURINE , TRIANGLE
GUITARACOUSTIC GUITAR , BANJO , ELECTRIC - DROP D , ELECTRIC GUITAR , UKELELE , 12-STRING ELECTRIC
GUITAR 2ACOUSTIC GUITAR , ELECTRIC GUITAR , ELECTRIC-STRAT , MANDOLIN , NYLON STRING GUITAR , 12-STRING ELECTRIC
KEYBOARD 1
KEYBOARD 2
PERCUSSIONBELL TREE , BONGOS , CLAVES , CONGAS , CRASH CYMBAL , CROTALES , DJEMBE , DUMBEK , EASTERN FINGER CYMB., EGG SHAKER , GLOCKENSPIEL , GRAN CASSA , HI JAM BLOCK , LP MINI-TIMBALES , MINI WUHAN CHINA , MOUNTED TAMBOURINE , ONE-SHOT SHAKER , ORCHESTRAL TRIANGLE , RIBBON CRASHER , SHAKER , SMALL COWBELL , SUSPENDED CYMBAL , TAM-TAM , TAMBOURINE , TIMPANI , TRIANGLE , WOOD BLOCK
REED 1ALTO SAXOPHONE , CLARINET , FLUTE , PICCOLO , SOPRANO SAXOPHONE
REED 2BARITONE SAXOPHONE , BASS CLARINET , CLARINET , FLUTE , TENOR SAXOPHONE
TROMBONEBASS TROMBONE , TROMBONE
TRUMPETFLUGELHORN , TRUMPET