Chicago Tribune - Recommended
"..."Mean Girls" will not be remembered as some great musical in the formative sense; the songs are likable, funny ditties in a paradoic style, familiar to those of us who enjoyed Richmond's early work in Chicago, but they're not reaching for the stylistic stars so much as reflecting the regular teenage characters who get to sing them. That's also true of the digitally dominated design, which could give anyone over 40 a persistent headache. Unless, of course, they have a teenage daughter."
Chicago Sun Times - Somewhat Recommended
"...“Mean Girls” the 2017 stage musical, however, is no “Mean Girls” the movie. Despite several good lines (book by Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin), it’s a bloated, joyless weak-sauce copy that derails the movie’s ultimate celebration of girl power."
Chicago Reader - Recommended
"...Maybe that's the best way to look at Mean Girls onstage: we're spying on the lives of teenagers with appropriate concern for how cliques damage them, while also relishing the stereotypes. Casey Nicholaw's direction and choreography offers plenty of tongue-in-cheek interludes; for example, a Halloween party features the song Sexy, in which every girl's costume is a lascivious version of everything from corn to cats. The cast is uniformly endearing, and if you already like the film, you'll probably not be disappointed."
Around The Town Chicago - Recommended
"...Let me start off my review of “Mean Girls”. the musical based on the movie written by Tina Fey ( music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin ) by stating I am a grandfather of 8 from 9 years of age and up. If I were a high school sophomore ( or even a sharp freshman), the rating might be a “Must SEE”! To be honest, at intermission I spoke to a few younger people, who had seen the film and they were in ” heaven”, so let’s say that the younger you are ( within reason), the more you will love this show."
Chicagoland Theater Reviews - Highly Recommended
"...“Mean Girls” is Broadway musical at its most technically accomplished. It doesn’t break any new ground and its second act sentiments of moral uplift are unarguably obvious. But the production is a genuinely exciting audience experience. I doubt the youthful members of the audience have ever seen so many first rate young men and women perform at such an exhilarating level for almost 2½ hours. It’s possible that some preteen and teenaged females in the audience will take to heart the upbeat messages the book offers, and recognize their own school world in the artificial world of “Mean Girls.” More likely, the young ladies and the adults who brought them, as well as almost anyone else in attendance at the Nederlander Theatre, will find the show business pleasures of the production their own sufficient rewards."
Chicago Parent - Recommended
"...While this brand new musical comedy doesn't live up to the 2004 movie by Tina Fey, Mean Girls fans won't be disappointed. Mean Girls the musical is basically a carbon copy of the movie. You'll hear some of your favorite quotes mixed in with some choreography and songs. Overall, it still teaches young girls an important lesson about being authentic with your friends and yourself. "
NewCity Chicago - Somewhat Recommended
"...If nothing else, I'll take a lesson from the musical, which teaches us that kindness is a stronger alternative to being mean. I wholeheartedly agree. So I'll end off by saying: Huh...yeah, the movie was pretty good. Maybe I'll watch it again."
