Mean Girls at Chandler Youth Theatre wasn’t just a regular production; it was a
phenomenal display of these actors’ talents. The show is known for its challenging pop-rock
score and its incredibly comedic book. The story follows Cady Heron, a previously
homeschooled girl from Africa navigating the social obstacle course that is American high
school. This production’s actors highlighted the fun and sincerity of the show all while never
breaking a sweat.
Brooke Bilsten owned the score as Cady, leading the show with polished vocals
and flawless placement. Her wide-eyed hopefulness and naivety worked well in contrast to
all the characters around her. She was an amazing leading lady, encapsulating Cady’s
journey from start to finish, the show perfectly.
Ella Mejia’s Regina George was mesmerizing, and you cannot look away from her
the minute she enters the stage. Her performance is undeniably powerful with strong vocals
and sharp line delivery. She also was the choreographer for the production, which sounds
intense, but neither the choreography nor her performance was lacking in quality.
Alina Henriquez’s Janis was delightfully deceitful, odd, and charismatic all at the
same time. Her interpretation of the character was unique and creative in a way that made
you fall in love with her character. “I’d Rather Be Me” was showstopping due to her
incredible vocals that soared throughout the whole show.
Jack Harnack as Damien was vocally superb and had excellent amounts of pizzazz.
His comedic timing was great, and he was able to show off some impressive dancing
abilities. He had good characterization, and his joy of playing the character translated to the
audience.
Anna Schwarz’s Gretchen was engaging and wonderfully batty. She was an
incredible scene partner across the show through her fabulous playfulness in her
performance. Her vulnerability was also present in Gretchen’s sincere and anxious scenes.
Bella Johnson as Karen embodies the character vocally and with her mannerisms.
She never failed to serve as lighthearted comedic relief during the show. Her “Sexy” was
simple fun and beautifully portrayed her version of Karen.
Sammy Ryan’s Aaron had great humanization and served as a great compliment to
all his scene partners. He also had smooth vocals that served him well in his solos and
duets.
The aforementioned were supported by a well-rounded ensemble that served as a
great chorus and satisfied the story with their featured roles. The choreography, as I
mentioned, was mostly well executed and creative, in addition to the costumes, props, and
set.