‘Mean Girls’ will not return to Broadway in wake of Coronavirus pandemic

The production played its final performance at the August Wilson Theatre in March 2020.

Due to the prolonged shutdown of all Broadway venues, Mean Girls will not reopen, it has been announced. The production played its final performance on Mar. 11, 2020, after 29 previews and 805 performances at the August Wilson Theatre.

On behalf of the creative Team, book writer and producer Tina Fey said, "The chance to bring this show to Broadway, with such a talented young ensemble and five astounding female leads, has been a dream come true. And to our fierce and dedicated fans - the limit of our gratitude does not exist."

Based on the 2004 movie of the same name, Mean Girls follows Cady Heron, a teenager who moves from the African savanna to Illinois, trying to survive life in high school. The musical featured a book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, lyrics by Nell Benjamin, and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw.

The final cast of Mean Girls included Sabrina Carpenter as Cady Heron, Reneé Rapp as Regina George, Krystina Alabado as Gretchen Wieners, Laura Leigh Turner as Karen Smith, Olivia Kaufmann as Janis Sarkisian, Chad Burris as Damian Hubbard, Catherine Brunell as Ms. Norbury, Kyle Selig as Aaron Samuels, Cheech Manohar as Kevin Gnapoor and Rick Younger as Mr. Duvall.

Mean Girls made its world premiere at Washington D.C's National Theatre in 2017, subsequently transferring to Broadway three months later. Mean Girls began previews at the August Wilson Theatre on Mar. 12, 2018, ahead of an official opening night on Apr. 8, 2018. The production was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, but did not win any categories.

During its 834 performances, Mean Girls was seen by over 1 million theatregoers. However, Mean Girls fans can rejoice, as the North American tour is set to commence in summer 2021, with plans for a West End transfer in the works.

Details on future productions staged at the August Wilson Theatre are to be announced.

^{Photo credit: Cast of Mean Girls (Photo by Joan Marcus)}