Mission Statement
Brown Working Theatre's goal is to provide a home for any student who is interested in theatre. Whether performing on stage or working behind the scenes (lighting, sound, sets and other aspectos of stagecraft and production), students will have the opportunity to participate together in a creative collaboration to "tell the story".
Director's Note
Mean Girls Jr. follows Cady Heron, a home-schooled student from Kenya, as she navigates life at an American high school. Outcasts Damian and Janis introduce her to a world of strict social groupings, ruled by the Plastics: Gretchen, Karen, and legendary queen bee Regina George. When Regina takes an interest in Cady, she finds herself caught between her friendship with Janis and Damian and the glamour and exclusivity of the Plastics—that is, until Regina steals Cady’s crush, Aaron. Cady is determined to de-throne the queen bee, but can she do it without becoming a mean girl herself?
Recently, I joked that our last two musicals (Honk! and SpongeBob) were about how anyone can be a hero, but Mean Girls is about how anyone can be a villain. In a way, it’s just as important a lesson. This week is Kindness Week at Brown, and we teach our students that kindness is a choice. It’s not always an easy one. In our first week of rehearsal, I asked the cast and crew why they thought this musical was so popular, over twenty years after the movie first came out. They shared how social exclusion and cliques have affected them, and especially how the homophobia and diet culture portrayed in the show feel very present in today’s society. The pressure to fit in—to look, or act, or dress a certain way—is alive and well in middle school. Mean Girls reminds us to choose kindness, that actions have consequences, and that forgiveness is always possible.
When Damian first introduces Cady to the cliques of North Shore High, he sings a song called “Where Do You Belong?” But belonging is more than just fitting in; it’s being accepted and celebrated for who you truly are. For many of our students, Brown Working Theatre is the place where they belong. They have worked long and hard to bring this show to life, and we hope you enjoy!
Special Thanks
We'd like to thank Kim Lysaght, Richard King, Matt Bailey-Adams, Devon Nelson, Peter Tordo, Pat Pollard, Jen Ramic, Courtney Ross, Nandine Timperio, Marinela Golemi, Lucy Boyer, Stephen Peruzzi, Danny Coffey, Mike Walsh, Anthony Pizano, Rick Gomez-Casillas and the entire Brown Staff for all their support.
Thank you to ALL the wonderful parents who supported our students throughout this process, gathered costumes, ran errands, provided refreshments, helped behind the scenes, and much more. It takes a village!
