ELLY GRIMM
• Leader & Times
The American Theatre Guild has presented many good shows for its 2023-24 Broadway in Wichita season and soon, the season will be finishing up with what is sure to be a crowd favorite.
The national tour of the hit Broadway musical 'Mean Girls' will be making its way to Wichita's Century II Concert Hall April 19 through 21, with performances at 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20, and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Tickets are available for purchase at BroadwayWichita.com, Century2.com or by calling 855-755-7328.
The show is based on the 2004 movie of the same name, and follows Cady Heron, a teenage girl who transfers to a public high school after being homeschooled her whole life in Africa. At school, she befriends outsiders Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard, who persuade her to infiltrate the 'Plastics,' a clique consisting of wealthy but insecure Gretchen Wieners, sweet but dimwitted Karen Smith, and 'queen bee' Regina George. Hilarity and humility ensue as Cady learns you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
Cast member Shawn Mathews said there is a lot of excitement about bringing the show to Wichita.
“It's always exciting to bring the show to a new place and see how the audience reacts to all the songs and the jokes and everything else in the show. Every audience is different, and it's great bringing the show to a new audience that hasn't seen it before,” Mathews said. “The tour hasn't yet been able to hit cities like Wichita, so we're really excited to come. It's also just great being able to bring shows like 'Mean Girls' to audiences who probably aren't able to make it all the way to New York and see it on Broadway. The show is so much fun and there are so many laughs from beginning to end, but there's also quite a bit of heart throughout as the characters all learn something. I love shows that have humor and heart, and 'Mean Girls' blends all of that perfectly, so it's great being part of something that makes people laugh and feel at the same time.”
Mathews also talked about how he initially got involved with the show.
“There was an open call for the first national tour last year, which I had auditioned for but didn't get. But this time around, the casting people still had me on file and reached out to me, and I was able to book it, which I was really excited about. I've been with this tour since September, like a lot of the other cast members, and we've all been on the road since then,” Mathews said. “I've never been on a national tour, this is my first one, so it's really neat experiencing everything and being able to visit so many new places and do the show for so many new audiences. It's honestly a dream come true and I wouldn't want to be doing anything else right now. It's crazy to be able to see so many different places, and we've gone through so many different landscapes and climates as we've gone on tour. One particularly weird drive was from Reno, Nev. to California – Reno has a lot of mountains and some snow, and then when we got into California, the landscape there is basically the complete opposite, and that's within a five-hour drive. The sightseeing is the best – I love my job and I love performing, but I love being able to explore and experience a new city, so I'm excited to see Wichita and everything it has to offer.”
Mathews added there are a lot of aspects of his character he enjoys.
“I play Kevin G, the leader of the Mathletes and the self-proclaimed smartest kid in school until Cady comes along. Kevin is a really comedic side character and along with Aaron Samuels, who's Cady's love interest, they help her become the character we all see grow throughout the show,” Mathews said. “I get to play and make people laugh and also help with some character development. In theatre, there really aren't very many characters of color that look like me, and Kevin G really fit the bill for me as far as what roles I wanted and could do. I've also been in 'In the Heights' and 'Bring It On,' both of which feature characters of color, and I felt like Kevin G would be another great character for me to take on, and he just feels right. I was so happy to get the role this second time around, and it's been great.”
With the show having seen much popularity during its Broadway run, Mathews said he hopes to see big audiences when the show makes its way to Wichita.
“If you happen to be in Wichita and have a free weekend, and if you want to see a good show, absolutely come and see us. There's nothing like seeing a live show, seeing live theatre is absolutely life-changing,” Mathews said. “If you've never seen a Broadway-caliber show before, this is an amazing introduction, and you'll leave wondering how such a show could be done in a live venue. Especially if you're a 'Mean Girls' fan, you'll love every character, and they're all here – Janis, Cady, Regina, everyone. Everyone is in for a really special show if they come out and see what we're up to that weekend. Overall, if you're looking for a good show that makes you laugh and feel some other emotions, come and see 'Mean Girls,' because it's going to be amazing. The cast is incredible, the music is really fun, and everyone will just have a great time.”
