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On Wednesdays we wear pink at the Academy of Music! #MeanGirlsBway is taking over the @KimmelCenter from Nov. 19-Dec 1! Come and see #TinaFey’s hilariously witty hit musical… you know you wanna sit with us! #BWYPHL #ArtHappensHere
Press Contacts:
Lauren Woodard
215-790-5835
lwoodard@kimmelcenter.org
Lisa Jefferson
570-855-8817
LJefferson@alliedglobalmaketing.com
FIRST NATIONAL TOUR OF MEAN GIRLS
OPENS ON KIMMEL CENTER CULTURAL CAMPUS
TODAY, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19,
FEATURING PHILADELPHIA NATIVE,
MARY KATE MORRISSEY
Plus, Kimmel Center announces partnership with Susan G. Komen Philadelphia, raising funds using code PINK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Philadelphia, PA, November 19, 2019) –– Mean Girls – the record-breaking new musical comedy produced by Lorne Michaels, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures based on the hit film – opens on the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus at the Academy of Music on Tuesday, November 19, running through December 1. The Mean Girls First National Tour features Philadelphia native, Mary Kate Morrissey.
Mean Girls features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, based on her screenplay for the film; music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond; and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.
The tour cast features Danielle Wade as Cady Heron, Mariah Rose Faith as Regina George, Megan Masako Haley as Gretchen Wieners, Jonalyn Saxer as Karen Smith, Mary Kate Morrissey as Janis Sarkisian, Eric Huffman as Damian Hubbard, Gaelen Gilliland as Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George, Adante Carter as Aaron Samuels, Kabir Bery as Kevin Gnapoor and Lawrence E. Street as Mr. Duvall.
The cast also includes English Bernhardt, DeShawn Bowens, Will Branner, Morgan Bryant, Sarah Crane, Ixchel Cuellar, Mary Beth Donahoe, Niani Feelings, Sky Flaherty, Samuel Gerber, Fernell Hogan II, Asia Marie Kreitz, Olivia Renteria, Grace Romanello, Sydney Mei Ruf-Wong, Marcus Shane, Kaitlyn Louise Smith, David Wright Jr. and Blake Zelesnikar.
Mary Kate Morrissey who plays Janis Sarkisian in the Mean Girls tour, attended Bishop Shanahan High School in Downingtown, PA. She was a member of the Philadelphia All Catholic Chorus and most notably was a former Kimmel Center Programming intern. Her family has resided in South Philly and Upper Darby, now living primarily in Downingtown.
New York Magazine calls Mean Girls “HILARIOUS! A smart, splashy new musical that delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” Chicago Tribune said “Tina Fey writes FUNNIER, SMARTER, SHARPER satire than anyone else in the business.” People Magazine calls the show “FRESH, FUN AND INFECTIOUS – Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin’s songs keep the laughs coming!” The New York Daily News said Mean Girls “TICKLES THE EARS, EYES AND FUNNY BONE – the direction by Casey Nicholaw packs style, invention and red bull-force energy.” And, Entertainment Weekly calls it “A MARVEL: DAZZLING & HILARIOUS!”
Mean Girls opened on Broadway in April 2018 to rave reviews at the August Wilson Theatre, where it continues playing to packed houses. The show had its world premiere at the National Theatre in Washington D.C., in the fall of 2017.
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
The creative team includes Scott Pask (Set Design), Gregg Barnes (Costume Design), Kenneth Posner (Lighting Design), Brian Ronan (Sound Design), Finn Ross & Adam Young (Video Design), Josh Marquette (Hair Design), Milagros Medina-Cerdeira (Make-Up Design), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Music Director), John Clancy (Orchestrations), Glen Kelly (Dance and Incidental Music Arrangements), Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Jeff Richmond, and Natalie Tenenbaum (Vocal Arrangements), Howard Joines (Music Coordinator), and Telsey + Co / Bethany Knox, CSA (Casting).
Mean Girls (Original Broadway Cast Recording), produced by Atlantic Records, is now available.
This season, the Kimmel Center Cultural Campus is pairing its 2019-20 Broadway shows with charities, and Mean Girls’ charity partner is Susan G. Komen Philadelphia. Use code PINK and $1 from every Mean Girls tickets sold with the code will be donated to Susan G. Komen Philadelphia.
MEAN GIRLS
Kimmel Center Cultural Campus’ Academy of Music
Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, November 21, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 22, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 23, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 23, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 24, 2019, 1:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 24, 2019, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019, 1:00 p.m.
Wednesday, November 27, 2019, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, November 29, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Friday, November 29, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 30, 2019, 2:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 30, 2019, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, December 1, 2019, 1:00 p.m.
Recommended for ages 12 and older.
The listed age is a recommendation, but please use your own discretion when making a decision for your young-theatergoer. Ultimately, the recommended ages are guidelines. Only you will know how your child will respond to the live theater experience. Please consider the following factors when making your decision: the content in the show, age recommendations, the age and personal development of your child, and previous experiences. All patrons regardless of age require a ticket, including babes in arms.
Tickets
Tickets are on sale now and start at $20.00. Tickets can be purchased by calling (215) 893-1999, visiting www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center Box Office. Group sales are available for groups of 10 or more and can be purchased by calling (215) 790-5883. More information at www.kimmelcenter.org.
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www.MeanGirlsOnBroadway.com
Follow @MeanGirlsBway on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook
Cast Biographies
DANIELLE WADE (Cady Heron). Proud Canadian. Winner of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Over The Rainbow.’ Broadway: Mean Girls (Standby Cady/Janis). Tour: The Wizard of Oz (Dorothy). Select Regional Credits: Stratford Festival’s The Music Man (Marian Paroo), From Here to Eternity (Lorene). @daniewade
MARIAH ROSE FAITH (Regina George)is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter and you may recognize her from Team Starkid or Youtube (which is how she got her initial audition!). https://youtu.be/6jRGSnGdxWo?t=26. @mrahstagram
MEGAN MASAKO HALEY (Gretchen Wieners). NYC: Pacific Overtures (Tamate, Classic Stage Company), Big River (Joe Harper/Joanna Wilkes City Center Encores!). Tour: Wicked (Nessarose). Workshops: Almost Famous (Estrella), Alice by Heart (Canary). TV: “Instinct”, “Madam Secretary”, "Younger", "Blue Bloods", "Broad City". BFA, BYU. CGF Talent. @meganmasako
JONALYN SAXER (Karen Smith). Broadway: Mean Girls (Original Broadway Cast), Cats, Holiday Inn, Honeymoon In Vegas, Bullets Over Broadway. Film: Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story (December 2020). Syracuse Graduate. @jksaxer
MARY KATE MORRISSEY (Janis Sarkisian). National Tour: Wicked (Elphaba). Off Broadway: David Byrne's Joan of Arc: Into the Fire (The Public Theater), Tamar of the River (Prospect Theater Company). International Tour: HAIR (Sheila). Favorite Regional: Signature Theatre, Portland Center Stage, Syracuse Stage, Sundance Lab, Vineyard Arts Project, The O'Neill, Theatreworks Palo Alto, and Denver Center for the Performing Arts. @maryspacekate
ERIC HUFFMAN (Damian Hubbard). National Tours: The Book of Mormon (original Jumamosi company). CCM graduate.
GAELEN GILLILAND (Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George). Broadway: Wicked (u/s Mdm. Morrible), Legally Blonde (Elle’s Mom - MTV Recording, Cast Album), 9 to 5 (cover Judy/Doralee - Cast Album), Honeymoon In Vegas (Airport Attendant/ensemble - Cast Album), Kinky Boots (swing), Spongebob Squarepants (The Mayor - Cast Album). Tours: Seussical (Mayzie), The Addams Family (Alice).
ADANTE CARTER (Aaron Samuels). Favorite credits include: HAIR (Serenbe) Xanadu (Hangar) Newsies (Maltz) Forum (Gulfshore) Carrie (La Mirada) BFA Music Theatre: AMDA LA. @adantecarter
KABIR BERY (Kevin Gnapoor). Recent credits: In The Heights (Usnavi), Urinetown (Bobby), Parade (Britt Craig). Graduate of The Lee Strasberg School. @kabirbery
LAWRENCE E. STREET (Mr. Duvall). Broadway: OBC Urinetown. Off- Broadway: Carmen Jones (Classic Stage Company, John Doyle dir,). National Tours: Flashdance. Opera: (Mingo) in Porgy and Bess at London's Royal Festival Hall. @streetlifenstuff
ENGLISH BERNHARDT (Standby for Cady Heron, Regina George). First National Tour: If/Then. Favorite regional credits include: Next to Normal (Natalie), Les Misérables (Eponine) and Evita (Mistress). @ebernhardt
DESHAWN BOWENS (Ensemble). National tour debut! Regional: Chicago (Fulton) Guys and Dolls (Asolo Repertory Theatre) Newsies (Marriott). Elon BFA MT alumni! @deshawnbowens
WILL BRANNER (Ensemble). National Tour: Bat Out of Hell (New York City Center, Toronto, Original American Cast) Regional: The Old Globe, 5th Avenue, Barrington Stage, PCLO. @lordbranner
MORGAN BRYANT (Ensemble). Recent credits include the inaugural cast of ¡Havana! (Directed by Warren Carlyle). @mo_dances
SARAH CRANE (Ensemble). Regional: Barrington Stage Co., Walnut Street, Fulton Theatre. Sarah choreographs for stage and film). BFA Boston Conservatory. @saritacrane
IXCHEL CUELLAR (Swing, Dance Captain). Credits: Mean Girls (Broadway), Finding Neverland (Broadway & National Tour). BFA, Penn State University. @itsixchel
MARY BETH DONAHOE (Ensemble). Regional: Sacramento Music Circus, Paper Mill, Fulton, MSMT. Tour: Beauty and the Beast. BFA: Ohio Northern. www.MaryBethDonahoe.com @mbdonahoe
NIANI FEELINGS (Ensemble). National Tour debut! Regional: The MUNY, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Proud Boston Conservatory graduate! @niani_
SKY FLAHERTY (Ensemble). Broadway: The Grinch. Tour and movie: Newsies (Albert). European Tour: Rock the Ballet (Dancer). Love to my mom, dad and family. Special thanks to Clinton Sherwood, Julianna and Chase (Clear Talent Group).
SAMUEL GERBER (Ensemble). National tour debut! Regional: Newsies and West Side Story (The LEX). @samuelgerber_
FERNELL HOGAN II (Ensemble) is thrilled to be touring for the first time. Most recently he made his Broadway debut in The Prom. A graduate of Houston's HSPVA. Love to Mom and Dad!
ASIA MARIE KREITZ (Ensemble). Regional: All Shook Up (TUTS), Guys and Dolls (TUTS), The Christians (Alley Theatre). @asiamk9
OLIVIA RENTERIA (Ensemble). Previous credits: Ship at Sea Grease! (RCCL) Favorite Regional Theatre: Beaches A New Musical (Drury Lane), Brigadoon (Goodman Theatre), Cats (Paramount Theatre)Film: Isn’t it Romantic
GRACE ROMANELLO (Swing). National tour debut! Regional credits include RCCL (Grease), NCL, Theatre by the Sea, and Ocean State Theatre. @gracerom
SYDNEY MEI RUF-WONG (Ensemble). Favorite Credits: OSF, NSMT, TBTS, The Wick, RCCL. Proud graduate of Peck School of the Arts. @sydneymei
MARCUS SHANE (Swing). Broadway/National Tours: Mamma Mia!, The King and I, Anything Goes. @marcus.shane
KAITLYN LOUSIE SMITH (Ensemble). Regional: MUNY. Tracy in RCCL’s inaugural Hairspray. BFA: Indiana University. @kaitlynlsmitty
DAVID WRIGHT JR. (Ensemble). National Tour: Cruel Intentions and R+H’s Cinderella. LABS: Becoming Nancy. Regional: Beauty & the Beast (NSMT), Newsies (Marriott). @Davidjr_Wright1
BLAKE ZELESNIKAR (Ensemble). Recent credits include: Tour: Phantom of the Opera, An American in Paris. Regional: Oklahoma (PCLO) Jerome Robbins Broadway (TUTS). @b_zelez
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The Shubert Organization
The Shubert Organization is America's oldest professional theatre company and the largest theatre owner on Broadway. Since the dawn of the 20th Century, Shubert has operated hundreds of theatres and produced hundreds of plays and musicals across the country. Shubert currently owns and operates seventeen Broadway theatres, six off-Broadway venues, and the Forrest Theatre in Philadelphia. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman, and Robert E. Wankel, President, Shubert continues to be a leader in the theatre industry. Notable productions and co-productions include Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, Dreamgirls, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Amadeus, Children of a Lesser God, The Grapes of Wrath, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Spamalot, The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, School of Rock, Dear Evan Hansen, Come From Away, and more. Shubert Ticketing sells millions of tickets each year through its Telecharge interface and private-label solutions—via a range of online distribution channels, box offices and call centers, and hundreds of third-party agents. Shubert’s ticketing brands offer unparalleled distribution and marketing to the theatre industry and beyond: Telecharge for retail ticket sales; Broadway Inbound for group sales and the travel industry; and Entertainment Benefits Group for corporate markets. The Shubert Foundation, sole shareholder of The Shubert Organization, Inc., is dedicated to sustaining and advancing live performing arts in the United States, providing $32 million in grants in 2018 to not-for-profit theatres and dance companies. The Shubert Archive is a special project of The Shubert Foundation.
The Kimmel Center Cultural Campus
Located in the heart of Center City, Philadelphia, our mission is to engage the region’s diverse communities with art through performance and education. Our Cultural Campus serves more than 1 million guests per year and includes the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music, and the Merriam Theater- representing more than 160 years of rich history for the performing arts along Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts. We are home to eight esteemed Resident Companies: The Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Philly POPS, PHILADANCO, The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, and Curtis Institute of Music. With nearly 9,000 seats per night, we are the region’s most impactful performing arts center, and the second largest in the country. Our Cultural Campus serves as a preeminent and inclusive place to enjoy exceptional experiences that reflect the spirit of our region by cultivating a creative and socially-responsible environment where our community shares experiences that are delivered with pride, integrity, and respect. As a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization, we collaborate on, present, and produce a broad range of relevant and meaningful events, we serve as an active gathering space for social and community events, we educate the region’s young people through access to quality arts experiences, and we provide support to artists in the creation of new work. TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is our proud sponsor of the Kimmel Center’s 2019-2020 Season. American Airlines is the official airline of Broadway Philadelphia. For additional information, visit www.kimmelcenter.org.
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For photography & video, please visit www.kcpress.smugmug.com
For a PDF version of this press release, click here.