Why "Mean Girls"? The Upper School Musical Cast Shares the Importance of Educational Theater

Nearly four decades ago, Heathers arrived in theaters like a lightning bolt—sharp, strange, and perhaps a little too ahead of its time. Audiences didn’t quite know what to make of it. But time has a way of rewarding boldness. What once struggled to find its footing has since been embraced as a cult classic, celebrated for its razor-edged humor and unflinching satire of high school life. Teenagers recognized themselves in its exaggerated world—the hierarchies, the anxieties, the quiet calculations of belonging—and critics came to see what it had been all along: a darkly comic mirror held up to adolescence. Its influence endured, eventually inspiring a stage musical—one that Indian Creek proudly brought to life in 2017.

Enter Tina Fey, who, drawing from both Heathers and Rosalind Wiseman’s Queen Bees and Wannabes, crafted the now-iconic 2004 film Mean Girls, later adapting it into a stage musical in 2018. Since the release of the high school edition in 2022, Mean Girls has surged across the country, quickly becoming a staple on lists of the most-produced high school musicals. It’s not just popular—it’s a phenomenon.

So what gives Mean Girls its staying power? Part of the answer lies in its dual identity. For one generation, it’s a touchstone; for the next, it’s a hand-me-down cultural language, quoted at dinner tables and rediscovered anew. The musical amplifies that legacy with infectious songs, quick-witted humor, and the unmistakable lines that have long lived rent-free in our collective memory. And yet, beneath the laughter, the show doesn’t soften its edges. Its humor can be biting. Its characters can be cruel. It includes language, gestures, and moments that may feel provocative. But that honesty is precisely the point. To tell the truth about high school is to acknowledge the pressures of status, identity, and belonging that shape teenage lives. These are not relics of the past—they are very much alive today. Theater, at its best, doesn’t shy away from that truth. Instead, it opens the door to empathy, reflection, and, perhaps most importantly, conversation.

At Indian Creek School, we have designated this production PG-13 due to language, gestures, and depictions of risky teen behavior. We recommend it for audiences in eighth grade and above. We also encourage parents and guardians to learn more about the show and use their own judgment when deciding what is appropriate for their families.

The connection between Mean Girls and our students was unmistakable from the very start. During auditions, many shared that they had “always said if ICS ever did this show, they would be in it.” Few musicals speak to students so directly, so personally. And that leads to a broader question: who is educational theater really for?

We align with the perspective of arts administrator and advocate Howard Sherman. First and foremost, educational theater belongs to the students who create it. The long rehearsals, the risks taken, the friendships formed, the moments of triumph—these experiences are theirs alone. Next, it is for their peers, who see themselves reflected on stage. Then, for parents and guardians, who witness their children’s growth in confidence, creativity, and collaboration. And finally, it extends outward to the wider community—friends, alumni, neighbors—who gather in support of student artistry.

Few art forms teach empathy as powerfully as theater. That is why it matters to choose stories that challenge students, that ask them to think deeply, and that reflect the realities they are navigating right now.

Mean Girls is, undeniably, a mature show. But time and again, our students demonstrate not only a desire to engage with complex material, but a readiness to do so with thoughtfulness and care. At Indian Creek, we never approach theater in isolation. This production is accompanied by a student-led Kindness Campaign, and in partnership with the EMPOWER club, we will host a post-performance talkback following Saturday’s show. We are also extending the conversation to parents, with a community read of Queen Bees and Wannabes organized by our Office of Community and Well-Being.

Ultimately, each family will make its own decision about attendance, and we respect and support those choices. Our hope is that, whether you join us in the theater or engage with the story in other ways, Mean Girls: High School Version sparks meaningful dialogue, deeper understanding, and genuine connection.

This year’s cast and crew—our largest in seven years—have poured months of dedication into bringing this story to life. Their work is rooted in honesty, humor, discipline, and empathy. That spirit is what makes this production not just entertaining, but truly meaningful—for our students, and for all who experience it.

Click here to learn more about our Upper School production of Mean Girls and to purchase tickets.