OMAHA PERFORMING ARTS

The hilarious hit musical MEAN GIRLS plays at The Orpheum Theater from March 8-13, 2022 and there’s no shortage of fantastic books to read and movies to watch to get you excited to see this show. 

Why not start out with Tina Fey’s hilarious autobiography Bossypants. Before Liz Lemon and SNL, Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: a recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. In this book Tina Fey reveals all and proves what we've all suspected: you're no one until someone calls you bossy. 

Or you could read the book that inspired the movie Mean Girls, Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman. This candid and insightful book dissects each role in the teenage girl clique and takes readers into “Girl World” to analyze teasing, gossip, reputations, beauty, fashion and more. 

For a good fiction read, check out Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard (which inspired the hit tv show as well). In an exclusive Philadelphia suburb, Alison is the Queen Bee of her seventh-grade hive. So, when Alison goes missing, her friends are heartbroken, but also a little relieved. Three years later, the girls begin receiving text messages and emails that from someone known only as "A," and must confront the fact that against all odds, it appears Alison is back.  

There are countless classic films that delve into the world of high school, cliques and friendships. The obvious place to start is with the 2004 movie version of Mean Girls. Going a little further back, you could revisit the 90’s teen classics Cruel Intentions and Clueless and while you’re at it, revisit their classic soundtracks too! 

Teen movies really came into their own in the 1980’s. A few that really stand out are the 1989 movie Heathers, which takes a dark and twisted view on teenage popularity. Or you could go all the way back to 1982 and watch the original 80’s high school film, Fast Times at Ridgemont High. 

But when you’re talking high school, popularity and fitting in, nothing beats the 1985 John Hughes classic The Breakfast Club. Starring Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez, Judd Nelson, Ali Sheedy and Anthony Michael Hall, this timeless movie feels just as relevant today as it did thirty-five years ago when it came out. By the time "Don’t You (Forget About Me)" by Simple Minds plays at the end, you’ll be raising a fist to the sky. 

Individual tickets for MEAN GIRLS can be purchased now on Ticket Omaha. Or bring your group (10 or more) to MEAN GIRLS to save on the ticket price and handling fees. For more information about group sales, visit our group sales page. 

The above listed books along with Heathers and The Breakfast Club are all available to check out at The Omaha Public Library. For the other titles, check your streaming platforms!