
Break out your Burn Book and mark these dates: Aurora’s Paramount Theatre is launching its 15th Broadway Series with the Chicago-area premiere of Mean Girls,
August 26-October 11, 2026. Opening Night is Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m.
Nominated for 12 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, Mean Girls is the Broadway sensation that’s so fetch, it rules the school.
Based on Tina Fey’s iconic Paramount Pictures film, Mean Girls is the story of Cady Heron, a sweet and smart new girl who’s just moved from Africa to Chicago’s North Shore. When she enters the wild world of North Shore High, she quickly finds herself tangled up with The Plastics, the school’s most popular - and ruthless - clique led by queen bee Regina George. As Cady tries to fit in, she learns that popularity comes with a price. And revenge can get ugly fast.
With a book by Tina Fey, music by Jeff Richmond, and lyrics by Neil Benjamin, Mean Girls gets an A+ for big laughs, bold, campy style, unforgettable pop-rock songs, and a message that is surprisingly honest. It’s a fresh, colorful must-see for anyone who’s ever tried to find their place in the crowd. So grab your friends, wear pink (on Wednesdays, of course), and experience the non-stop, fun-loving musical that proves even the fiercest frenemies can find redemption.
Devon Hayakawa, after serving on the directing teams of South Pacific, Come From Away, Cats, and Disney’s Frozen, makes their Paramount solo directing debut with Mean Girls. Their top-tier creative team includes choreographer Kasey Alfonso (Come From Away, Jeff Award-winner, Cats), veteran Paramount Broadway Series music director and conductor Kory Danielson, set designer Milo Bue (Come From Away) and costume designer Kotryna Hilko (Peter and the Starcatcher).
On stage, Cady Heron will be played by Elizabeth Stenholt, familiar to Paramount audiences as Olive in The 25th Anniversary Putnam County Spelling Bee (Jeff-nominated, Performer in a Supporting Role), Medium Alison in Fun Home (winner, Jeff Award, Performer in a Supporting Role), and Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.
Dariana Mullen, coming off The Great Gatsby at New York’s Broadway Theatre, makes her Chicago debut as Cady’s arch nemesis, Regina George. The cast also features Angel Alzeidan as Gretchen Wieners, Julia Hope Budd as Karen Smith, Diego Vazquez Gomez as Aaron Samuels, Lucy Godinez as Janis Sarkisian, Steven Klenk as Damian Hubbard, Ben Mathew as Kevin G, Veronica Garza as Mrs. Heron/Ms. Norbury/Mrs. George, and Austin Nelson Jr. as Principal Duvall.
The ensemble includes Tola Abitogun, Jeremiah Alsop, Matty Bettencourt, Anna Louise Bramlett, Nicole DiSandro, Ben Dow, Tiyanna Gentry, Joshua Messmore, Hannah Remian, Nataki Rennie, Morgan Schoenecker, Jacob Simon, Abby C. Smith, Amanda Walker and Elaine Watson.
Ticket information
Mean Girls begins previews Wednesday, August 26. Opening Night is Friday, September 4 at 7 p.m. Performances run through October 11: Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Thursday and Friday at 7 p.m.; Saturday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. (Exception: No matinee Wednesday, August 26.) Single tickets to Mean Girls are $34-$109 when purchased in-person. Additional fees apply for phone and online orders.
Any Mathlete knows it’s smarter to save money with a Paramount Theatre 2026-27 Broadway Series subscription. Four-show packages start at just $73, including Mean Girls, a world premiere adaptation of The Christmas Carol (November 11, 2026–January 3, 2027), Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Sunday in the Park with George (February 10–March 28, 2027) and an 80s-inspired Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (April 28-June 13, 2027).
That’s the same “Buy Two Shows, Get Two Shows Free” offer Paramount has offered since it launched its first Broadway Series in 2011, and has since grown to be the largest subscription theater in the U.S. Think of it as four Broadway-quality musicals for less than the price of one show downtown. Plus, Aurora boasts easy, affordable parking and a host of new restaurants all around.
Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora. For tickets or subscriptions, visit ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or stop by the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and until show time on show days. For group discounts, contact Melissa Striedl, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or (630) 723-2461.
Paramount: Making live theater accessible to all
Paramount will offer two Pay What You Can previews Thursday, August 27 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, August 29 at 2 p.m. See ParamountAurora.com/Pay-What-You-Can for details.
Paramount will offer open captioning Wednesday, September 30 at 7 p.m. and American Sign Language interpretation Friday, October 9 at 7 p.m.
Paramount offers free assistive listening devices at all performances, including new Auracast technology that connects to blue tooth earphones. Check in at the coat room before the show to borrow a device. If you require wheelchair or special seating or other assistance, please contact the box office in advance at (630) 896-6666 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
American Blues Theater, under the continued leadership of Executive Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside, announces the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award is Nia Akilah…
In times of stress, we often turn to familiar and comforting things: a favorite song, a dog-eared book, a movie…
Chamber music may be one of music’s most misunderstood children. An early form of classical music, it has always been…
Remy Bumppo Theatre Company is pleased to announce the cast, creative and production teams for the first production in its 2026…
Victory Gardens Theater (2433 N. Lincoln Avenue), an historic incubator for new play development, proudly announces the World Premiere staging of The…
Secrets, sisterhood and solving crime take center stage this fall in the world premiere co-production of Dead Girl's Quinceañera by Miami native…
Steppenwolf Theatre Company, the nation's premier ensemble theater company, is pleased to continue its 51st Season with the world premiere of Chicago playwright Stephanie…
Writers Theatre, under the leadership of Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols Artistic Director Braden Abraham, concluded its 2025/26…
Chicago City Opera (CCO) presents an evening of two one act Mozart operas The Impresario and Bastien and Bastienne combined…
Producers Kevin McCollum and Kurt Deutsch, along with Broadway In Chicago are thrilled to announce THE NOTEBOOK, a new musical based…
Following last year’s smashing sold-out engagement, the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance proudly presents the return…
Guarneri Hall, an intimate state-of-the-art, custom-built classical music venue in the heart of downtown Chicago, proudly opens its 2026/27 season…
Chicago Magic Lounge welcomes back acclaimed magician David Parr as its Fall Artist in Residence with David Parr: Time Traveler, a new theatrical experience…
Nearly fifty years after its groundbreaking premiere, Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow…
A quick history lesson: Anne Bonny and Mary Read are two of history’s most famous female pirates. Both women disguised…
The Tony Award® winning Best Musical, THE OUTSIDERS, based on the seminal novel by S.E. Hinton and Francis Ford Coppola’s landmark motion picture, returns to Chicago…
Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces the cast and creative team for Play On!, which opens the Theater's 40th Anniversary Season. This jazz musical tells…
Today, Goodman Theatre achieves a new milestone in its 100th anniversary season: Walter Artistic Director Susan V. Booth and Executive…
Kevin McCollum & Lucas McMahon and Mike Lavoie & Carlee Briglia, along with Broadway In Chicago announced today that Tony…
Lake Forest’s Citadel Theatre has announced the full cast and crew for its season opener - the satirical comedy EUREKA…
Rivendell Theatre Ensemble, Chicago's only professional theater that seeks to advance women through the power of storytelling, announces the cast for…
Definition Theatre is proud to present How We Got On, a mix-tape for the stage by playwright Idris Goodwin and directed by Tyrone Phillips. How We…
The nonprofit service organization 3Arts announces the date for its annual 3Arts Awards Celebration, a festive evening of dynamic performances by Chicago artists and the…
A new company, Heart of Gold Theatre, is presenting the Chicago premiere of Mike Barlett’s An Intervention. Bartlett is a…
Carmela misses her papi, because papi is missing some of his papers.Chicago Children’s Theatre presents Carmela Full of Wishes, a…
Promethean Theatre Ensemble announced today it will stage the Chicago premiere of BLOOD OF THE LAMB, by Arlene Hutton, a gripping two-woman,…
Metropolis Performing Arts Centre’s new staging of The Wizard of Oz sends audiences down the yellow brick road with a…
Jackalope Theatre Company is proud to announce the schedule for the 17th Annual Living Newspaper Festival, August 20 - 24, at the Jackalope Theatre…
Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre (CRDT), the Chicago-based dance company, is proud to announce its 2026 - 2027 season. In the coming year,…
It may be the middle of summer, but for fans of Universal’s “Love Actually,” Christmas comes early this year. GEA…
Steppenwolf Theatre Presents ADIRONDACK CHAIR CIRCLE – October 22 – December 6, 2026 – World Premiere!
Writers Theatre celebrates record-breaking 2025/26 Season with artistic growth and unprecedented ticket sales
American Blues Theater names Nia Akilah Robinson the recipient of the 2026 Blue Ink Award for her play Overnight at the Museum and announces featured finalists Benjamin Benne and Claire Crowley
Does your theatre company want to connect with Buzz Center Stage or would you like to reach out and say "hello"? Message us through facebook or shoot us an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
*This disclaimer informs readers that the views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to Buzz Center Stage. Buzz Center Stage is a non-profit, volunteer-based platform that enables, and encourages, staff members to post their own honest thoughts on a particular production.