Dream Cast: Mean Girls Gets a Musical Makeover

Slowly but surely, our Mean Girls musical dreams are coming into focus. A few weeks ago, the world premiere of the screen-to-stage project was set for fall 2017 at Washington, D.C.'s National Theatre, with a creative team that includes the film's original author Tina Fey, composer (and Fey's husband) Jeff Richmond, Tony-nominated Legally Blonde lyricist Nell Benjamin, and Tony-winning director Casey Nicholaw. The iconic 2004 movie boasts a hard-to-beat cast, with Fey, Rachel McAdams, and a teenage Lindsay Lohan topping the list of stars. But we've crafted a cast of our own that we think will make the stage version just as "fetch" as the film.

Emily Skeggs — "Cady Heron"

We steered clear of the Hollywood crowd to fill Lindsay Lohan's shoes as Cady Heron, the socially awkward math whiz fresh from the African plains. Instead, we decided to give the spotlight to Tony nominee Emily Skeggs, otherwise known as Medium Alison from the Tony-winning musical Fun Home. Though she may seem quiet and docile, Skeggs can unleash the fire when prompted by a subject of passion — which will soon be changing from Joan to Aaron Samuels. And considering all the ways she managed to style her Alison Bechdel bowl-cut throughout her Broadway tenure, a Plastics makeover will be easy business.

Ana Villafañe — "Regina George"

Ana Villafañe has spent over a year getting on her feet as Gloria Estefan eight times a week at the Marquis Theatre. We're ready for her to take on her next Broadway role as leader of the Plastics, Regina George — the alpha Mean Girl with flawless beauty that masks her nefarious ways. We'll miss Villafañe's Estefan-esque dance moves, but we're rooting for the movie's Halloween party scene to become a showstopping production number.

Kimiko Glenn — "Gretchen Wieners"

If anyone can make "fetch" happen, it's former Waitress star Kimiko Glenn. A lemming with a heart of gold, Gretchen would go to the ends of the earth to make Regina happy — even if it means giving up her favorite hoop earrings. Glenn registered a similarly pure spirit as Jenna's timid pal Dawn. However, like Gretchen, she definitely has more bite than her bark lets on.

Elle McLemore — "Karen Smith"

Eternal high school cool girl Elle McLemore is no stranger to a clique — or a movie-to-musical adaptation. She's previously played devious cheerleader Eva in Bring It On The Musical, closely followed by a run as Heather McNamara (the yellow one) in Heathers The Musical. Adorable airhead Karen Smith seems like the logical next step for her career in secondary education. And, there's a 30 percent chance she's already been cast.

Jordan Fisher — "Aaron Samuels"

Aaron Samuels is the first person to catch the eye of new girl Cady Heron on day one of math class at her new high school. And it's no surprise, seeing as he's willing to acknowledge her existence, and of course, is super dreamy. Jordan Fisher, who won our hearts while serenading Aaron Tveit with "Those Magic Changes" in Grease Live!, checks all the right boxes. If he's good enough for Hamilton, he's good enough for Cady.

Barrett Wilbert Weed — "Janis Ian"

In Heathers The Musical, Barrett Wilbert Weed took on a more Cady-esque part as Veronica Sawyer — the one who scores a full-body makeover after being adopted by her school's cool-girl clique. But for Mean Girls, we see her as the perfect Janis Ian, Cady's surly goth pal who masterminds ways to torture head Plastic Regina George. Weed's dry comic delivery, quirky charm, and absurdly high belt are exactly what the musical version of this spunky character requires.

Ben Platt — "Damian"

As the star of Dear Evan Hansen, Ben Platt has limited opportunity to show off the comic chops he displayed in the Pitch Perfect movies. Though we're thoroughly impressed by his bottomless well of emotion (and tears), we're excited to revisit the side of him we first fell in love with. He completes a pretty perfect trio alongside Emily Skeggs and Barrett Wilbert Weed as Janis' (and eventually Cady's) lovably flamboyant bestie Damian. Plus, who wouldn't love to hear his dramatic interpretation of the classic "You Go, Glenn Coco!"

Renée Elise Goldsberry — "Ms. Norbury"

After a hard day coaching the Mathletes, it's safe to assume Ms. Norbury goes home and curls up with a copy of Common Sense by Thomas Paine. Akin to Hamilton's Angelica Schuyler (originated to Tony-winning acclaim by Renée Elise Goldsberry), Ms. Norbury is an erudite lady, but also the coolest teacher at North Shore High School. "Some say that she's intense or she's insane," but Goldsberry is sure to bring her signature poise while taking down anyone who puts her in a Burn Book.

Taye Diggs — "Mr. Duvall"

He can be buttoned up when he has to be, but when the you-know-what hits the fan, Taye Diggs won't be afraid to strip down to a ribbed undershirt and get a gymnasium of teenage girls to fall in line. A jack of all Broadway trades, Diggs has played everything from "yuppie scum" Benjamin Coffin III of Rent to the title genderqueer rock star of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. He's the perfect choice to follow in Tim Meadows' brilliant footsteps as principal of North Shore High whose unpredictability is the key to keeping his students' animal instincts in check.

Laura Benanti — "Mrs. George"

From a stripper-with-mommy-issues in Gypsy to a neurotic supermodel in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Laura Benanti's characters have a history of being memorable showstoppers. Fortunately, so is Mrs. George. Famously played by a thoroughly augmented Amy Poehler, Mrs. George struts around her mansion in her pink velour track suit while serving up mocktails as after-school treats for Regina and her friends. There's pretty much no one better suited for the job than Benanti, whom we can already hear singing an "I’m a Cool Mom" duet with her frisky little dog.

Dev Patel — "Kevin Gnapoor"

From Slumdog Millionaire to his latest Oscar-worthy role in Lion, Dev Patel's résumé is filled with upstanding, admirable characters. That doesn't mean he can't also master a misogynistic rap. And that's pretty much all you need to take on the role of Mathlete Kevin Gnapoor. That, and a heaping helping of suavity, which he has in spades. Kevin is, of course, mildly delusional, so Patel may have to turn down the smolder and turn up the creep. But we're confident he's up to the task.