Entertainment

ELLY GRIMM

 • Leader & Times

The past several months have provided me with some cool opportunities to see musicals as they’re touring through the U.S. and last Friday gave me the chance to visit Wichita for the national tour of “Mean Girls” with my college friend, Robyn.

I’d heard of the musical and had listened to the original cast recording once or twice, but last weekend was my first time actually seeing the show onstage, so I went into it slightly blind. For those who don’t know, the show is based on the 2004 movie of the same name, and follows Cady Heron, a teenage girl who transfers to a public high school after being homeschooled her whole life in Africa. At school, she befriends outsiders Janis Sarkisian and Damian Hubbard, who persuade her to infiltrate the 'Plastics,' a clique consisting of wealthy but insecure Gretchen Wieners, sweet but dimwitted Karen Smith, and 'queen bee' Regina George. Hilarity and humility ensue as Cady learns you can’t cross a Queen Bee without a chance of getting stung.

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Liberal High School’s Drama Department has been nominated for many Jester Awards for its productions the past few years, and recently, they were able to add more nominations to that list.

For this season’s “The Wizard of Oz,” the production received the following nominations: Emma Davidson for Best Supporting Performer as the Wicked Witch of the West; J. Brooks Kappelmann for Best Cameo Performer as The Guard; Atticus Carrillo, Tomas Ralios Cortez, Cairo Svaty for Best Pre-High School Performer as the Lollipop Guild; Best Stage Crew; Miriam Climenhaga for Best Program Design; and Nikki Frydendall for Best Lobby Display.

Climenhaga received the news only rather recently and said there was a lot of happiness and excitement for the news.

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

Shirley Chisholm has the unique distinction of being the first black woman to be elected to the United States Congress and later becoming the first black candidate for a major-party nomination for President of the United States as well as the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination back in 1972.

Chisholm’s story has been one that has resonated with me since briefly learning about it while in school and recently, the powers that be at Netflix decided to share her story with the new film “Shirley,” which focuses on her ultimately unsuccessful 1972 presidential run.

ELLY GRIMM

• Leader & Times

The American Theatre Guild has presented many good shows for its 2023-24 Broadway in Wichita season and soon, the season will be finishing up with what is sure to be a crowd favorite.

The national tour of the hit Broadway musical 'Mean Girls' will be making its way to Wichita's Century II Concert Hall April 19 through 21, with performances at 8 p.m. Friday, April 19, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, April 20, and 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21. Tickets are available for purchase at BroadwayWichita.com, Century2.com or by calling 855-755-7328.