Musical reprise of Mean Girls brings a new tune of representation

The Disney princess has turned Mean Girl.

Hawaiian actress Auli’i Cravalho (Disney’s Moana) brings proud Pacific queer representation to the 2024 musical reprise of the iconic teen comedy, Mean Girls.

Coconet TV correspondent, executive director and co-founder of LA based Pacific entertainment agency Peak Pasifika Kristian Fanene Schmidt spoke with Cravalho about playing the role of Janis ‘Imi’ike - a queer Pacific person.

“I say it with my whole chest, it’s really important. How many times have you seen a young woman of colour flip off the camera and say, ‘I’d rather be me than be with you.’

“That’s something really special and in this iteration, our 2024 Janice is openly queer and proud about it.”

The tone of the original movie set a tone of ambiguity on Janis’ sexuality, alluding to her queerness all throughout the film.

“In the ‘04 film, the ‘Lebanese/Lesbian’ joke [was] hilarious. But now we’re reclaiming it and yeah you can call me a ‘Pyro-Les’ that just means I’m a hot lesbian thank you very much.”

Cravalho opened up as bisexual during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic and at the time had hoped of playing LGBTQIA+ roles in her career, so being a Pacific woman and queer she says playing Janis is an honour.

Written and produced by Tina Fey, the 2004 film was released at the height of the American teen rom-coms era about high school hierarchy with iconic one-liners like, “You go Glen Coco”, “fetch”, and “fugly”.

The movie premiered at the National Theater, Washington D.C as a stage musical in 2017 and then went on to Broadway in 2018. Now it makes its way back on-screen as the musical movie.

Cravalho says the adaptation comes with some new flavour and a notable change is to the last name of her character from Janis Ian to Janis ‘Imi’ike.

“Tina actually came up to me and said, ‘Hey, how do you feel about Janice’s last name being Hawaiian?’ I said, ‘that’s so kind!’ and she was like, ‘Great! Do you also have input on that?’ and I was like, ‘Thank you! Thank you for not just going to Google! I really appreciate that’.”

‘Imi’ke translates to striving for the stars/striving for the summit and wanting more.

Cravalho says the name felt more in line with Janis’ characteristics and Fey’s meticulous thought process won’t go unnoticed.

“I really appreciated that I didn’t have to go to her to ask about adding more representation to this film. She was just keenly aware of the little things. A last name that is (a small) mention in the film, might get passed off, but for those who know, it means something.”

Pacific women actors in Hollywood are far and few between and as Cravalho shifts to producorial positions she feels that although she’s young, it is her responsibility to bridge the gap to young Pacific women.

Mean Girls the Musical hits cinemas nationwide on January 18, 2024. Photo/Stageberry.com

“I attend a lot of wonderful AAPI (Asian American and Pacific Islander) events and it’s great to be included but I am one of the few Pacific Islanders in those rooms and I realised no one else is gonna do it, you have to do it yourself.

“I’m 23 and I’m like do I have to start a casting house? How does it happen? Do I write those emails and take those meetings? Alright I will, it’s lonely out here.”

A live action remake is in the works for Disney’s animation Moana, which Cravalho voice acted for, but this time she takes an executive producing role and hopes this will help keep the door open to more Pacific peoples keen on entering the film industry.

“Seeing yourself on screen opens up possibilities you don’t know is possible until you see that representation.”

Mean Girls hits cinemas in Aotearoa on January 18, 2024.

Check out the interview with Auli'i Cravalho and Coconet.TV correspondent Kristian Fanene Schmidt below.