Des Plaines native Elizabeth Stenholt returns to Paramount Theatre for ‘Mean Girls’ regional premiere
In her high school’s social hierarchy, actor Elizabeth Stenholt occupied the comfortable middle, somewhere between the cool kids and the not-as-cool kids.
Middle school was different.
“I was slow to catch up with clothing trends. There was definitely judgment,” said the Des Plaines native of what she described as an “under-the-table-mean-girls situation” she experienced growing up.
That said, Stenholt had little personal experience with teenage queen bees and wannabes to draw upon when she was cast as outsider-turned-mean-girl Cady Heron in Paramount Theatre’s regional premiere of the musical “Mean Girls.”
Still, Stenholt understood the dynamic.
“We all have instances where girlhood gets put to the side sometimes and our inner animal comes out,” she said a few days into rehearsals for “Mean Girls,” during which she and her castmates frequently dissolved into giggles.
This marks the second time the Joseph Jefferson Award-winner — who starred as Dorothy in Paramount’s 2018 revival of “The Wizard of Oz” — has played a beloved character about whom the audience has certain expectations. That poses a challenge, acknowledged Stenholt, who grew up watching the 2004 film starring Lindsay Lohan.
“In little ways, I can pay homage to Lindsay Lohan,” she said. “But, at the end of the day, this character is a little different.
“I love the character,” she continued. “And I hope other people will love her and root for her.”
Having grown up without the societal pressures placed on young people, Cady has a healthy self-esteem, Stenholt said. “She is fully herself.”
That is, until Cady encounters the pressure cooker that is high school.
Teenage Stenholt experienced a different kind of pressure. Having “come out of the womb singing,” she began performing in community theater at age 8 and made her professional debut in Eclipse Theatre’s “One Flea Spare” at 13.
Since then she has performed regularly at Writers, Drury Lane, Steppenwolf and Paramount theaters, among others.
“Mean Girls” marks her fourth Paramount production, including her Jeff Award-winning performance in 2023’s “Fun Home.”
“(Paramount) is one of my favorite places to make theater magic happen,” she said. “Everyone is ready to do whatever it takes.”
Four days into rehearsals and Stenholt already feels what she calls “that special magic.”
She’s almost having too much fun.
“It’s a giggle fest,” she admitted. “We’re giggling with each other all the time, and not just because the show is funny. But because the people we’re working with are such a delight.”
Frothy as it is, “Mean Girls” has a message that Stenholt hopes resonates with girls and young women.
“The little bit of power you might gain from tearing someone else down is never worth it,” she said. “There’s more power to be gained when we collaborate, embrace each other and give each other grace.
“There’s enough sunlight for everyone.”
bvitello@dailyherald.com
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“Mean Girls”
Showtimes: 1:30 and 7 p.m. Wednesday; 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday; and 1 and 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26-Oct. 11
Where: Paramount Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora, (630) 896-6666, ParamountAurora.com
Tickets: $34-$109