“Mean Girls,” a timeless movie familiar to nearly every high school student since 2004, is about to receive a fresh adaptation with the upcoming release of "Mean Girls The Musical.” This upcoming production features actress Bebe Wood stepping into the iconic role of Gretchen Wieners, bringing this 2004 classic into 2024. Alongside her passion for acting, Bebe Wood actively combats the stigmas and misunderstandings surrounding AIDS through her involvement with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, emphasizing the importance of raising awareness and demonstrating how supporting a cause can align with any passion. To learn more about Bebe Wood continue reading.

Where are you based?
I am East Coast based! When I'm not working, I nestle myself in the countryside.

What inspired you to pursue a career in the entertainment industry?
My parents took me to a performance of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on the West End when I was three. We were sitting in the very front!!! In the middle of the show, the Child Catcher (the villain) leaned down, placed his sickle on my nose, and said, "I'll get you kiddy-widdy." I grinned from ear to ear. From that moment on, I knew storytelling, in whatever form, was something I had to do. When it comes to music, I've been making noise for as long as I can remember. I would come home from school and sit at the piano for hours...

We are so excited about your upcoming film “Mean Girls”. Can you tell us about the movie? How similar is it to the original?
Our film honors the essence of both the 2004 film and the Broadway musical whilst also breathing an entirely new life into it. Our directors, Arturo Perez and Samantha Jayne, along with Tina Fey, have found so many new ways to delight and excite audiences. It has something in it for everyone, I think, whether you are a fan of the original, the musical, or if it's a totally new thing for you! (What?!) The whole film feels so unexpected, fun, and cinematic. It is MEANT to be seen in theaters! Trust me.

What was it like working on set? How did your role as Gretchen Wieners differ from Lacey Chabert’s take on it?
Working on set was an absolute joy. The cast and crew are such a dream, and we had the best time making it. Lacey Chabert is SO iconic as Gretchen Wieners. I grew up with the film. It is beloved and dear to me. Her performance is untouchable! I tried to trust that by the very nature of my playing Gretchen, the performance would be different, especially with the new landscape of 2024. So much has changed since '04. Plus, Tina Fey is such an incredible writer. The lines themselves are filled to the brim with character and personality. Rather than focusing on 'being different,' I tried to focus on honoring what was on the page. I didn't want to overthink it. One thing that is objectively different from the 2004 film is the musical elements! Through some of the songs, audiences will get to see a glimpse into Gretchen's inner world that isn't necessarily explored in the original.

Do you have a favorite moment from the new film that you can share?
One of my favorite sequences is Someone Gets Hurt. The way the camera moves is epic. I remember our directors saying they wanted the camera to feel like a character of its own, and our camera operator Ari Robbins totally understood the assignment. He is a POET.

I’m sure she is a super fun character to play. Could you relate to her in any way? How did you work to get into the mind of Gretchen?
Gretchen is so human, I think. She has this very honest desire to love and be loved, and I think that is relatable for everyone! During our Mean GIrls 'bootcamp' (rehearsals), our directors encouraged us to find a movement to help us get into character. I thought Gretchen would be hyperfocused on her posture, so straightening my spine or pushing my shoulders back would always help me find her.

We love that you have worked with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. What inspired you to get involved in supporting those affected by HIV/AIDS?
I feel very lucky that my parents raised me on theatre. We would take family trips to New York City when I was little and we'd see Broadway shows. There's a time of year where after each show, the actors stay on stage and talk about raising money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. They auction off items from the show, and have folks scattered around the theatre holding red buckets for donations. I remember being so young and so in awe that the theatre community, a community I loved and respected, were coming together in support of an important cause. Growing up, I knew both friends and family that had been impacted by HIV/AIDS, so not only did their work feel important, but it felt important to me.

Can you expand a bit about your work with them?
When I was eight or so, living in Kansas City where I grew up, I started holding annual fashion shows. I'd sew dresses and have my friends walk the runway. Afterward, we'd auction off all the clothes and send the proceeds to Broadway Cares. The first year I held it at my house, but by the second year, enough people had heard about it that we had to rent out an event space! Different Kansas City artists and designers started crafting and donating pieces for the auction. Later on, as I started to develop a career in acting, executive director Tom Viola, invited me to host Broadway Backwards with Julie White. It was a beautiful, full circle moment to be on stage in support of Broadway Cares like the actors that inspired me to get involved to begin with. I hope to reunite with them in the near future!

What are some common misconceptions people have about HIV/AIDS that you would like to clear?
HIV/AIDS is a virus that can affect anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality.

What is something people may not know about Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids?
Outside of all the incredible work they do to provide groceries and medication for those affected by HIV/AIDS, they also provide the same care for those affected by Covid-19 and other life threatening illnesses. During the pandemic, Broadway shut down. Many people in the entertainment community were out of work and struggling. Broadway Cares raised money for both workers onstage and behind the scenes who were in need of necessary healthcare and other resources.

It has been a crazy past few years, how have you been staying positive?
It has been a crazy past few years. I don't always feel positive, but I never lose hope. Life is hopeful. The fact we're all here is pretty hopeful. The idea we're just living our lives on a rock hurtling through space is a fairly hopeful concept, I think. Ha! I feel confidently about the potential goodness in people. Darkness is a part of living, and that's ok. There's something beautiful about that. Feeling all of the feelings during these darker times is important. I think it's helpful to remember there's always an ascent. One of my favorite writers, Salena Godden, says something in her book 'Mrs. Death Misses Death' that I find incredibly prevalent, "Mourn the dead and fight like hell for the living." I like that.

What is your motto in life?
Be here now.

To learn more about Bebe Wood and Broadway Cares, please check out the links below:
https://broadwaycares.org/
IG: broadwaybebe

Team Credits:
Photographer: Heath Latter
Photography Assistant: Melissa Robinson
Stylists: Ton Aguilar and Christina Loughborough
Hair and Makeup: Aaron Barry
Retoucher : Liese Rose

COVER - Bebe Wood Is So Fetch