Fresh shows and new challenges: Broadway Alaska kicks off 2nd season with ‘Mean Girls’

Broadway Alaska has launched its second season, bringing the first of three musicals to audiences at the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts this week in downtown Anchorage.

Broadway Alaska’s debut last year featured four musicals, headlined by the mega-hit “Hamilton.” Up to that point, the performing arts center already had a long history with Broadway productions: Over the last 30 years, the Anchorage Concert Association had brought up traveling productions and musicals to Alaska.

Now, the performing arts center is continuing its new joint venture with the Nederlander Organization under the Broadway Alaska banner for a second year.

“Mean Girls” kicks off the slate from Dec. 4-15, followed by “Beetlejuice” from Jan. 29-Feb. 9 and “Tina — The Tina Turner Musical” in early April.

According to the Center for the Performing Arts, the four runs of the inaugural Broadway Alaska season generated more than 100,000 tickets sold with an estimated $30 million in economic impact, which includes increased activity among restaurants, hotels and rental car outfits. Each musical also employs locals in different positions.

Codie Costello, president and COO of the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts and general manager of Broadway Alaska, said each season presents new challenges for the center.

“We truly collaborate as partners and engage in conversations on what we believe will connect with the community here while exposing them to fresh experiences,” she said.

Her leading partner in New York is Nick Scandalios, the executive vice president of the Nederlander Organization. Last year, the Center for the Performing Arts joined the big Nederlander family. It is clear to both parties that it is a big collaboration, which requires flexibility and creative solutions. Costello and Scandalios said they’re committed to this partnership across many seasons.

The Nederlander Organization has operated in the theater industry as both owners and producers, and it has a rich history of family ownership spanning three generations. It all started in 1912 when David T. Nederlander purchased a 99-year lease on the Detroit Opera House. Today, the organization has active collaborations with art centers nationwide and continues to expand and craft a new range of entertaining options.

Scandalios started working at the organization 37 years ago as a receptionist. He said the Nederlander group collaborates closely with the Center for the Performing Arts to select shows that resonate with preferences while pushing the boundaries of artistry to offer Anchorage audiences a diverse range of theatrical experiences.

“Every musical is like launching a business,” Scandalios pointed out, “each production entails a substantial financial commitment and a carefully assessed gamble.”

Costello believes the first season significantly impacted Anchorage, both financially and culturally. She said every dollar spent on a theater ticket enriches the cultural scene and triggers significant economic activity within the community by fueling growth in hotels and restaurants, among other businesses.

“The steady flow of visitors and increased spending serve as driving forces for Anchorage’s health,” she said.

Behind the scenes, Broadway Alaska is a complex logistics project. Anchorage’s location poses challenges when transporting sets, costumes and production crews. Finding a sustainable sweet spot in a traveling Broadway show’s scheduling and budget matrix is vital.

“We needed to devise a plan to accommodate Broadway tours within our resources and schedule,” Costello said.

“Mean Girls” provides a good example of the logistical challenges. The show closed in Chicago on Sunday night. The set was loaded onto trucks, unloaded, and loaded again on the plane on Monday before landing in Anchorage on Tuesday. Meanwhile, a crew in Anchorage did a “strip call,” which is getting the stage ready. The planes’ cargo was unloaded to trucks, which got all the pallets to the performing arts center. On Wednesday, 100 workers, mostly Alaskans, worked all day to complete the stage setup so it would be ready for opening night.

To deal with the logistical challenges, this coming season presents only three musicals. They share themes of transformation, from personal growth to self-discovery to triumph over adversity.

The season opens with “Mean Girls,” a story from a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey based on her screenplay for the hit 2004 movie of the same title. It features music by Jeff Richmond, a three-time Emmy Award winner, lyrics by Nell Benjamin and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, both two-time Emmy winners.

The musical tells the story of teenager Cady Heron as she tries to fit into the complex culture of high school popularity. A movie adaptation of the Broadway musical was released in January, starring Renee Rapp and Angourie Rice.

The second musical presented this season is “Beetlejuice,” based on the cult-classic 1988 movie of the same title. It tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a quirky teenager mourning her mother’s death. She moves with her family into a new home haunted by a couple of ghosts and the wild, unpredictable Beetlejuice. When Beetlejuice schemes to scare away the living, chaos unfolds as Lydia learns to navigate grief, family and the supernatural.

Broadway Alaska’s second season will close with the musical “Tina,” celebrating the life and legacy of Tina Turner and her journey from growing up in a small town in Tennessee to becoming an international superstar.

Costello said that this year’s lineup balances familiarity and variety.

“We aim for something for everyone,” she said. “A mix of blockbusters, nostalgic favorites, and newer works. It’s about creating an eclectic season.”

One of the lesser-known aspects of Broadway Alaska is its community collaborations. This year, inspired by the story of “Mean Girls,” West High students created colorful “buddy benches,” sponsored by a grant from the Rotary Club of Anchorage East. The benches will be displayed in the performing arts center lobby throughout the show’s run and then placed in elementary and middle schools. The concept was established to combat bullying and promote kindness among classmates. When a child feels lonely, they can sit on the buddy bench, signaling they are looking for a friend to sit with them.

“We want Broadway to be more than just a night out,” Costello said. “We want to create experiences that connect the community and leave a lasting impact.”

While the second season of Broadway Alaska is opening, Costello and Scandalios are working intensively on the next season. While they kept tight-lipped about next season’s lineup, they promised a major announcement next week.

Tickets for “Mean Girls” are available by season subscription or for single performances. Tickets range in price from $49 to $139. Shows start at 7:30 p.m. during the week. There are 14 total showings over the course of the run. On Saturday and Sunday, there are two shows per day, one at 1 p.m. and another at 7 p.m.