The Bank of America Broadway in Fort Lauderdale series, at The Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents Mean Girls from May 2 – May 7.
Mean Girls features a book by nine-time Emmy Award winner Tina Fey, based on her screenplay for the film, music by three-time Emmy Award winner Jeff Richmond; and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominee Nell Benjamin. Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw directs and choreographs.
Mean Girls opened on Broadway in April 2018 to rave reviews at the August Wilson Theatre.
Cady Heron may have grown up on an African savanna, but nothing prepared her for the wild and vicious ways of her strange new home: suburban Illinois. How will this naïve newbie rise to the top of the popularity pecking order? By taking on The Plastics, a trio of lionized frenemies led by the charming but ruthless Regina George. But when Cady devises a plan to end Regina’s reign, she learns the hard way that you can’t cross a Queen Bee without getting stung.
New York Magazine calls Mean Girls “Hilarious! A smart, splashy new musical that delivers with immense energy, a wicked sense of humor and joyful inside-jokery.” Chicago Tribune said “Tina Fey writes Funnier, Smarter, Sharper satire than anyone else in the business.” People Magazine calls the show “Fresh, Fun and Infectious – Jeff Richmond and Nell Benjamin’s songs keep the laughs coming!” The New York Daily News said Mean Girls “Tickles The Ears, Eyes and Funny Bone – the direction by Casey Nicholaw packs style, invention and red bull-force energy.” And, Entertainment Weekly calls it “A Marvel: Dazzling & Hilarious!”
It was a pleasure to sit down with Eric Huffman who plays Damian, for this exclusive Hotspots interview.
At what age did you begin performing?
I did my first show when I was 11 years old by accident. I had a friend who wanted to do a community show and she was nervous, so she asked me to audition with her and the rest is history.
What was your first paid gig?
I did a production Amahl and the Night Visitors which is a short Opera for Christmas when I was 13.
When did you know performing would be your career?
I fully intended to go into some type of business/finance career and in my junior year of high school I decided to audition for my dream colleges for theatre. I got in and I have been going ever since.
Other than this one, what has been your favorite role so far?
I would have to say 2 roles. My sophomore year in college we did the musical “Hello Again” and I played the character called “The Young Thing” and its only 20 minutes on stage but it was amazing. And in my junior year in college, I was in the ensemble of 42nd street and because I love tapping it was as good as it gets.
What’s your fantasy role (a role you haven’t played but would die to)?
I have always wanted to do a slightly gender swamped version of Sondheim’s “Passion.” But if we are talking about traditional casting, I want to play Bobby in “Crazy For You.”
Absolutely, its kind of a mind game with yourself every night. I have known these lines for 20 years, and there is definitely a pressure there. But the lines are so good, you must trust the material.
Is it hard being on the road all the time?
Yes! I have been fortunate enough to work for a decade and its all been on the road, so it gets hard to figure out where you are doing laundry next (LOL). It’s also hard being away from your family and friends.
How well do you and your castmates get along?
Extremely well. Its such a young group and everyone is grateful to have work and we are fun outgoing people, so we have a blast.
I love him so much as I am a huge science nerd. In another life I might have worked at NASA. His life motivation is to promote education and educational access and promote creative and critical thinking.
Are you single or married?
I am quite single.
What is the perfect guy for you?
I would say the number one thing I like is someone who can have a very deep intellectual conversation just for fun. I also like someone who can be goofy.
What do you do for fun?
I love puzzles, museums, long walks, and I love to cook.
What should our readers expect from this touring company of “Mean Girls”?
First and foremost, I think the number one unexpected thing is how athletic the show is. We feature one of the best dance ensembles working today. I am blown away by them every night. Equally as strong is our vocalists. It’s a party every night and on top of that it’s a classic movie live right in front of you. It couldn’t be funnier, its Tina Fay what more do you want.
For more information on Eric, go to instagram.com/e.j.huffman
For more information on Mean Girls the Musical go to: MeanGirlsOnBroadway.com
Tickets are available at BrowardCenter.org and Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 954.468.0222 or at the Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office located at 201 SW Fifth Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL. 33312.
