With MEAN GIRLS coming to Robinson Center, we asked Alexys Morera who portrays Janis Sarkisian in the national tours a few questions about her life with MEAN GIRLS and life on the road:
What was your path to becoming a professional actor?
Music was always a part of my life. As I child, I was constantly humming and doing music extracurriculars. My love for theatre truly began in high school when my mother took me on a trip to see my first Broadway show. After graduating, I moved to New York right away. I did a 3-year conservatory program (Institute for American Musical Theatre). And after that I booked MEAN GIRLS and am now living the dream and touring America with some of the most talented people I’ve ever met.
What do you enjoy the most about performing in the show every night?
Knowing that there is someone in the audience who is seeing a show for the first time or getting to see their favorite musical performed makes everything worth it. As a POC I think representation is also so important. I’ve had Latinas come to me to say that they are so happy to see themselves on stage. Getting to be that for someone is an indescribable feeling. I am so blessed to be playing such a strong and authentic character. Janis is my girl, and I am beyond grateful for every night I step into her combat boots.
Why do you think MEAN GIRLS resonates with audiences?
The MEAN GIRLS musical is familiar story that stays true to the Mean Girls franchise that we all know and love. There is definitely a sense of nostalgia but the message of the show is one that is still important today. With the rise of media, negativity is at our fingertips and accessible at any time. Judging others won’t make you better than them. We all have flaws and make mistakes but being yourself and owning up to those flaws is the key to attracting your own happiness and finding people that really care about you.
What item can you not live without while on tour?
My top two items are my portable silverware and my Snorlax plushie. The silverware comes in handy often when eating on the road. And the Snorlax just makes a cute pillow. Almost all of my cast mates have plushies so it’s like an army of stuffed animals traveling with us.
What is your dream role?
I knew two things after watching the act one finale of Wicked at 15 years old. The first was that I wanted to play Elphaba with every fiber of my being. The second was that I was going to pursue theatre no matter what. She is strong and she stays true to herself and her vocals are out of this world.
The North American Tour of MEAN GIRLS will take the stage at Robinson Center in Little Rock for 5 performances, February 2-4, 2024 (Friday at 7:30pm, Saturday at 2pm & 7:30pm, Sunday at 1pm & 6:30pm). Purchase tickets in person at the Robinson Center Box Office, online at CelebrityAttractions.com or Ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 501.244.8800.
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; lyrics by two-time Tony Award® nominee Nell Benjamin; and original direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award® winner Casey Nicholaw.
