Mean Girls - Erika vs. Tee Boyich

[Here I Am]

Hey all,

I finally saw ‘Mean Girls’ last night (loved it!), but i was a little upset to see that Erika H. was out and her standby Tee Boyich was on for her. Tee did a great job, but I was wondering if any of you have seen both and can compare how the two of them are different. Did I get to see a good show or does Erika add something extra special to the central role? Thanks so much!

[Bwayfan292]

I have seen the show with both Erika and Tee, (yes I put myself through that torture twice, I just wanted to see Ashley Park in the role)

I perfer Tee. I think she embodies Cady way more then Erika, and has a better connection with her “classmates”

This wasnt an answer to your question but, I saw Tee in Barretts role, and I think she is also a superior Janis.

[ameliewormwood]

I've seen Erika twice and Tee once, and vastly prefer Tee.

[Here I Am]

Thanks, guys!

[dianamorales]

I feel like I keep hearing people who prefer Tee over Barrett and Erika. What's the chance she'll replace? Or would producers want a bigger name?

[Bwayfan292]

I have a feeling Tee is gonna be Cady when the tour launches, and this is going to sound very harsh but I think theres a reason Erika was left out of all the awards last season. I feel like if Tee had been playing Cady the whole time she would be nominated for some.

[Elegance101]

Haven't seen Tee, but I find Erika very vanilla. I also don't like how Cady is like a Disney princess or wide-eyed in that way.

[kelsey1389]

I would think that the show would be hesitant to put Tee into a full time role because she's so valuable as a standby (she covers 4 parts, if I'm remembering correctly). But from what I've heard, Tee's Cady is more believable as home-school jungle freak Cady. 

[VotePeron]

Bwayfan292 said: "I have a feeling Tee is gonna be Cady when the tour launches, and this is going to sound very harsh but I think theres a reason Erika was left out of all the awards last season. I feel like if Tee had been playing Cady the whole time she would be nominated for some."

For what it's worth, Tee said in an Instagram Story Q&A once that she has no interest in touring unless it was a passion project. Perhaps Mean Girls is a passion project, but I can't imagine she'll tour. 

[theaterwiz414]

Tee has also been with the show since workshops. She was attached to the project before Erika. 

[jbird5]

Erika did get an Outer Critics Circle nomination FWIW.

[natashalost]

I've seen the show many times and I can say without a doubt Tee is the best Cady. No disrespect to Erika, I love her portrayal of Cady so much but I think Tee is better at the more emotional moments in the show.

[bwaylinds]

I've seen Tee as both Janis and Cady and think she's superior to Erika and Barrett. Her Cady is a lot more awkward than Erika's and she adapts less quickly to high school and it's more realistic that she genuinely has never gone to a "real school" whereas Erika's awkwardness wears off in the scene after Apex Predator. Her Janis is a lot angrier than Barrett's. I always thought Barrett's portrayal was too soft and gentle and she didn't really get that upset in Someone Gets Hurt (Reprise) whereas Tee's Janis is a lot harsher and more believable. Barrett's Janis doesn't really get perceived as an outcast as Tee's does. Also, her vocals are beautiful.

[lightsarebrightonbroadway]

Tee and Erika are both fantastic in their own right. 

Erika delivers a sturdy and reliable performance and is absolutely lovely offstage and on, I've had the pleasure of going out with her a few times and each time she has been down to earth and extremely kind (bought me dinner once when I didn't have money). 

Tee is a star on the rise and I think everyone is beginning to see that, and I feel like that may be the reason people are seeing her as superior. The story of her Broadway debut will be something of a legend one day.

Both phenomenal women, both fantastic performers!

[dbird]

I only got to see Erika but we agreed with several friends that she was the only weak link in the cast. Great singer but I just couldn't care for her Cady at all.

From what I saw and heard of Tee, I'd definitely go back just to see her if I could. Here's to hope she brings the show to London (I think she said she wasn't interested in the tour).

[theaterwiz414]

There have been several times where I've bought a ticket specifically because I knew an understudy would be on. If I knew when Tee was on for either of these roles, I would totally try to get a ticket because I've heard she's amazing, 

[Here I Am]

That’s amazing! I’m so glad that I got to see a special performance and didn’t miss anything by not seeing Erika. Although I’m sure Erika is excellent in her own way.

The rest of the full cast was in and wow, what gems they all are!

[MauraLovesMusicals]

i’m gonna go against the grain here. i think erika is the superior cady. a lot of my friends are actually international transfer students and they love this musical because of how accurate cady was to them. tee has this harshness to her, which works well for janis and i love her portrayal of janis, but it doesn’t fit cady at all. I know many people don’t like erika because she sounds like a disney princess but i think it fits well because of the contrast between her and the other characters. 

[dramamama611]

My real question is:  if you already loved it, the way you saw it - why look for reasons to bring it down?  I've SELDOM seen an understudy on Bway that was underwhelming.  Chances are 99% of the time, the audience would never know the difference if we hadn't been told.

Enjoy your experience, instead of what might have been.

[MauraLovesMusicals]

dramamama611 said: "My real question is: if you already loved it, the way you saw it - why look for reasons to bring it down? I've SELDOM seen an understudy on Bway that was underwhelming. Chances are 99% of the time, the audience would never know the difference if we hadn't been told.

Enjoy your experience, instead of what might have been."

i don’t think she meant it in a bad way, i think she just wanted some insight on what erika brings to the table while she performs. 

[Beedlebard]

MauraLovesMusicals said: "i’m gonna go against the grain here. i think erika is the superior cady. a lot of my friends are actually international transfer students and they love this musical because of how accurate cady was to them. tee has this harshness to her, which works well for janis and i love her portrayal of janis, but it doesn’t fit cady at all. I know many people don’t like erika because she sounds like a disney princess but i think it fits well because of the contrast between her and the other characters."

I actually prefer Tee’s “harshness”. I think it shows Cady’s developmental arc better. She really shows that Cady goes from smart / naïve doe eyed new girl to getting sucked into being the queen bee when she overthrows Regina to ultimately find herself by the end of the show.

[Here I Am]

Maura is correct. I just asked out of curiosity. But I’m actually a “he” haha.

[jbird5]

Wow. Erika comes off so much better on TV than on stage. Maybe her future is there.

[MauraLovesMusicals]

Here I Am said: "Maura is correct. I just asked out of curiosity. But I’m actually a “he” haha."

lol, i’m so sorry! i’m just used to defusing drama on tumblr and that’s all 12 year old girls jajajajajajaja