MILWAUKEE— "Mean Girls" is so fetch. 

The hilarious film adaption follows Cady Heron (Danielle Wade) who recently moved from Kenya to Illinois. Cady may be able to run with the lions, but can she handle the ferociousness of high school mean girls? She has a plan to take down the queen bee, Regina George (Nadina Hassan) but dethroning comes at a cost. 

As I walked out of a jam-packed Marcus Center for the Performing Arts Tuesday night in single-digit temperatures, I stopped and I listened. I heard the word "fun" over a dozen times from nearby audience members. 

And I'd have to agree. 

While I certainly expected neon pink hues, what I didn't expect is other bright, playful colors to be used throughout the entire musical. Costumes (Gregg Barnes) alone gave the show a bright, refreshing feel. They were complimented eloquently by a full-stage LED screen, providing mood-enhancing lighting (Kenneth Posner) and video (Finn Ross and Adam Young) elements. Yes, of course, the performers were outstanding— each and every one of them. But I cannot help but mention how bright the technical elements of "Mean Girls" shined. It's truly a 21st century, modern musical.

And what would a modern musical be without five unparalleled female leads? 

Wade started the show off on a high note, literally. She gave an inspirational performance with "It Roars," and stamina carried her through all the way to the end. Throughout the entire show, she maxed out every song and every scene to its full potential. Wade clearly understands the nuances of her character, and flawlessly portrays her evolution from naive homeschooler to "plastic." Audiences see Cady grow and change before their eyes in a natural, strong-willed performance. 

English Bernhardt played Cady's best friend, Janis Sakisian, dubbed an "art freak" in high school hierarchy. Bernhardt dug deep to find Janis' soft side and headstrong side. Janis has a sweetness to her in the musical, without sacrificing any of her edge that movie loyalists expect. Janis, alongside Damian Hubbard (Eric Huffman), acted as the show's narrator, and her vocals seamlessly grazed throughout the audience. Bernhardt is a standby for Janis and Regina, so I'm unsure who will get to see her take center stage during "Mean Girls'" three Wisconsin runs. I count myself lucky to have watched her take the reigns. 

Janis' foil, Regina, is not at all what I expected, but in the best way. Hassan had me laughing all night with one-liners and Regina-esq stature. Seeing her transform from dethroned-queen to vengeful dictator ("World Burn") was a moment of theatrical genius. Of course, there would be no queen without her minions. Gretchen Wieners (Megan Masako Haley) and Karen Smith (Jonalyn Saxer) serve Regina, but they also serve up some major show-stoppers. In a world where "plastics" are so unrelatable, Masako Haley delivered an emotional performance ("What's Wrong With Me?"), showing a side of Gretchen that will break any audience member's heart. Just like the rest of us, she's looking for love and acceptance. Karen, on the other hand, accepts herself, and wow does Saxer have to be confident to portray her. From dancing around in lingerie ("Sexy") to rolling on the floor, she never missed a beat and never spared a laugh. 

With any other cast, any one of these ladies would have easily stolen the show. With such stunning performances all around, they each got their chance to be in the spotlight. It was refreshing and engaging. Truly, there was not a single dull moment in the 2-hour-and-30-minute musical. 

The majority of the 20 songs were rounded out with showstopping dance numbers (Casey Nicholaw) and were unlike any choreography I've seen on a Broadway tour before. Utilizing contemporary hip-hop and a little bit of tapping, the entire ensemble kept the show moving, literally, and upbeat. They're all extremely well trained, with gorgeous lines, flexibility and flow. It's the kind of dancing that's fun to watch, whether you're a prima ballerina or have two left feet. 

Performances were nothing short of spectacular. Beyond that, there's a clear message of compassion, forgiveness and self-love that will leave you feeling good whether you're a high schooler, a "cool mom" or somewhere in between. 

It's not like a regular musical. It's a cool musical. 

"Mean Girls" runs at the Marcus Center for Performing Arts in Milwaukee from Jan. 25 - 30. Click here for more info.

"Mean Girls" runs at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison from Aug. 30 - Sept. 4. Click here for more info.

"Mean Girls" will run at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center in Appleton the week of Aug. 22. Click here for more info.