Summary:
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Stephanie Bissonette of Mean Girls the Musical tragically passed away at 32. She played Dawn Schweitzer in the original production.
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Mean Girls community mourns her loss; Bissonette was part of the Broadway company from start to finish. Thoughts and prayers shared.
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Cause of death not disclosed; she battled rare brain cancer in 2019. Bissonette’s impact on Broadway community remembered.
Member of Mean Girls the Musical Stephanie Bissonette tragically passed away. The dance teacher and choreographer of the show was only 32 years old.
Bisoneete also played high school student Dawn Schweitzer in the original production of “Mean Girls”.
“Our hearts are broken as the Mean Girls community mourns the loss of Stephanie Bissonnette,” the show wrote on Twitter. “Our original Dawn Sweitzer, Stephanie was part of our Broadway company from our first performance to our last.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephanie’s family, friends, and the entire Mean Girls community during this time,” the show continued on social media. “We will miss her profoundly and encourage everyone to do something they love today in Stephanie’s honor.”
She filled our theater with her laughter and friendship, inspired us with her fighting spirit and bravery, and graced our stage with the fiercest talent Broadway has ever known.
— MEAN GIRLS on Broadway (@MeanGirlsBway) December 18, 2022
As of this time, the cause of death has yet to be revealed. According to Playbill, Stephanie was diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer in 2019. After undergoing treatment, the star was able to return to the show and keep performing.
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Bisonette felt that something was wrong when she felt something in her brain while dancing, she said in a 2020 interview.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephanie’s family, friends, and the entire Mean Girls community during this time,” the production added. “We will miss her profoundly and encourage everyone to do something they love today in Stephanie’s honor.”
Our thoughts and prayers are with Stephanie’s family, friends, and the entire Mean Girls community during this time. We will miss her profoundly and encourage everyone to do something they love today in Stephanie’s honor.
— MEAN GIRLS on Broadway (@MeanGirlsBway) December 18, 2022
Earlier in 2022, Bisonette appeared in the documentary “Ensemble”, a movie on how many of the dancers in the Broadway industry coped with the loss of theaters and so much more in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bisonette even took part in may charitable projects throughout her time including “When The Lights Are Bright Again” which was also about the shutdown of COVID-19. The book benefited the Entertainment Community Fund.
In her spare time, Bisonette taguth dance at the Broadway Dance center, to which she considered her “second home” according to her teacher.
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Other credits during her time included The Muny, Riverside Theater, Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Seven Angels Theatre. She also appeared in music videos including Keith Urban’s “Never Comin’ Down”.
