Here’s a news (hot) flash: “Menopause: The Musical” is coming to the Michigan Theater for two performances this month (Tuesday and Wednesday, January 26-27 at 8 p.m.).

The popular show, by Jeanie Linders, focuses on 4 women who are simply called The Soap Star, The Professional, The Earth Mother, and The Iowa Housewife — who “has come to New York City with her husband, who is there for a convention, and she meets the other women in Bloomingdale's over a sale rack of lingerie,” said Orlando-based actress Sandy Dewoody, who’s now played the role for 6½ years.

“She’s led a pretty sheltered life in Iowa, and during the course of the show — the course of this one day in Bloomingdale's — she comes around and she has a bit of an awakening. She’s a lot of fun, because she goes through a lot in 90 minutes.”

And while you might think it’s tough to keep a role fresh when you’ve done it for years, Dewoody says she’s still working to be the best Iowa Housewife she can be. “Every show is different because the audience of women — and the men, too — get into the show so much,” said Dewoody. “It’s just a pleasure. … (The audience’s) energy keeps it fresh.”

Watch the trailer for “Menopause: The Musical”:

But let’s back up for a second. There are men in the audience of “Menopause,” a show that screams “girls’ night out”? Yes. According to Dewoody, they show up in greater numbers at weekend performances, but there are always some men in the crowd.

“Men usually come with their spouses or girlfriends, and a lot of times, they’re sitting with their arms crossed, (as if to say) ‘Show me something. I could be watching football right now,’” said Dewoody. “But by the end of the show, we’ll see them nudging their significant other and saying, ‘That’s you!’”

PREVIEW “Menopause the Musical” What: Jeanie Linders’ blockbuster hit show about four women who meet at the lingerie sale rack at Bloomingdales and share their menopausal experiences while singing (altered) pop tunes from the '60s and '70s. Where: Michigan Theater, 603 East Liberty Street. When: Tuesday-Wednesday, January 26-27, at 8 p.m. How much: $40-$50. Info: To order tickets, call 800-745-3000 or visit the Ticketmaster web site.

Because of Dewoody’s longtime involvement with the show, she’s performed “Menopause” in all sorts of locales. “But I’ve never been anywhere where they didn’t like it,” she said.

This includes a run in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in the summer of 2004. “That was eye-opening, of course,” said Dewoody. “They didn’t even talk about menopause there. It was a taboo subject. But their minister of health was a woman, and she took the opportunity to introduce the subject in the newspapers and say, ‘It’s OK to talk about it.’”

The show has humble origins — a March 2001 premiere in a 76-seat theater in Orlando — but it has since, of course, become a blockbuster that consistently sells out large theaters. Featuring familiar pop hits of the 60s and 70s, with altered lyrics (“Stayin’ Alive” becomes “Stayin’ Awake”), the show boasts fans who faithfully bring out friends to see it again and again.

“There’s a lot of menopausal women out there,” said Dewoody. “I think (the show’s popularity) has to do with the fact that women go through this, and they all think they’re alone. But then they come to the theater and see a whole room full of people going through same thing, and they can finally laugh about it and commiserate with others about it.”