Jeffrey Kringer , Betsy Stewart & Taylor Pearlstein Will Lead CRUEL INTENTIONS National Tour

In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the cult classic film Cruel Intentions, producers have announced the casting for the North American tour of the Off-Broadway smash hit Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical.

Following sold-out runs in Los Angeles and a critically acclaimed, sold-out run in New York City, the new musical - a stage adaptation of Roger Kumble's 1999 cult-hit film, created by Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin & Roger Kumble - will launch its first national tour at Proctors in Schenectady, NY on March 29, 2019. The production will play over 18 cities this Spring.

"I couldn't think of a more perfect day to announce our amazing new cast than the film's 20th anniversary," says co-creator of the stage musical Jordan Ross. "It's been the adventure of a lifetime being a part of Cruel Intentions' cult legacy and I'm so excited to share our best-of-the-90s bittersweet symphony with the country. Happy hunting, America!"

The tour of Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical will star John Battagliese (BAZ: Starcrossed Love) as Greg McConnell, Richard Crandle (Hairspray) as Ronald Clifford, Jeffrey Kringer as Sebastian Valmont, Dara Orland (Beauty & the Beast) as Mrs. Bunny Caldwell, Taylor Pearlstein (Flashdance) as Kathryn Merteuil, Brooke Singer (The Great Pie Robbery) as Cecile Caldwell, Betsy Stewart (October Sky) as Annette, David Wright (Cinderella) as Blaine Tuttle, Nicole Medoro (This Ain't No Disco) as the Female Understudy and Aramie Payton (The Scottsboro Boys) as the Male Understudy.

When Sarah Michelle Gellar, the film's original Kathryn Merteuil was asked about the news, she said, "Everybody loves me and twenty years later I intend to keep it that way, with the support of the exquisite Cruel Intentions Musical and soundtrack. Not that I need support. I don't, because I'm fabulous."

Original film director Roger Kumble adds, "Never in my darkest fantasies would I believe twenty years later, my movie about a pair of hedonistic Manhattan step-siblings would turn into a musical. An amazing musical that even people who hate musicals would love, complete with a soundtrack loaded with the greatest 90s guilty pleasure songs."

As previously announced, a cast recording featuring the original Off-Broadway company will be released on March 8, 2019 on CD and all digital formats on ABKCO Records.

Grammy-winning producer Stewart Lerman captured the dynamic arrangements from the Off-Broadway production, in his studio outside New York City in August this year. Featuring the stellar talents of Carrie St. Louis, Constantine Rousouli and Alex Boniello alongside Patricia Richardson, the album will contain a collection of lively tracks from Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical including 'Losing My Religion' 'Bye Bye Bye' and a unique take on 'No Scrubs' that is not to be missed. The album is available now for pre-order at www.smarturl.it/cruelmusical. "Breakfast at Tiffany's," "Foolish Games," and "Lovefool" are currently available to stream and as instant grat tracks.

Below is a full list of engagements for Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical during its first season on tour - additional cities to be announced at a later date:

• Schenectady, NY Proctors March 29, 2019
• Providence, RI The VETS March 30, 2019
• Chicago, IL Broadway Playhouse April 2 - 13, 2019
• Louisville, KY Kentucky Center April 18, 2019
• Akron, OH EJ Thomas Hall April 19, 2019
• Pittsburgh, PA Byham Theatre April 20, 2019
• Augusta, GA Miller Theater April 23, 2019
• Durham, NC DPAC April 24, 2019
• Charlotte, NC McGlohon Theatre April 25 - 27, 2019
• Worcester, MA Hanover Theatre May 4, 2019
• Portland, ME Merrill Auditorium May 7, 2019
• Hartford, CT Bushnell May 10 - 11, 2019
• Pensacola, FL Saenger Theatre May 14, 2019
• Atlanta, GA Cobb Energy PAC May 15, 2019
• Jacksonville, FL Terry Theater May 16 - 18, 2019
• Coral Springs, FL Center for the Arts May 19, 2019
• Dallas, TX Wyly Theatre May 22 - 26, 2019
• Philadelphia, PA Perelman Theater May 29 - June 2, 2019

Set to the greatest pop and rock hits of the '90s, Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical is an exhilarating and deceptively funny musical that pulls you into the manipulative world of Manhattan's most dangerous liaisons: Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Seduced by revenge and fueled by passion, the two diabolically charming step-siblings place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can deflower their incoming headmaster's daughter, Annette Hargrove. As the two set out to destroy the innocent girl - and anyone who gets in their way - they find themselves entangled in a web of secrets, temptation, and the cruelest game of all: love. Audience members experience the intoxicating story full of hilarity and heart, set to the greatest throwback hits of the decade by such artists as Goo Goo Dolls, No Doubt, R.E.M., Ace of Base, Jewel, 'NSYNC and more - in addition to songs from the film's iconic soundtrack such as "Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve and "Colorblind" by Counting Crows.

Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical debuted at The Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Angeles in 2015, where it ran for 38 sold-out performances, before being remounted for a second sold-out run at LA's Prospect Theatre in November 2016. In February 2017, the musical played a sold-out "pop-up" engagement at (le) Poisson Rouge and returned in November 2017 to play a successful twenty-one-week engagement at the downtown NYC nightspot before its final performance on April 8, 2018.

Cruel Intentions: The 90s Musical was created by Jordan Ross ("The Royals"), Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble ("Cruel Intentions") with original direction by Lindsey Rosin (The Unauthorized OC Musical), Kenneth Ferrone ("RENT Live!") is the tour director. The production features Choreography by Jennifer Weber (West End: & Juliet), Set Design by Jason Sherwood ("RENT Live!"), Costume Design by Tilly Grimes (Small Mouth Sounds), Lighting Design by Jeanette Yew (The Idiot), and Sound Design by Matt Kraus (Kathy Griffin Wants a Tony).