CRUEL INTENTIONS Announces Casting As Film's 20th Anniversary Approaches

In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the release of cult classic film, casting has just been announced for Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical, coming to The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts on May 4 for one performance only at 8 pm.

The cast features veteran stage performers including 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.

Sony Pictures will also celebrate the original film's anniversary with a theatrical re-release on March 22 in an exclusive one-week engagement nationwide.

"Cruel Intentions" originally opened on March 5, 1999 from Columbia Pictures and featured now-iconic stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon and Selma Blair. Based on the film's success, Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin and Roger Kumble created a musical version appealing to fans of the movie and '90s pop music alike. The musical's success has garnered a national tour and original Off-Broadway Cast Recording, released this month. The production also hits the road for the first time this month, featuring a jukebox of nostalgic hits by artists like Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, REM, NSYNC and Britney Spears.

Original film director Roger Kumble calls Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical "an amazing musical that even people who hate musicals would love, complete with a soundtrack loaded with the greatest '90s guilty pleasure songs." The new musical pulls audiences 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.

Tickets to Cruel Intentions: The '90s Musical start at $35. Discounts are available to members of The Hanover Theatre and groups of 10 or more. Tickets are available online at TheHanoverTheatre.org, by phone at 877.571.SHOW (7469) or at The Hanover Theatre box office located at 2 Southbridge Street in downtown Worcester.

To post a comment, you must register and login.