Photo Flash: Original Star Laura Bell Bundy Visits RUTHLESS! Off-Broadway

Laura Bell Bundy, star of the original production of RUTHLESS!, checked out the new production this past Thursday, September 17th. Bundy played the lethally talented 8-year-old, Tina Denmark, in the original 1992 Off-Broadway production. Her two understudies during that yearlong run also did well for themselves in the intervening years; Britney Spears and Natalie Portman. Bundy was the first to lead the standing ovation at the end of Thursday's performance. Scroll down for photos!

Laura Bell Bundy has starred on Broadway in LEGALLY BLONDE (Elle Woods), WICKED (Glinda) and HAIRSPRAY (Amber Von Tussle). She was a series regular on TV's "Hart of Dixie," "How I Met Your Mother" and "Anger Management," and her films include JUMANJI and DREAMGIRLS.

RUTHLESS! opened July 13th at St. Luke's Theatre. Book and lyrics are by Joel Paley with music by Marvin Laird. Paley also directed the original production as well as productions in L.A., South Beach and the record-breaking concert event starring Bernadette Peters. He once again serves as director of the newest incarnation of RUTHLESS!, with Marvin Laird on board as music supervisor as well.

Featured in the cast of RUTHLESS! are Kim Maresca (Westport's TWELFTH NIGHT), Paul Pecorino (DEVIL BOYS FROM BEYOND, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW), Rita McKenzie (ETHEL MERMAN'S BROADWAY, RUTHLESS! L.A.), Andrea McCullough (URINETOWN, GREASE), Tracy Jai Edwards (HAIRSPRAY, LEGALLY BLONDE), and introducing Tori Murray (Paper Mill's NEW VOICES OF 2014: OH, WHAT A NIGHT!)

When THE BAD SEED meets GYPSY, it's fun for the whole dysfunctional family! Tina Denmark is a pretty, charming and diabolical eight-year-old who "was born to entertain." With the encouragement of slick and overbearing potential agent Sylvia St. Croix, Tina will do anything to play the lead in her school play. The question is, where does such remarkable talent and unstoppable ambition come from? The answer is shocking in this award-winning Stage Mother of all musicals.

RUTHLESS! first appeared Off-Broadway 23 years ago at the Players Theatre, winning both the Drama Desk Award for Best Lyrics and the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. The show continues to be a favorite among regional theaters and productions are continually being staged around the globe. But make no mistake - this is not your mother's RUTHLESS! This is no mere revival, but a newly imagined meditation on narcissism, talented tykes and stage mothers in a world that has since been introduced to such gems as "Toddlers and Tiaras" and Honey Boo Boo.