Cruel Intentions
About the show
Based on the classic novel, 'Les Liaisons Dangereuses,' and the sexy 90s teen drama, this jukebox musical features a selection of nostalgia-inducing ’90s hits including 'Lovefool' and 'Bittersweet Symphony.' More…
'Cruel Intentions: The Musical' 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. 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.
“The sexy and cruelly delicious sights and sounds seduce you the moment you enter...A tantalizing night out mixed with incredible voices and charm, as much a tribute to the 90's as it is a beautiful new take on an iconic classic...This production is something fierce...It has a little something for everyone...A wonderful hybrid of a musical and concert, keeping the edge and risqué found in the movie with the emotion that translates so well to the stage...The cast is stellar." Full Review
"Savvy, engaging, fun pop culture entertainment. Well-cast, beautifully sung, fun, and funny, 'Cruel Intentions: The Musical' works on every level. Broadly entertaining, fans and newcomers will absolutely be entranced as the usage of song enhances characterizations and wryly comments on the situations....Rosin’s direction is strong – brisk, with deft characterization choices, wise musical selection, and astute casting...The cast is uniformly great." Full Review
“So much fun to watch. For those not familiar with the cult classic movie, this stage version may seem a little too quick; however, for those who are familiar with it are in for a treat...Rosin and Ross have adapted the sexual and emotional exploits of these high schoolers from film to stage by way of amazing, nostalgia-inducing pop songs...The cast members all capture their characters really well...You’ll leave wanting to see it again and again.” Full Review
"By no means the next great American musical, but it is off-Broadway's newest guilty pleasure...This isn't really a satirical adaptation...Nevertheless, humor springs from the smartly curated songs...To their credit, the cast interprets these numbers with style and sincerity...Between the retro story, the skillfully performed '90s pop, and the mom from 'Home Improvement,' one couldn't ask for much more in the way of millennial nostalgia. This show is stupid good fun." Full Review
"A clever and often inspired score of ‘90s pop-rock favorites, whose emo lyrics have never made more sense. The musical’s nostalgic score actually brings the story to new heights, supplanting some of its empty cruelty with exactly the kind of soaring, confusing emotions that color teen romance...Not every number is a home run...The West Village club setting, in addition to being ideal for the young ensemble’s belting talents, is a perfect homage to the movie’s ‘90s Manhattan milieu." Full Review
"Full of fun high school sex and drama...It’s a fun evening, cute, just a wee bit sexy, and super silly...The story is really there to provide a context for the performance of our favorite ‘90s pop songs...This is a satisfying play: hearing the lines we love, predicting or being surprised about the songs they choose to include. In a way, this is as close to a ‘sure thing’ performance you are going to find. If you are about that ‘90s pop life, you'll love it.” Full Review
"The ultra-pared-down approach means that details get lost in the scramble, especially regarding the characters’ location at any given time, but over all the storytelling is relatively clear...The musical faithfully follows the movie’s plot and includes all the classic lines — though not, alas, a breakout performance to match Ms. Witherspoon’s...'Cruel Intentions' could run for a while as a semi-staged rock show, but it does feel like an exploratory tryout crying for a fuller production." Full Review
"It works again as a musical...The most defining part of the musical by far is the score...At times this can seem ridiculous, but it is when the actors play into the comedic ridiculousness of the situation that the songs work best...In a 90s nostalgia jukebox musical, harnessing the comedy is essential. Perhaps this is what made the performances of the leading pair unsuccessful...The vocals in the production were extraordinary...Not high art, but it is fun, sexy, and seductive." Full Review
“This well-mounted jukebox musical is packed with 1990’s pop songs and faithfully replicates the 1999 teen drama...It’s best appreciated by those of the right age nostalgic for the music of their youth. Anyone else would most likely find it at best a passable diversion...It’s decidedly not an event for musical theater connoisseurs...Ross, Rosin, and Kumble’s script is an efficient and cheeky treatment with an abundance of erection jokes and sly, sexual innuendo.” Full Review
“Despite its…lyric-smothering, over-amped performance…, the show needs only a smattering of music stands…to qualify as a staged concert…Too many of the songs…are belted as loudly as possible, leaving little room for gentler approaches...For all the story's…endless fascination, it's a mite uncomfortable…to be watching a show reveling in sexual predation (involving teenagers, no less), regardless of how many nostalgia-packed 90s pop tunes seek to obliterate your unease along with your eardrums.” Full Review
"We learn all of this via numbingly expository dialogue stuffed between 'Cruel Intentions’ true raison d’être: its jukebox score of ’90s pop hits, woven together by nostalgia maestro Zach Spound. Some of the score is satisfyingly subverted...But most of the songs barely budge the plot, commenting on it instead with a convenient key phrase or two. While its story emphasizes the guilt of pleasure gained at the expense of others, the musical invites you to bop your head along." Full Review
“A jukebox musical, making use of numerous '90s pop hits...Only distantly related to the action onstage...’Cruel Intentions’ is junk, but everybody involved seems to be in on the joke, and the cast is loaded with young talents...Rosin's direction ensures a fast pace, lest anyone have a minute to think about the overall silliness...As a kind of party game for a young audience interested in having a few drinks and hearing dynamic covers of pop hits from their salad days, I suppose it works.” Full Review
See it if You love 90s music, want great performances and a fun environment
Don't see it if You don’t like covers and immersive experiences
See it if I really enjoyed the show!!! Loved the acting, and how the play was done throughout the theater. Great music.
Don't see it if If you get offended easy, there are some sexual parts.
See it if You love jukebox musicals full of 90s music. Or if you want something full of sex, betrayal, and fun.
Don't see it if You're not a fun of 90s music. It was half the fun.
See it if you're a fan of the film or 90s music. If you enjoy shows that kind of make fun of themselves/don't take themselves too seriously.
Don't see it if you want a serious night at the theater, you're uncomfortable with a lot of talk about sex and drugs, you hate the movie. Not for children.
See it if you want to relive the 90s with all the best songs of the era. Amazing powerhouse voices & sexy staging makes for a fun night in the lounge.
Don't see it if you don't like stories about sex and teens. If you like a traditional theatrical space, this is very different.
See it if you love the 90s era!! this was absolutely brilliant !
Don't see it if not big into 90s
See it if You love classic 90's music, you are a fan of the movie, you are keen to see some sexy abs, you love drama and amazing vocals
Don't see it if you are easily offended, you are under 21, you dont want to pay for food (min to items)
See it if You are into musicals, great songs or are fans of the film. A really very good show, highly recommended.
Don't see it if You don't like musicals or a bit of raunch.
See it if You’re looking to have fun!! NB there are food/beverage minimums
Don't see it if You’re super prudish.
See it if You liked the movie. Like a sexy cast. You like 90’s music. Intresting staging.
Don't see it if Loud rock music. You don’t want to see a talented cast performing hit songs. You don’t like to have “raunchy” fun.
See it if You liked the Cruel Intentions movie or if you like good acting and singing in a fun musical at a nice music venue .
Don't see it if You don’t like music from the 1990’s
See it if you like the movie and you want to hear 90 songs.
Don't see it if you didn't like the movie.
See it if you want to see a unique theatrical experience that tells the story of a cult classic 90's movie. The cast is so talented and into it!
Don't see it if you do not like loud rock music or want a classic theatre experience.
See it if Great arrangements and performances of familiar rock songs.
Don't see it if Are tired of the Dangerous Laisson story
See it if You loved 1990s music, you want to hear great singers sing their faces off, you like camp, and/or you enjoyed the movie.
Don't see it if If you don't like 1990s music and hated the movie.
Also I will probably go see this again. I'm on TDF and my ticket was only 2... Read more Read less
See it if You are a fan of early 2000's pop and shockingly talented performers
Don't see it if You don't like raunchy shows
See it if You enjoy table seating, liked the movie and like 90s music
Don't see it if You haven’t seen or did not like the movie and do not like 90s music
See it if You want a "concert-like" show - minimal sets, etc., but well-staged and the cast is super talented.
Don't see it if You need a typical proscenium production.
See it if you love 90s pop music, loved the movie and want a bit of nostalgia!
Don't see it if you don't like teenage/rom-com/chickflick
See it if You enjoyed the movie and like 90s and 2000s music.
Don't see it if You didn’t like movie or off off broadway productions.
See it if You are a child of the '90s who wants to see the movie on stage.
Don't see it if You didn't like Cruel Intentions the movie because it is basically a word for word reiteration.
Also It's like the songs were written for Lauren Zakrin to sing. Her voice ... Read more Read less
See it if you love the movie or you are a major fan of its soundtrack or 90s music.
Don't see it if you are looking for a full-staged musical that has a deeper meaning or if you aren't up for a good time.
See it if you loved the movie, 90s pop music, and/or both.
Don't see it if you would hate a 90s era spin on Dangerous Liasions.
Cast & Creatives (17)
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