Clueless (musical)

Cher Horowitz is a popular, wealthy teenager living a picture perfect life in Beverly Hills ("Perfect"). Her father, Mel, is a lawyer and the two live in a mansion, sometimes joined by Josh, Cher's ex-step-brother. Tai, a new girl from New York, arrives at in town and Cher decides to make her her new project, making her popular ("New Girl").

File:Clueless (musical, logo).jpg

The musical originally opened Off-Broadway at The Pershing Square Signature Center, produced by The New Group, on November 20, 2018, for a limited engagement until January 12, 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/clueless-musical-starring-dove-cameron-opens-december-11|title=Clueless Musical, Starring Dove Cameron, Opens December 11|work=Playbill|last=Gans|first=Andrew|accessdate=December 19, 2018}} The production was directed by Kristin Hanggi, choreographed by Kelly Devine and the show's music supervision, arrangements and orchestration was provided by Ethan Popp. The production's design team included scenery by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Amy Clark, lighting by Jason Lyons, sound by Gareth Owen, and projections by Darrel Maloney.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/a-look-at-clueless-the-musical-off-broadway|title=A Look at Clueless, The Musical Off-Broadway|work=Playbill|last=Franklin|first=Marc J.|accessdate=December 19, 2018}} As a non-traditional jukebox musical, the show used '80s and '90s songs as the entire score, with lyric changes to fit the scene. It features classics such as "Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia, "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child, "Kids in America" by Kim Wilde, and "Beautiful Life" by Ace of Base.

A new version of the musical made its UK premiere in a work-in-progress run at the Churchill Theatre, in Bromley from 12 to 24 February 2024. The new version features an original score by KT Tunstall and Glenn Slater and was directed by Sarna Lapine.{{cite web|url=https://stageberry.com/news/64664-new-clueless-musical-adaptation-to-make-uk-premiere.html|title=New Clueless musical adaptation to make UK premiere|work=Stageberry|last=Darvill|first=Josh|date=November 2023 |accessdate=November 1, 2023}}

On 9 September 2024, it was announced that the musical will open in London's West End at the Trafalgar Theatre from February 2025, with Rachel Kavanaugh replacing Lapine as director and Lizzi Gee as choreographer.{{Cite web |title=Clueless musical heads to West End with music from KT Tunstall |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/going-out/tickets/clueless-musical-tickets/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Radio Times |language=en-GB}} Emma Flynn & Keelan McAuley, who played Cher Horowitz & Josh Lucas respectively, both reprised their roles for the West End production. Full casting and creative teams were announced in January 2025.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-09 |title=Full cast announced for West End premiere of CLUELESS THE MUSICAL |url=https://www.londonboxoffice.co.uk/news/post/clueless-the-musical-west-end-full-cast |access-date=2025-01-09 |language=en-GB}} The show opened on March 13, 2025 {{Cite web |date=2025-03-14 |title=KT Tunstall, Amy Heckerling and more on bringing Clueless to London’s West End |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/kt-tunstall-amy-heckerling-and-more-on-bringing-clueless-to-londons-west-end_1669496/ |language=en-GB}} It was originally meant to close in June 2025 but due to popular demand, it has been extended to March 2026.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-10 |title=West End favourite Clueless extends run with new tickets on sale |url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/west-end-favourite-clueless-extends-160000337.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAABZKmacdL0AE18HXooIbM-bUTupwJ-1Ny41N-nNytLNCOD_DHId2Ec0N9_J9fWLZXFQwErG1G0CRBQ_-jn1vGL3iYOGyt8QNvNd5OVe_V-SFaaVQr8y8_lxlh_W9Z_ojl5-B0340H6kJNbaJNKrspJ8OwMvic6oEAZX-svjcEAVz |access-date=2025-04-13 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-GB}}

| {{unknown|}}

| colspan="1" align="center" | Sophie Elmes

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! Tiffany

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| colspan="1" align="center" | Grace Eleanor Thomas

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! Dylan

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| colspan="1" align="center" | Jacob Fisher

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! Kyle

| {{unknown|}}

| {{unknown|}}

| colspan="1" align="center" | Ernest Stroud

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! Chad

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| {{unknown|}}

| colspan="1" align="center" | Josh Latunji

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! Finn/Band Singer

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| colspan="1" align="center" | James Lim

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! Swing

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| {{unknown|}}

| colspan="1" align="center" | Lucy Rice

Rachel Seirian

Dylan Gordon-Jones

Lucas Lluna

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! Sean Holliday

| colspan="1" align="center" | Darius Jordan Lee

| {{unknown|?}}

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! Max

| colspan="1" align="center" | L’ogan J’ones

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|}

;Act I

;Act II

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Act I

• Perfect - Cher, Dionne and Ensemble
• Perfect (Reprise) - Cher
• Get Involved - Cher, Dionne, Mr. Hall, Ms. Geist
• Hopeless Case - Tai
• New Girl - Cher, Dionne, Tai and Ensemble
• Human Barbies - Josh
• The Best - Elton and Ensemble
• Party in the Val - Ensemble
• Whatever - Cher

{{col-break}}

;Act II

• Boom, Pow - Ensemble
• Reasonable Doubts - Josh and Ensemble
• I'm Keeping My Eye on You - Ensemble
• Tonight is the Night - Cher
• She's All That - Ensemble
• The Driving Test - Cher
• Clueless - Cher and Josh
• Perfect (Reprise) - Cher, Josh, Dionne, Tai and Ensemble

{{col-end}}

Clueless, The Musical Off Broadway received mixed reviews.{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/read-reviews-for-off-broadways-clueless-musical-starring-dove-cameron|title=Read Reviews for Off-Broadway's Clueless Musical, Starring Dove Cameron|work=Playbill|last=Gans|first=Andrew|accessdate=December 20, 2018}} Frank Rizzo of Variety called the narrative "lightweight" but praised the overall look and tone of the show. Rizzo, describing Kelly Devine's choreography, said "its teen-energy moves are a constant pleasure". Rizzo also said that "Beowulf Boritt’s design essentials are rad and Amy Clark’s costumes recall the too-cool-to-care designs of the period and its stylish plaids and pleats". Rizzo also praised the music selection for show, calling Amy Heckerling's reworking of the lyrics "crafty".{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/legit/reviews/clueless-review-musical-dove-cameron-1203086884/|title=Off Broadway Review: 'Clueless' the Musical|work=Variety|last=Rizzo|first=Frank|date=December 12, 2018 |accessdate=December 20, 2018}}

David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter found the show "hit-or-miss". Rooney praised that the show stuck closely to the original's plot but criticized that there was no element of surprise. Rooney wrote that "in comparison to other teen classics retooled for the stage, like Mean Girls, Heathers: The Musical or Bring It On, the show rarely steps out from the shadow of its screen source with anything new to offer."{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/clueless-musical-theater-review-1167820|title='Clueless, The Musical': Theater Review|work=The Hollywood Reporter|last=Rooney|first=David|date=December 11, 2018 |accessdate=December 20, 2018}}

Clueless, The Musical West End received good reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/280285/news/reviews/clueless-the-musical-reviews-west-end-reviews-for-clueless-at-the-trafalgar-theatre-in-london/|title=Clueless Reviews|work=WestEndTheatre.com|last=News Team|date=March 14, 2025 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} Nick Curtis in The Standard said it is "powerfully sung, and actually, like, kinda fun"{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/clueless-the-musical-trafalgar-theatre-review-b1216691//|title=Clueless the Musical Theatre review|work=The Standard|last=Curtis|first=Nick|date=March 14, 2025 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}}. Curits went on to say "in the ranks of musical adaptations of cult movies, this is almost as good as Legally Blonde, and it’s what Mean Girls should have been. If you don’t enjoy it, frankly you must be buggin’."

"Gals and gays, welcome to your new favorite musical" said Alun Hood in WhatsOnStage. Hood also praised lead Emma Flynn in the role of Cher Horowitz, saying "apart from the numbers, many of which are bona fide bangers... the principal distinguishing feature of Clueless is its leading lady. As Cher, who’s surely first cousin to Elle Woods and Wicked’s Glinda, American newcomer Emma Flynn is delivering the most entrancing West End musical debut since Eva Noblezada broke our hearts in Miss Saigon."{{cite web|url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/clueless-the-musical-review-a-clued-up-west-end-star-in-the-making_1669203//|title=Clueless, The Musical review|work=WhatsOnStage|last=Hood|first=Alun|date=March 14, 2025 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}}

The Stage called the show "bright, breezy satire" and a "vibrant adaptation of the 1995 teen movie bolstered by a catchy original score by KT Tunstall. This West End transfer, directed with verve by Rachel Kavanaugh, embraces the satirical spirit of the original, while allowing plenty of room for Tunstall and Slater’s musical numbers to shine."{{cite web|url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/clueless-the-musical-review-trafalgar-theatre-london-kt-tunstall-amy-heckerling-glenn-slater-rachel-kavanaugh-emma-flynn/|title=Clueless the Musical review|work=The Stage|last=Vale|first=Paul|date=March 14, 2025|accessdate=April 11, 2025}}

The Times said "there is plenty to enjoy in Rachel Kavanaugh’s production at the Trafalgar Theatre. While a jukebox version of the movie enjoyed a run off-Broadway in 2018, this is a more ambitious offering."{{cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/theatre-dance/article/clueless-musical-review-kt-tunstall-2rd785wvx/|title=Clueless review- back to the Nineties for this exuberant musical revamp|work=The Times|last=Davis|first=Clive|date=March 13, 2025 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}}

The Independent said "it’s a bit light on the catchy songs and easy-to-imitate dance routines that can pull in younger fandoms. Still, it’s a welcome excuse to revisit a classic, sewn together with just enough originality to make it feel like a stylish homage, not a cynical knock-off." {{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/theatre-dance/reviews/clueless-musical-review-west-end-b2714640/|title=Clueless the Musical- acynical knockoff? As if!|work=Indepdendent|last=Saville|first=Alice|date=March 14, 2025 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}} "This is by no means a show for the ages, but it makes for a pleasant enough evening out," said The i Paper.{{cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/arts/clueless-the-musical-lacks-punch-3580015?ico=most_popular&srsltid=AfmBOoqX2182kKJxRlfpagGQ8jIU46zlHEnYnlXsG_g0P1M-GYvDgn60/|title= Clueles' The Musical lacks punch|work=The I Paper|last=Mountford|first=Fiona|date=March 14, 2025 |accessdate=April 11, 2025}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.iobdb.com/Production/6597 Clueless, The Musical] at Internet Off-Broadway Database

{{clueless}}{{KT Tunstall|state=expanded}}

Category:2018 musicals

Category:Jukebox musicals

Category:Teen musicals

Category:Musicals set in the 1990s

Category:Musicals set in California

Category:Musicals based on films

Category:Musicals based on multiple works

Category:Off-Broadway musicals

Category:Clueless

Category:West End musicals