What's Happening?
A new musical adaptation of the 1999 Touchstone Pictures film '10 Things I Hate About You' is slated to open on Broadway on August 17, 2027. The production will feature a book by Emmy and Golden Globe winner Lena Dunham and playwright Jessica Huang. Grammy
nominee Carly Rae Jepsen and Grammy winner Ethan Gruska are collaborating on the music and lyrics. Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct the musical, with music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations by Tony winner Tom Kitt. The musical, a retelling of William Shakespeare’s 'The Taming of the Shrew,' will transport audiences back to Padua High, exploring themes of crushes, cliques, and teenage angst as two sisters strive to define themselves. The original 1999 film, written by Karen McCullah and Kirsten 'Kiwi' Smith, gained cult status for its portrayal of suburban teenage life in the 90s and starred Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Heath Ledger. Mike Bosner is producing the musical in special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical.
Why It's Important?
The announcement of a Broadway musical adaptation of '10 Things I Hate About You' is significant for the entertainment industry, particularly for theater and film fans. The original film holds cult status, and its transition to a Broadway musical indicates a trend of adapting beloved cinematic properties for the stage. This project brings together a high-profile creative team, including Lena Dunham, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ethan Gruska, Christopher Wheeldon, and Tom Kitt, whose collective talent suggests a potentially impactful and commercially successful production. The musical's exploration of classic Shakespearean themes through a contemporary high school lens offers a fresh perspective, appealing to both existing fans of the film and new theatergoers. Its success could further solidify the strategy of leveraging popular intellectual property to attract diverse audiences to Broadway, contributing to the economic vitality of the theater district.
What's Next?
The new musical '10 Things I Hate About You' is scheduled to begin performances on Broadway on August 17, 2027, at a theater yet to be announced. Further details regarding casting, additional creative team members, and the specific theater location will be released at a later date. As the premiere approaches, promotional campaigns, including sneak peeks of the music and behind-the-scenes content, are expected. The production's development will be closely watched by fans of the original film and the involved artists. Its eventual reception will be a key indicator of the continued viability of adapting popular films into Broadway musicals and the public's appetite for such projects.
Beyond the Headlines
The adaptation of '10 Things I Hate About You' into a Broadway musical reflects a broader cultural phenomenon of reinterpreting and reimagining classic stories and beloved pop culture artifacts for new generations and different mediums. By taking Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew' and filtering it through a 90s teen movie lens, and now into a contemporary musical, the production highlights the timelessness of its core themes—love, rebellion, and self-discovery. This continuous re-contextualization allows these narratives to remain relevant and accessible, fostering a dialogue between past and present cultural expressions. The involvement of artists from diverse backgrounds, such as Lena Dunham from television and Carly Rae Jepsen from pop music, also signifies a blurring of lines between different entertainment industries, potentially leading to innovative artistic collaborations and expanding the reach of Broadway to new audiences.
