More than 25 years after becoming a teen movie classic, “10 Things I Hate About You” is heading to Broadway. The new production features an ambitious creative team, including Lena Dunham and Carly Rae Jepsen.
The production will begin on August 17, 2027. It will bring the beloved 1999 romantic comedy starring Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to the stage.
The story follows Stratford sisters and their romantic misadventures at Padua High School. Like the original film, the Broadway adaptation draws inspiration from William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”
From teen comedy to musical
Dunham and playwright Jessica Huang will write the book for the musical. Jepsen and Grammy-winning musician Ethan Gruska will create the music and lyrics.
Acclaimed Broadway director and choreographer Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph the production. Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Tom Kitt will oversee music supervision, arrangements, and orchestrations.
The musical explores “growing up, discovering yourself, and refusing to live by others’ expectations.” It will also retain the crushes, cliques, and teenage angst that helped make the original film a cult favorite.
Why this movie still matters
Few teen films from the late 1990s have maintained the lasting popularity of “10 Things I Hate About You.”
The film helped launch the careers of its young cast. It also remains best known for Heath Ledger’s charismatic performance as Patrick Verona, including his now-iconic rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.”
Over the years, the movie has grown from a box-office hit into a cultural touchstone. It frequently appears on lists of the best high school films ever made.-office hit into a cultural touchstone, frequently appearing on lists of the best high school films ever made.
Broadway loves a throwback
The adaptation follows a broader trend of popular films moving from the big screen to Broadway.
In recent years, producers have brought films such as “Mean Girls,” “Back to the Future,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” and “Clueless” to the stage. These adaptations give producers familiar titles with established fan bases.
More details to come
The production has not yet announced its cast, opening-night details, or Broadway theater.
Almost three decades after Kat Stratford read her famous poem, Broadway is ready to add a few new songs to the story.
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