The 2007 horror comedy Teeth, written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein, is becoming a stage musical. Dawn O’Keefe, played in the film by Jess Weixler, is an evangelical Christian teenager who discovers that she has a vagina dentata, a second set of teeth in her; well, the clue is in the name. That ends up being good news for Dawn and bad news for anyone who tries to sexually assault her.
“Teeth, based on the cult classic film of the same name, is a fierce, rapturous, and savagely entertaining new musical crackling with irrepressible desire and ancient rage – a dark comedy conjuring the legend of one girl whose sexual curse is also her salvation.”
Michael R. Jackson, the Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright behind A Strange Loop collaborated with Anna K. Jacobs, whose previous credits include POP!, to write the book for the new musical. Besides that, Jackson wrote the show’s lyrics while Jacobs handled the music. According to Deadline, previews will begin in February 2024.
“Jacobs’ music ranges from beautiful a capella anthems to romantic ballads, choral hymns, folk tunes and country-western infused laments…Bound to please future audiences around the country,” said North County Times.
The musical will be directed by Sarah Benson and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. Benson, whose other credits include Fairview and An Octoroon, is the winner of 15 OBIE awards, in addition to the Drama Desk Award for Sustained Artistic Excellence. Kelly has also won numerous awards and is a choreographer, director, and the Artistic Director of the feath3r theory (TF3T).
More About Teeth Musical
Originally announced as Playwrights Horizons’ 2023-2024 season, The Teeth musical will be produced by them alongside a special arrangement with Mark Gordon Pictures. The show will have an Off-Broadway debut next year.
“In Teeth, the tethered yet battling forces of sexuality and religion push each other towards wild theatricality, and Jackson’s and Jacobs’s sharp tale of revenge and transformation tears through a culture of shame one song at a time,” the theater company told Deadline.
The musical is set for a February 2024 release. Once that occurs, Teeth will join the likes of other horror comedies that have become musicals, such as Re-Animator, The Evil Dead/Evil Dead II, and The Toxic Avenger. Only time will tell if Teeth comes full circle by becoming a film musical, following the trajectory of The Little Shop of Horrors.
Here are the other productions occurring during the season:
- Stereophonic, written by David Adjmi with songs by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler; directed by Daniel Aukin. Previews start October 2023;
- Sad Boys in Harpy Land, written and performed by Alexandra Tatarsky; Previews start November 20, 2023 (in repertory);
- School Pictures, written and performed by Milo Cramer, directed by Morgan Green. Previews start November 2023 (in repertory);
- Amusements, written and performed by Ikechukwu Ufomadu. Previews start November 2023 (in repertory);
- Staff Meal, written by Abe Koogler, directed by Morgan Green. Previews start in April 2024.
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
