Cruel Intentions: The ‘90s Musical

Created By: Jordan Ross, Lindsey Rosin, and Roger Kumble

Based on the film by: Roger Kumble

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Director: Logan Vaden

 

All roles except Ronald and the male-identifying onstage swing have been cast.

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Video Submission Instructions: All auditions will be through video submissions. Please slate at the beginning of your video. Make sure your video is filmed horizontally (like a movie, not a TikTok) and that you are lit well. Please upload your video to Youtube as unlisted. Please send a copy of your headshot and resume to logan@thegardentheatre.org. Use the subject line Cruel Intentions Audition- [Your Name]. The following form will ask for your link.

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Submissions Due By: Friday, October 10 at 11:59pm

 

Submission Form: CLICK HERE

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Ages: 18+

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Audition Requirements: Please film and submit the material in the links below. If you would like to be considered for both Ronald and the male-identifying onstage swing, please submit all material. 

 

Intimacy: This production will have many intimate moments onstage. A certified intimacy director will stage these moments and ensure that all involved are comfortable.

 

Health and Safety: Masks during rehearsals are now optional. If a member of the cast or production team falls ill, we will switch to a mask-mandatory rehearsal environment until Garden Theatre personnel deems it safe to return to a mask-optional environment. If a cast or production team member tests positive for Covid-19, the artist will not be allowed to return to rehearsal or performances until two negative tests have been provided over two consecutive days. Depending on the amount of exposure, it is possible that all cast and production team members will need to test daily until we have moved out of the incubation period.

 

Zero Tolerance Policy: The Garden Theatre has a zero tolerance policy for attending rehearsals or performances under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Breaking this rule will result in immediate removal from the production.

 

Performance Dates: December 26, 2025-January 11, 2026 (16 performances; Call time is one hour before each performance.)

 

Please note that performances begin the day after Christmas, and there will be performances on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

                                 

Friday, December 26 at 8pm

Saturday, December 27 at 2pm

Saturday, December 27 at 8pm

Sunday, December 28 at 2pm

 

Wednesday, December 31 at 8:30pm (with New Year’s Eve following)

Thursday, January 1 at 7:30pm

Friday, January 2 at 8pm

Saturday, January 3 at 2pm

Saturday, January 3 at 8pm

Sunday, January 4 at 2pm

Sunday, January 4 at 7:30pm

 

Monday, January 5 at 7:30pm

Thursday, January 8 at 7:30pm

Friday, January 9 at 8pm

Saturday, January 10 at 2pm

Saturday, January 10 at 8pm

Sunday, January 11 at 2pm

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Performance Venue: MATCH- Matchbox 3

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First Day of Rehearsal: The first day of rehearsal will be Monday, November 17, 2025.

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Rehearsal Schedule: Please note that you may not be called to all rehearsals. Swings are required to attend all rehearsals that the principal actor in which they are swinging for is called. There will be no rehearsal on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, or Christmas.

 

Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays: 7pm-10pm 

Saturdays: 10am-4pm (with a 1 hour lunch break) OR 5pm-10pm depending on cast consensus.

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Tech Week: Tech will be held in the theatre December 21-23, 2025. All tech days are 10am-10pm with lunch and dinner breaks due to the shorter tech period.   

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Rehearsal Location: All rehearsals will take place at MATCH or Garza Studios.

 

Compensation: This is a non-union production. Each performer will receive a stipend.                      

                

Synopsis: Based on the iconic film starring Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Geller, Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical pulls you into the manipulative world of Manhattan’s most dangerous liaisons: Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Fueled by revenge and passion, the diabolically charming step-siblings place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can deflower their incoming headmaster’s daughter, Annette Hargrove. As the two set out to destroy the innocent girl— and anyone else who gets in their way — they find themselves playing a perilous game with only one rule: Never fall in love.

 

Featuring your favorite throwback hits by artists like Boyz II Men, Christina Aguilera, REM, 'NSYNC, and, of course, Britney Spears, this sexy, hilarious, and so-very-cruel musical is “the ultimate night out” (Entertainment Weekly).

 

Casting: The Garden Theatre is committed to bringing Houston (the most diverse city in the country) to our stage. It is written into the by-laws of our organization that we do not discriminate against age, sex, race, color, nationality, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, or disability. We encourage all who are interested who fit the character descriptions to audition. 

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Available Roles: ​

Ronald Clifford: Male-identifying. To play 18-22. Ethnicity: Black; Cecile’s well-mannered music tutor who also becomes a pawn in Sebastian and Kathryn’s game. Baritone/Tenor; played by Sean Patrick Thomas in the film. 

Please note that Ronald appears in his underwear and shirtless.

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Onstage Male-Identifying Swing: Male-identifying. To play 17-22. Ethnicity: Black; The swing will appear onstage as an ensemble member and in the featured role of Court Reynolds. This individual will also cover Ronald and all of the male roles listed here:

 

• Sebatian Valmont: Manhattan’s richest and most dangerous playboy and Kathryn’s manipulative stepbrother. Baritone/Tenor

• Blaine Tuttle: out and proud, Blaine is a gay high schooler who enjoys the fine art of blackmail; and sleeping with so many “straight” guys in school, he has a lot of black mail to dish out; Tenor

• Greg McConnell: Manchester Prep’s All-American football stud known for tackling the tight ends on and off the field. High Tenor

Please note that the swing must be comfortable showing their bare backside to the audience (as Sebastian), and must be comfortable being shirtless and in underwear (in all other roles).

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Questions: For further questions about auditions, please email Founding Artistic Director, Logan Vaden, at logan@thegardentheatre.org.