Carly Rae Jepsen teams up with Lena Durham to create the musical version of ’10 Things I Hate About You.’ Credit to Meredith Jenks.
Los Angeles, California (May 4, 2025)- Nearly three decades after it captured hearts as a quintessential late-‘90s teen rom-com, 10 Things I Hate About You is getting the Broadway treatment. The beloved 1999 film — a sharp, funny reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew — is officially being adapted into a stage musical, and the creative team is as bold and genre-defying as the original movie itself.
Pop icon Carly Rae Jepsen is set to co-write the score alongside acclaimed singer-songwriter and producer Ethan Gruska. The pair, who previously collaborated on tracks from Jepsen’s The Loveliest Time, promise a soundtrack full of emotionally rich, melodic pop that channels the spirit of the original film while exploring new musical terrain. This marks Jepsen’s first time writing for Broadway — though she’s no stranger to the stage, having starred in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella on Broadway and Grease: Live on FOX.
The book will be co-written by Lena Dunham, the Emmy-winning creator of Girls, alongside Jessica Huang, an award-winning playwright known for her lyrical storytelling and character-driven drama. For Dunham, this project marks her official Broadway debut, adding another dimension to her ever-expanding career in film and television.
The production will be directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, a Tony-winning force who previously helmed An American in Paris and MJ: The Musical. Joining him is musical supervisor and orchestrator Tom Kitt, the Pulitzer Prize-winning composer of Next to Normal, and powerhouse Broadway producer Mike Bosner, known for Beautiful – The Carole King Musical and Shucked. The musical is being produced in collaboration with Buena Vista Theatrical.
The original film starred Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and became a cultural touchstone thanks to its whip-smart script, irresistible performances, and iconic soundtrack. From Ledger’s unforgettable serenade of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to Letters to Cleo rocking the high school rooftop, 10 Things I Hate About You blended classic Shakespearean tension with Y2K-era angst, rebellion, and romance.
Fans of the film — and musical theater lovers alike — are eager to see how this fresh creative team will reimagine the chemistry, comedy, and chaos of high school heartbreak for the stage. With its combination of Shakespearean roots, modern pop music, and coming-of-age energy, 10 Things I Hate About You: The Musical is shaping up to be a must-see Broadway debut.
Performance dates and casting will be announced soon.
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