KT Tunstall has said a new musical adaptation of teen comedy Clueless is “perfect timing” amid a resurgence of love for 1990s pop culture.
The classic 1995 coming-of-age film is getting a makeover from the original writer-director Amy Heckerling to re-imagine the story for the West End stage, with the show due to launch at London’s Trafalgar Theatre in February.
Suddenly I See singer Tunstall has created an original score for the musical, while Tony-nominated writer Glenn Slater has written the lyrics.
Scottish singer-songwriter Tunstall told the PA news agency: “I think it’s just a really beautiful alignment of the stars because it’s the 30th anniversary of the film next year so it was always going to be a big moment for the movie.
“I think that that’s happened to coincide with this resurgence of love for the 90s – Oasis getting back together – it’s just really auspicious and perfect timing.”
The film, which is a modern spin on Jane Austen’s Emma, follows the most popular student at Beverly Hills High Cher Horowitz.
The teen, originally played by Alicia Silverstone, sees herself as a matchmaker and embarks on setting up a new transfer student with the most handsome boy in school, but things start to go haywire for Cher when her privileged life takes a negative turn.
The film has remained one of the most popular teen movies since its release, with fans often recreating Cher’s classic outfits, including Kim Kardashian donning the classic yellow check set for Halloween last year while her daughter North West wore Dionne Davenport’s co-ordinating black and white version.
Tunstall said she was drawn to the project as she “absolutely loves” the film and has seen first-hand how fans can have such a strong “emotional attachment” to a film soundtrack as her hit Suddenly I See gained new attention from featuring in The Devil Wears Prada.
“When it comes to putting a musical on stage, it was a real challenge, it’s basically trying to write new material that puts people back in that playlist,” she said.
“So we as a creative team, we’ve looked at those songs and we got a playlist that we share between us. These are the songs that we want to make people think about and pay homage to.
“But at the same time, just try and write a list of absolute bangers that are new songs that evoke the nostalgia of those original soundtrack numbers and obviously write them for singers for a musical theatre piece.”
Tunstall had her work cut out for her creating a new score which allows the plot to flow when the original film soundtrack ranges from Radiohead and Beastie Boys to Supergrass and Coolio, but she has found it to be a “really amazing” experience.
She said: “I think it’s going to be a really fun musical because of what I’m bringing to it as well, I just want it to also make you feel like you’re going to a concert where all of your favourite artists from the 90s are playing.”
The rise in popularity of 1990s pop culture has seen a host of bands reunite, while various clothing and make-up styles have made a comeback.
For the new Clueless, The Musical, Tunstall said the creative team want the audience to feel like they are being transported straight into Cher’s Beverly Hills life.
“This isn’t a musical where we’re rehashing it for 2024, you are coming to the 90s,” she added.
The musical’s West End premiere will be directed by Rachel Kavanaugh, who has worked with Chichester Festival Theatre and Regent’s Park Open Air, while the choreography will be by Olivier winner Kelly Devine.
Director and writer Heckerling said she is “so delighted” to announce the new musical adaptation of Clueless with all-new songs.
“So if you loved the movie but didn’t understand why no one was singing, this is just for you,” she added.
“And if you’re meeting the characters for the first time, that’s cool, they totally rock. Hope to see you there.”
Clueless, The Musical is set to begin at London’s Trafalgar Theatre on February 15 2025 and tickets for the show go on general sale on September 9 from CluelessOnStage.com.
