Island City Stage presents Ruthless! The Musical
Thursday, 11/06/2025-12/07/2025, 07:00 pm-09:00 pm
Island City Stage
2304 N. Dixie Highway,
Wilton Manors, Florida, 33305
Website
Cost: $50 – $67
Buckle up for Ruthless! The Musical, the hilariously twisted comedy where the spotlight can be deadly, launching Island City Stage’s 14th South Florida Season on November 6. Meet eight-year-old Tina Denmark—a pint-sized diva who knows she was destined to play Pippi Longstocking in her school musical, and if she has to knock off the competition to get the part? Well, that’s showbiz! This Off-Broadway cult favorite is a deliciously campy satire packed with sharp wit, outrageous twists, and over-the-top characters. The show will run through December 7.
The book and lyrics of Ruthless! The Musical are by Joel Paley, music by Marvin Laird, and the production is directed by Island City Stage’s Artistic Director, Andy Rogow.
Ruthless! The Musical opened at the Players Theatre in New York City’s Greenwich Village on March 13, 1992 and ran for 342 performances. The lead role of Tina was originally played by nine-year-old Laura Bell Bundy, best known today as a highly successful country music artist and TV, stage and screen actress. A bit of trivia: two other stars of tomorrow, Natalie Portman and Britney Spears, served as understudies for the original production. The show won the 1993 New York Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical. The show opened in Los Angeles in 1993, in Miami in 1995 and in London in 2002, among many other venues since then.
Island City Stage’s production of Ruthless! The Musical stars nine-year-old child actress Daisy Tanner (Tina Denmark), Lindsey Corey (Judy/Ginger), Leah Sessa (Louise/Eve), Maribeth Graham (Miss Thorn/Reporter), Michael Ursua (Sylvia St. Croix) and Aaron Bower (Lita).
Individual show tickets start at $50. A Mimosa Sunday Brunch sponsored by Murl Casey, Chuck David, Chuck Jackson & Steve Laskin will take place November 16 with tickets priced at $67. Women’s Night at the Theatre, sponsored by Leslie Fine, takes place on December 5 with tickets at $50. The show runs for two hours with an intermission.
From twisted tales to touching human stories, Island City Stage’s upcoming season invites you to expect the unexpected. Upcoming bold productions, each delivering unexpected twists, inventive storytelling, and unforgettable theatrical moments include The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman from January 8 – February 8; Everything Beautiful Happens at Night by Ted Malawer from April 2 – 26; Light Switch by Dave Osmundsen from May 21 – June 14 and Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector from August 20 – September 20.
Island City Stage will also be offering two Flexpass options this season. The Flexpass5 ($225) offers five tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased. The Flexpass3 ($136) offers three tickets that can be used all for one show or one for every show (no processing fees) and $5 off additional tickets purchased. Discounts are available for groups.
For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.islandcitystage.org, call (954) 928-9800 or email boxoffice@islandcitystage.org. Follow Island City Stage on Facebook at facebook.com/IslandCityStageFL and on Instagram at @islandcitystage1.
