Production History

Ruthless! The Musical, with book and lyrics by Joel Paley and music by Marvin Laird, was presented during CST’s Season 15 (1998–1999), at Stage Center, 400 W. Sheridan Avenue. It concluded the fall portion of the season. The musical follows Tina Denmark, an ambitious eight-year-old willing to eliminate her competition to secure the lead in a school production. Its escalating revelations and theatrical ambition parody show-business melodramas and backstage musicals.

CST Connections

Billie Thrash previously directed Pump Boys and Dinettes (1986) and Oil City Symphony (1991).
Enoch Elms played Mike in Oil City Symphony, also under Thrash’s direction.
Vikki Simer reprised Chris Gorman in Rumors (II) earlier in Season 15. She previously appeared in P.S. Your Cat Is Dead! (1993), Murder by Misadventure (1994), and Park Your Car in Harvard Yard (1995).
Mary Freeh also designed costumes for Rumors (II), combining performance and costume responsibilities for Ruthless!.
Nick Backes played Ken Gorman and designed the set for Rumors (II), and played Adrian in Private Eyes earlier that fall.
Angela Marks designed lighting for both Rumors (II) and Private Eyes (1998).
Don Shirey served as set coordinator for Private Eyes. Kimberly Moore played Bonnie the Stage Manager and served on that production’s stage crew.
Bob Bates, Lyn Bates, and Jon Womastek also worked on Never the Sinner (2001).
Adrian Thompson later provided hairstyling for Proposals (1999) and poster photography for Proof (2004).
Joe Daleo contributed sound design to Out of Order (1998) and sound co-design to Proposals (1999).

Press and Photography

Acknowledgments

Special thanks: Mathis Brothers Furniture; Lyric Theatre; Pollard Theatre; Salon Nirvana; D. J. Royals; Maggie Evans; Fred Lindon; Suzanne Charney; and Joe and Sara Lansdown for loaning “Tina.”

Licensing

Licensed through Samuel French, Inc., according to the supplied original CST record. Current performance licensing is available through Concord Theatricals.

THEATRE UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

Billie Thrash