Teeth, Michael R. Jackson’s Vagina Dentata Musical, Part of New Season at Playwrights Horizons

The world premiere of Teeth, a new musical by Michael R. Jackson (book and lyrics) and Anna K. Jacobs (book and music), is set to begin performances at Playwrights Horizons in February 2024. The show was announced as part of the 2023-24 season announcement from Playwrights Horizons, the off-Broadway theater dedicated to presenting new work by American playwrights.

According to an official description of Teeth, “Dawn O’Keefe is an evangelical Christian teen with a powerful secret not even she understands – when men violate her, her body bites back. Literally.” The musical is based on the 2007 horror-comedy film. Sarah Benson will direct, with choreography by Raja Feather Kelly.

Jackson debuted his musical, A Strange Loop, at Playwrights Horizons in 2019. It moved to Broadway last spring, where it won the 2022 Tony Award for Best Musical. Jackson’s latest show, White Girl in Danger, is currently running off-Broadway at Second Stage. You can read TheaterMania’s review here.

Before that, the mainstage season at Playwrights will kick off with David Adjmi’s Stereophonic, about an up-and-coming rock band recording a new album in the mid-70s. The show will feature songs by Arcade Fire’s Will Butler. Daniel Aukin is slated to direct. Performances start in October.

Upstairs in the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, Playwrights will host three solo performances in rep: Ikechukwu Ufomadu’s Amusements which promises to “defy genre while operating within the bounds of international law”), Milo Cramer’s School Pictures (a study of 10 NYC students from a former tutor), and Alexandra Tatarsky’s Sad Boys in Harpy Land (about a young Jewish woman who thinks she is a small German boy who thinks he is a tree). Performances start in November.

Also in the Peter Jay Sharp, Abe Koogler’s Staff Meal will begin performances in April 2024.  According to the official description, it is, “a kaleidoscopic comedy about a mysterious and beautiful restaurant, where the food is delicious, the service is warm, and some strange power keeps the darkness at bay.” Morgan Green is slated to direct.

You can read more about the upcoming season at Playwrights Horizons here.