One of Tacoma’s most recognizable movie connections is getting a second life — this time on Broadway.
A new musical adaptation of “10 Things I Hate About You” is officially set to begin Broadway performances on Aug. 17, 2027, bringing the beloved 1999 teen romantic comedy to the stage nearly three decades after the movie first hit theaters.
For Tacoma fans, the announcement comes with an extra dose of nostalgia. Much of the original film was shot around Tacoma and Seattle, with Stadium High School serving as the fictional Padua High School. Its distinctive castle-like exterior and sweeping views of Commencement Bay became some of the movie’s most memorable backdrops.
The Broadway adaptation has assembled a high-profile creative team. Lena Dunham and Jessica Huang are writing the book, while Carly Rae Jepsen and Ethan Gruska are writing the music and lyrics.
Two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon will direct and choreograph the production, and Tony and Grammy winner Tom Kitt is handling music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations.
The musical will follow the same basic story as the movie, itself a modern retelling of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.” The plot follows sisters Kat and Bianca Stratford as they navigate high school, romance and a very restrictive dating rule imposed by their father.
Casting has not yet been announced, and the Broadway theater has not yet been named.
The production’s official website says performances will begin Aug. 17, 2027, and fans can already sign up for updates and early access to ticket information.
For Tacoma residents who still recognize Stadium High as “Padua High,” the Broadway adaptation gives one of the city’s most famous pop-culture moments another chapter — even if this time the halls of Padua will be recreated 2,800 miles away.
👉 Learn more about the Broadway production and sign up for updates here.
There’s more in today’s Tacoma Local Minute.
Catch the rest of today’s local news, events, and updates in the full issue here.