'Teeth' sets initial Off-Broadway cast

The musical by Michael R. Jackson, a Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner for A Strange Loop, is based on the 2007 horror comedy film of the same name.

They're back for seconds! The Off-Broadway musical Teeth has set initial casting for its upcoming run at New World Stages, with multiple actors returning from the show's world premiere at Playwrights Horizons this past spring. The encore run begins performances October 16 ahead of an October 31 opening.

Alyse Alan Louis reprises her critically acclaimed performance as Dawn from the Playwrights Horizons run. Also returning are Will Connolly as Brad O’Keefe, Jason Gotay as Tobey/Truthseeker, and Jared Loftin as Ryan/Truthseeker.

Newly joining the cast is three-time Tony Award nominee Andy Karl as Pastor Bill O'Keefe, replacing original cast member Steven Pasquale. Additional casting has yet to be announced.

Teeth is adapted from writer/director Mitchell Lichtenstein's 2007 film of the same name about Dawn O’Keefe, a Christian teen learning how to navigate a sexual phenonemon: that her body literally bites back when men try to violate it.

Bookwriter/lyricist Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) and bookwriter/composer Anna K. Jacobs adapted the story for the stage. Sarah Benson directs, and Raja Feather Kelly choreographs.

The first run of Teeth earned nominations for four Drama Desk Award nominations, including Outstanding Musical; four Outer Critics Circle Awards; two Drama League Awards; and four Lucille Lortel Awards.

Additionally, New York Theatre Guide's critic wrote, "The tilt to full horror at the climax of Teeth brings the musical home with fangs and flair."

Photo credit: Alyse Alan Louis, Andy Karl, Jared Loftin, Will Connolly, and Jason Gotay. (Photos courtesy of production)