Joel Paley and Marvin Laird Are "Ruthless" People

You may think you've seen "Ruthless" - the hilarious musical comedy about an overly ambitious juvenile actress that helped launch the careers of Laura Bell Bundy, Natalie Portman, and Britney Spears - but think again. The revised version that begins a run on October 23 at Stage 72 is the one which co-creators and longtime couple Joel Paley and Marvin Laird have long envisioned.

"It's taking 23 years to finally get this show right," says Paley, who wrote the book and lyrics and is directing this run (as he did the original.). "One of the biggest changes is that when we moved the show Off-Broadway in 1992, the producers wanted to have an intermission. So we started to add things to the show that were funny, but weren't necessary or born of the true essence of the show. So now we've been able to pare it back. We even cut out the character of Emily Block, the reporter. Now, I feel there's no more padding."

Well, except in the casting. Truth be told, the pair never really saw Paley, a former member of the famed Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, in the lead role of Tina Denmark, the young understudy who is willing to literally kill to be a star, or Laird, the longtime musical director of Broadway superstar Bernadette Peters, as the tart-tongued Sylvia St. Croix. But you're getting that as well this time.

"It's not new for a man to play Sylvia," admits Paley. "But it's the first time in the 38 years since I've known Marvin that we're onstage together, and we're doing something that really matters to both of us."

"I finally get to avail myself of Joel's skills as a director, and he's incredible. I finally got my tutorial in acting, and it's really opened up new avenues of both our personal and professional relationship," says Laird. "I haven't been a performer since college, so take on the role of Sylvia now was wild. She's really a combination of all those classic female dragons from stage and film. I am having the time of my life taking this part and running with it."

While Paley feels the same way about his return to the stage, he says taking on the role of Tina purely came about by circumstance. "We were doing a tryout earlier this year in Connecticut, and at the last minute, the girl we cast as Tina couldn't do it," recalls Paley. "So for one night, I decided to go on. Then I had to do the whole first week. And even though I hadn't performed since I was a Trock, people thought I was really funny. Then we came to New York for a 9-show run in September, we couldn't decide whether to use a kid or me. But this wonderful girl named Sophia Anne Caruso came along, and we decided to split performances. Sophia can't do this run since she's at the Kennedy Center starring in 'Little Dancer,' but now we've decided that this new girl, Tori Murray, will alternate the role with me during each performance. And if Sophia comes back, she can join the two of us onstage. I say the more Tinas the merrier."

Paley says he's learned a lot about his own show, which first originated nearly 30 years ago as a musical spoof of the film "The Bad Seed," in just the past few weeks. "By playing Tina, I've finally realized what this show really is a comment on the culture of narcissism," he says. "These days, not only does everyone want to be famous, they can be famous."

He's also learned a lot about himself. "Before all this happened, I used my talent to get what I thought I lacked from the inside," he says. "But I've gone through a personal metamorphosis, and I finally feel complete."

"Ruthless! The Musical" plays at Stage 72 at the Triad - located at 158 W 72nd St, New York, NY

Tickets cost from $25 to $43. There is a two-drink minimum for all shows. To purchase tickets and view show times, here .

For more information about "Ruthless! The Musical," visit: www.ruthlessthemusical.com,