All the 'Clueless' movie moments we hope to see on stage

We're totally bugging over the arrival of the Clueless musical in the West End. But which iconic scenes, and lines, will we get in the theatre?

As if! A new stage musical version of the fabulously funny 90s movie comedy Clueless is coming to London in spring 2025, making its West End premiere at the Trafalgar Theatre. The show features a book by the film’s creator, Amy Heckerling, and a 90s-pop score by KT Tunstall, whose hits include “Suddenly I See”.

The exciting creative team also include director Rachel Kavanaugh (Half a Sixpence), Grammy-winning lyricist Glenn Slater (Sister Act), and choreographer Kelly Devine (Come From Away).

Emma Flynn stars as confident, popular Los Angeles teenager Cher Horowitz (originally Alicia Silverstone in the film), who, like Jane Austen’s heroine Emma — the inspiration behind the snappy comedy — can’t resist a spot of romantic meddling.

But which of the movie’s iconic scenes, and lines of dialogue, will we see on stage? Here are a few of our favourites that we’re hoping will make it into the musical — spoilers from the film ahead!

Book Clueless The Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk

Cher picks out her clothes

Hands up if you desperately wanted a giant wardrobe like Cher’s – and a state-of-the-art computer system that told you whether your clothing choices were a match or a fashion fail? Whether or not that piece of 90s tech makes it in, we’re definitely hoping to see Cher’s iconic yellow plaid outfit in the stage show.

The Haiti debate

OK, so this is like a legendary analogy from Cher World. America taking in refugees is exactly the same as when she had this garden party for her father’s birthday and people came who did not RSVP, and Cher was totalling bugging, but she made it work. And may I remind you that it does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty! This speech would be a gift to the theatrical version of Cher.

Travis Birkenstock: 38 tardies

Cher might discount her skateboard-loving, stoner-dude classmate Travis (she definitely doesn’t consider him good enough for her new protégé Tai), but his witty acceptance speech on being crowned king of “tardies” (aka he’s late a lot) is the first hint to the audience that he’s actually a decent guy. Like, duh!

Grade inflation

Cher learnt from the best. Instead of accepting her initial report card, she argues her way to better grades – plus she turns matchmaker for two of her lonely teachers. Her scary litigator father (who basically argues for a living) is immensely proud of her final marks: “Honey, I couldn’t be happier than if they were based on real grades.”

Plastic surgery in PE class

A blistering running gag throughout the film is that half the girls have had work done – there’s an epidemic of nose jobs. As a result, Amber refuses to take part in PE class: “My plastic surgeon doesn’t want me doing any activity where balls fly at my nose.” Quips Cher’s bestie Dionne: “Well, there goes your social life.”

Makeover montage

It wouldn’t be a 90s film classic without one! Cher and Dionne adopt adorable newcomer Tai and change her look from grungy androgynous to preppy cute. There’s also a vocabulary lesson, which is scorned by Cher’s stepbrother Josh (a never-better Paul Rudd), but Tai is a fast learner. She meets his “Be seeing you” with a pitch-perfect “I hope not sporadically”.

A game of suck and blow

Cher’s attempts to get Tai together with snooty Elton end in disaster at this party in the Valley. But it’s pretty obvious that Elton is into Cher instead: during the suck and blow game (which is more innocent than it sounds), Elton takes the opportunity to plant a kiss on her. This party scene also features Dionne’s boyfriend Murray shaving his head because he’s “keeping it real”.

High-fashion mugging

Poor Cher can’t catch a break. After arguing with Elton, and being abandoned by him in the middle of nowhere, she’s mugged at gunpoint. Worst of all: the robber makes her lie down on the ground and ruin her red Alaïa outfit, unmoved by her protest that “it’s like a totally important designer”.

That dress

The Alaïa is hot, but we cannot forget Cher’s total wow of a Calvin Klein look for her big date with dreamy classmate Christian (who is clearly gay – alas, Cher has yet to figure that out). Her dad is less than thrilled, though; “It looks like underwear” is his not completely off-base assessment. More importantly: Josh is jealous.

Dionne drives on the freeway

This dramatic scene might be trickier to re-create on stage, but whatever! It’s a big moment in our girl’s life. Distracted by Murray revealing that Christian is, like, so not into Cher, nervous driver Dionne accidentally gets on the freeway and is almost mowed down by a truck. After that harrowing experience, she hooks up with Murray.

Tai’s brutal smackdown

Cher has accidentally created a monster. Tai, revelling in the attention following a near-death experience of her own (this one at the mall), has usurped her mentor as the most popular girl in school – and she’s gotten mean. “You’re a virgin who can’t drive,” she brutally tells Cher. Say it with me: “That was way harsh, Tai.”

Cher’s major revelation

Cher loves Josh. Duh! Sure, they spend the whole movie bickering, but we know, in romcom terms, that means they’re totally meant to be. It makes it all the more satisfying when the step-siblings (ew, but we’ll forgive them) finally declare their feelings for one another, while sat on that ginormous staircase. Whatever else happens in the stage show, we’re definitely getting that happy ever after.

Book Clueless The Musical tickets on LondonTheatre.co.uk