by Alex Billington
August 13, 2026
Source: YouTube

"Do we really want to do the same play that every other school does?" Blue Harbor Ent. has unveiled the first official trailer for The Musical, an indie comedy from the 2026 Sundance Film Festival earlier in the year. One of two new films at Sundance that are about very awkward, inappropriate musicals being put on in school (the other is Run Amok). This one involves a teacher getting revenge on his principal by creating the most WTF production (just wait until you find out what it is). Convinced he's destined for bigger things, frustrated playwright Doug is stuck teaching middle-school theater while dreaming of New York. But when he finds out his ex-girlfriend has started dating his nemesis, the school’s principal, he hatches a plan to ruin the principal's reputation by secretly producing the most unacceptable play imaginable. Starring Will Brill as Doug, with Gillian Jacobs, Rob Lowe, Cayden Romero, Michael Strassner, and many other kids. This is the kind of wacky, borderline-offensive comedy they don't make often anymore, but the humor won't connect with everyone. If you do think this looks funny, then don't miss this when it hits theaters in the fall.

Here's the first official trailer for Giselle Bonilla's comedy film The Musical, direct from YouTube:

Convinced he's a big fish stuck in a small pond, playwright Doug Leibowitz (Will Brill) has been marking time as a theater teacher until he can get himself to New York, where serious playwrights live. When an unexpected breakup shocks him & he finds out that his ex has been dating the person he hates most in the world – the school principal – his plans turn from purely self-interested... to diabolical. With the coveted Blue Ribbon award just within Principal Brady's grasp, Doug secretly has his middle schoolers rehearse & perform a play so inappropriate, the only result could be the complete ruin of the principal's reputation... The Musical is directed by up-and-coming filmmaker Giselle Bonilla, making her feature directorial debut after many other shorts previously. The screenplay is written by Alexander Heller. Produced by Rob Lowe, Greg Lauritano, Alexander Heller, Findlay Brown, Jordan Backhus. Blue Harbor Ent. releases Bonilla's The Musical movie in select US theaters starting September 18th, 2026 coming soon. Anyone want to watch?

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