KILLER KIDS, STAGE MOMS,
AND CAMP TO DIE FOR

NCTC revives a deliciously wicked cult musical

Just in time for some holiday mischief, New Conservatory Theatre Center brings back the 1992 Off-Broadway cult favorite Ruthless!, the gleefully unhinged musical comedy with book and lyrics by Joel Paley and music by Marvin Laird. Directed by Dyan McBride, with musical direction by Joe Wicht and choreography by Staci Arriga, this revival leans unapologetically into the show’s savage humor and high-gloss camp.

J. Conrad Frank

Set in the Eisenhower-era suburbs, Ruthless! skewers the myth of wholesome American motherhood through Judy, a bored, obsessively tidy housewife living vicariously through her eight-year-old daughter Tina—a tap-dancing, jazz-handing sociopath with Shirley Temple curls and zero conscience. Murder, after all, is merely a career move.

Melissa Momboisse, Andrea Dennison-Laufer, & Lucca Troutman

Fans of Mommie Dearest, All About Eve, and Sunset Boulevard will feel right at home among these archetypes, gleefully exaggerated and knowingly recycled. Much of the original cast returns, clearly having the time of their lives revisiting these monsters.

Mary Kalita, J. Conrad Frank, & Lucca Troutman

As Judy, Mary Kalita plays squeaky-clean domestic repression with a Doris Day smile and a slow-burn mania underneath. Her entire existence revolves around Tina, a pint-sized terror convincingly portrayed by Melissa Momboisee, who channels The Bad Seed with unnerving cheer. This is a child who will do anything to get ahead—tantrums, screaming, manipulation, and yes, possibly murder.

Mary Kalita and Jaqueline De Muro

The show kicks into high camp when Sylvia St. Croix enters the picture: a has-been diva equal parts Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell. Played with glorious abandon by J. Conrad Frank—better known as drag legend Katya Smirnoff-Skyy—Sylvia is all sequins, flaming red hair, and unapologetic ego. Frank steals scenes with fearless bravado, chewing scenery like it’s part of the score.

Lucca Troutman, Jacqueline De Muro, Mary Kalita,
J. Conrad Frank, Melissa Momboisse, & Andrea Dennison-Laufer

Strong support comes from Andrea Dennison-Laufer, who lands the evening’s biggest laughs as Miss Thorn, a tightly wound teacher and director simmering with barely contained rage. Her performance, reminiscent of a Kathy Bates meltdown waiting to happen, is a comic highlight. Jacqueline Demuro adds bite as Grandmother Lita, while Lucca Troutman rounds out the cast as a hapless assistant with impeccable timing.

Mary Kalita

Once a murder occurs—and it will—the plot gleefully spirals into secret identities, exposed ambitions, and a finale that is as ridiculous as it is satisfying.

Melissa Momboisse, J. Conrad Frank, & Mary Kalita

Director Dyan McBride wisely encourages maximum mugging and theatrical excess, letting the performers revel in the show’s unapologetic silliness. Bethany Flores Deal’s costumes and Laundra Tymes’ wigs are bold, eye-catching, and delightfully over the top. Matt Owen’s sets provide a smart visual counterpoint: Act I’s pastel-soaked living room looks like Pee-wee’s Playhouse filtered through 1950s suburbia, while Act II’s darker penthouse setting—with gold trim and period furnishings—signals a shift in tone without losing the fun.

Andrea Dennison-Laufer

Musically, the cast handles Paley’s sharp lyrics with ease under Joe Wicht’s steady direction, and Staci Arriga’s choreography is executed with crisp confidence. The performances are strong across the board, vocally and physically, with no weak links.

Melissa Momboisse, Jacqueline De Muro, & Mary Kalita

This revival of Ruthless! delivers exactly what it promises: a night of wicked laughs, shameless camp, and murderous good fun—perfect for the holidays, or any time you’re in the mood for something deliciously unhinged.

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photos by Lois Tema

Ruthless!
New Conservatory Theatre Center’s Walker Theatre
25 Van Ness Avenue @ Market St. in San Francisco
2 hours, with one intermission
ends on January 11, 2026
for tickets ($35.50–$72.50, fees included), call 415.861.8972 or visit NCTSF

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