The trailer for The Musical has been released, giving the audience a first look at the dark comedy starring Rob Lowe, Will Brill, and Gillian Jacobs.
Directed by Giselle Bonilla, the film follows Doug Leibowitz (Will Brill), a frustrated playwright who is currently working as a middle school teacher. Things turn dramatic when he discovers that his ex-girlfriend, Abigail (Gillian Jacobs), is dating Principal Brady (Rob Lowe). He decides to ruin Brady’s reputation with one thing he knows best — theater. The film premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival and will be released in theaters on Friday, September 18, 2026.
Check out the The Musical trailer below:
Rob Lowe adds The Musical to his long run of television roles
Rob Lowe plays the role of Principal Brady, a school administrator who wants his school to be on the Southern California Blue Ribbon Schools list. However, his plans take a hit because of his personal life.
When Doug finds out about his relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Abigail, he decides to use the school’s theater program against him. Instead of West Side Story, he decides to go with a new script called “The Heroes.”
The trailer shows Doug trying to convince students to hide the production from Principal Brady, as they will be doing “something special.” He encourages them to lie and says, “It’s okay to lie if it’s for the right reasons. The superpower of the theater is the element of surprise.” While Brady is unaware of the scheme taking shape behind his back, Doug prepares a play so inappropriate that it will ruin his reputation.
Lowe’s role as Principal Brady adds another character to his long acting career. He made his film debut in The Outsiders (1983) as Sodapop Curtis. The actor is known for his work in films like The Hotel New Hampshire (1984), St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), and About Last Night (1986). He is also known for TV roles in The West Wing (1999-2006), Brothers & Sisters (2006-10), and Parks and Recreation (2010-13).