'Riverdale' Is Doing A Musical Episode & The Cast List Is Incredible

In news that is simultaneously surprising and a long time coming, Bustle has learned that The CW's Archie Comics drama Riverdale is doing a musical episode. That's right: Riverdale High is putting on a production of "Carrie: The Musical," a "dark-yet-catchy cautionary tale exploring the gritty realities of small-town high school life," according to a release. And, to make it structured as an episode of TV (it'll air Wednesday, April 18 at 8 p.m.), there will also be a "behind-the-scenes documentary" that follows the making of the school musical "filmed by student videographer and journalist Jughead Jones [Cole Sprouse]."

Considering that the series constantly releases amazing music videos of Josie and the Pussycats, it's actually not that surprising that we're getting a musical episode. In fact, how did it take them over one and a half seasons to put on an actual musical? They should have done this at least once before by now!

To add to the fun, Warner Bros. TV released the news in a faux press release from the Riverdale High Drama Department (RHDD for short, because apparently this is what the kids refer to it as) in conjunction with the Lodge family, who are producing the musical — meaning Veronica's (Camila Mendes) parents Hiram (Mark Consuelos) and Hermione (Marisol Nichols) are going to have their hands all over the production (shocker). And "Future Tony Winner Kevin Keller [Casey Cott]" (no joke, that's what he's referred to in the press release!) will direct the "retro-yet-timeless interpretation of Stephen King’s horror classic," with the songs "The World According to Chris," "A Night We’ll Never Forget," and "Unsuspecting Hearts." This is so classic Riverdale, it's almost too perfect.

But wait, there's more! You'll never guess who's starring in the musical. No, it's not Josie ... it's actually Cheryl Blossom (Madelaine Petsch) who will be taking on the titular role, because is there anything this girl won't do for attention? But seeing as how "Carrie: The Musical" tells the story of a painfully shy, outcast teenage girl with telekinetic abilities who is oppressed by her peers and religious-zealot mother until she’s pushed to her breaking point and unleashes a terrible revenge, it actually kind of makes sense for Cheryl to play Carrie. You know, yeah — now that I've thought about it, this is actually the perfect choice for the starring role. Bravo, Riverdale.

Described as "Riverdale High’s tragic heroine," Cheryl will play Carrie White, who is antagonized by mean-girl Chris Hargensen (played by Veronica) and supported by golden-couple Sue Snell (played by Betty Cooper [Lili Reinhart]) and Tommy Ross (played by Archie Andrews [KJ Apa]). Wonder how Jughead is going to react to his girlfriend and best friend playing lovers? Actually, scratch that, how is Veronica going to react now that she knows that Archie and Betty locked lips when they were broken up?!

Here's where it gets really crazy: Betty's overbearing mother Alice (Mädchen Amick) is somehow also in the cast of the musical. Because that isn't weird at all for a high schooler's parent to play a part in a high school production, right? Betty's cast bio says she's "thrilled ... to be performing alongside her mother," which honestly, LOL. She's probably stress clenching her fists until they bleed at the thought of having to spend so much time with Alice.

But honestly, poor Josie getting relegated to a "special appearance" role playing "sympathetic gym teacher Miss Gardner" is a total injustice. At least Reggie Mantle (Charles Melton) will be there to add his special brand of entertainment along the way — he even goes out of his way to thank his mom for pizza rolls in his cast bio. Other cast members include Toni Topaz (Vanessa Morgan), Ethel Muggs (Shannon Purser), Midge Klump (Emilija Baranac) and even Moose (Cody Kearsley).

And because he can't be the only Riverdale parent not involved in some way, Fred Andrews (Luke Perry) is in charge of building the sets. No word yet on how Jughead's dad FP (Skeet Ulrich) will be involved, but you know there's no way he and the Serpents won't try to cause some kind of trouble on opening night. This is Riverdale, after all!