Stepping into the shoes of an iconic antihero is no small feat, but for Jacob Covert, the opportunity to play Sebastian Valmont in Cruel Intentions: The 90's Musical with The Actors Studio of New Jersey was irresistible. “I immediately noticed the name and thought of how iconic the movie is and knew I had to at least submit for this production,” Covert shares. The professionalism and efficiency of the company’s communication further convinced him that this was a project worth pursuing.

Performing in a musical brimming with ‘90s hits from artists like Britney Spears, NSYNC, and TLC brought a unique energy to the stage. Covert, who is no stranger to high-energy performances thanks to his background in commercial cruise ship entertainment, found the experience both familiar and exhilarating. “This was very in my wheelhouse and I had so much fun bringing this character to life through the soundscape of the iconic 90s,” he says.

When asked about the complexities of his character, Covert says, “It was so much fun playing a villain! But also a character that has a really interesting arc. I think he is definitely someone that hasn’t figured out his story completely. I do believe he would like to find what the true meaning of love is for him. I think he has a lust for Katherine and a newfound love for Annette. But those lines are very blurred and unfortunately he isn’t allowed the time to sift through all of these complex emotions.” Bringing Sebastian to life on stage, he notes, was a challenge, but one he embraced in hopes of making the character feel more human and relatable.