Heathers: The Musical

Last updated

Heathers
The Musical
Heathers The Musical Off-Broadway Poster.jpg
Off-Broadway promotional poster
Music
Lyrics
  • Laurence O'Keefe
  • Kevin Murphy
Book
  • Laurence O'Keefe
  • Kevin Murphy
Basis Heathers
by Daniel Waters
Productions2009 Workshop
2010 New York Concert
2013 Los Angeles
2014 Off-Broadway
2018 Off-West End
2018 West End
2019 São Paulo Brazil
2021 West End
2021 UK & Ireland tour
2021 Off-West End
2021 São Paulo Brazil
2023 UK & Ireland tour
2023 Buenos Aires
2024 UK & Ireland tour
2024 West End Revival

Heathers: The Musical is a musical with music, lyrics and book by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy, based on the 1989 film of the same name written by Daniel Waters. [1] The producers include J. Todd Harris, Amy Powers, RJ Hendricks, and Andy Cohen. After a sold-out Los Angeles tryout, the show moved Off-Broadway in 2014. After the run in 2014, the show had an Off-West End run in 2018 and then transferred to the West End in 2018 for a limited engagement. In 2022, Roku released the Off-West end version of Heathers on their streaming service for free.

Contents

The show is a high-energy black comedy and involves dark subject matter, including bullying, teen suicide, sexual assault, and school violence. [2]

Synopsis

Act 1

In 1989, 17-year-old Veronica Sawyer despairs at Westerberg High School's hellish social hierarchy, where students like the heavyset Martha Dunnstock, Veronica's best friend, are tormented by jocks Ram Sweeney and Kurt Kelly, and the school is ruled by the Heathers: weak-willed Heather McNamara, bulimic and petty but repressed Heather Duke, and "mythic bitch" Heather Chandler. When Veronica's talent for forgery gets the Heathers out of detention, they give her a makeover and elevate her to their inner circle ("Beautiful").

Heather Chandler orders Veronica to forge a love letter from Ram to Martha, tempting Veronica with the promise of popularity ("Candy Store"). The mysterious, poetry-quoting new kid, Jason "J.D." Dean, criticizes Veronica for betraying her friend. After J.D. wins a fight against Ram and Kurt, Veronica finds herself unexpectedly attracted to him ("Fight for Me"). Veronica's parents confess to their daughter that they are not sure they like her new friends and would prefer if she was friends with Martha again ("Candy Store (Playoff)").

Veronica flirts with J.D. at a 7-Eleven, where he extols the virtues of the Slurpee for numbing his grief ("Freeze Your Brain"). At Ram's homecoming party, Veronica gets increasingly drunk ("Big Fun"). When the Heathers cruelly prank Martha, Veronica angrily resigns from the clique and vomits on Heather C., who vows to destroy Veronica's reputation. With nothing left to live for, Veronica breaks into J.D.'s bedroom and has sex with him ("Dead Girl Walking").

After suffering tormenting dreams ("Veronica's Chandler Nightmare"), Veronica, with J.D. in tow, apologizes to Heather C. and mixes hangover cures for her. J.D. adds toxic drain cleaner to his mug and goads Veronica into serving it to Heather C., who drops dead. Veronica panics, but J.D. convinces her to forge a suicide note, which paints a more complex, misunderstood Heather C. This fictionalized version of her wins the school's sympathy and she becomes even more revered in death than she was in life ("The Me Inside of Me").

Veronica tries to get on with her normal life, but she is berated and mocked by Heather C.'s ghost, who warns that she had kept the other two Heathers in check and with her gone, things will get worse. She tries to rescue the remaining Heathers from a drunk Kurt and Ram, who unsuccessfully try to rape her ("Blue" or "You're Welcome"). An unleashed Heather D. assumes Heather C.'s status and symbolic red scrunchie, becoming even more of a tyrant than Heather C. was, while Ram and Kurt tell everyone they had sex with Veronica ("Blue (Reprise)" or "Never Shut Up Again"). Veronica is branded a slut ("Blue" (Playoff)—not included in West End and future productions), and when J.D. attacks the jocks to defend her, they savagely beat him.

J.D. and Veronica comfort each other and plan a vengeful prank: she will lure the jocks to the cemetery with the promise of making their fictional threesome real, then together they will shoot them with tranquilizer "Ich lüge " bullets to knock them out before leaving a forged suicide note confessing they were gay lovers. When the jocks arrive, J.D. shoots Ram but Veronica misses Kurt. As she realizes Ram is dead and the bullets are real, J.D. shoots Kurt dead and proclaims his undying love to a horrified Veronica ("Our Love Is God").

Act 2

At Ram and Kurt's funeral, a distraught Veronica reflects that they could have outgrown their immaturity ("Prom or Hell?"). Grief-stricken, Ram's Dad chastises Kurt's Dad for remaining homophobic, until the latter suddenly kisses the former, revealing their own secret love affair and Ram and Kurt are turned into martyrs to homophobia ("My Dead Gay Son"). Convinced the murders are for the greater good, J.D. urges Veronica to target Heather D. next. She refuses, so he complains about doing nothing in the face of injustice, revealing he witnessed his mother's suicide as a young boy, straining his relationship with his father and causing their constant moving around. Veronica gives him an ultimatum: give up violence and live a normal life with her or lose her forever ("Seventeen"). J.D. agrees and they reconcile. Martha tells Veronica she suspects J.D. of murdering the jocks, believing Ram's "love note" is proof. Veronica, urged on by Heather C.'s ghost, confesses that she forged the note to humiliate Martha, who runs off in tears.

Guidance counselor (Teacher in the West End production) Ms. Fleming holds a televised therapy assembly ("Shine a Light"). She urges everyone to reveal their fears and insecurities, but only Heather M. admits to suicidal thoughts ("Lifeboat"). Heather D. mocks her and whips the students into a frenzy. Veronica lashes out and blurts out a confession—"they didn't kill themselves! I killed them!"—but everyone laughs mockingly, believing she is only desperate for attention. Shortly after, Heather M. tries to kill herself by overdosing in the bathroom, while Heather D. taunts her in her subconscious ("Shine a Light (Reprise)"), but Veronica stops her. J.D., carrying a gun, tries to persuade Veronica to kill Heather D. once more. Realizing how unstable he is, Veronica breaks up with him ("I Say No" in the West End version).

J.D. blackmails Heather D. into making the student body sign a petition. Martha, mourning Ram, jumps off a bridge ("Kindergarten Boyfriend"), but survives. Veronica rushes to the hospital, taunted by the ghosts of Kurt, Ram, and Heather C.; with her parents attempting to assure her that they have been through everything she is going through ("Yo Girl"). She returns home, where J.D. breaks in. As she barricades herself in the closet, he reveals the petition, signed by every student, is actually a mass suicide note—along with his plans to blow up the pep rally and make it look like a mass suicide, using his father's demolition expertise to devise the plan ("Meant to Be Yours"). He breaks open the closet to find Veronica dangling from a noose. Grief-stricken, he leaves to complete his plan.

Veronica, having faked her suicide, races to stop J.D. ("Dead Girl Walking (Reprise)"). She confronts him in the boiler room, but in their struggle, J.D. is shot. Unable to disarm the detonator, Veronica takes it to the empty football field, out of range to detonate the bombs. J.D. convinces her to let him take the detonator instead ("I Am Damaged"). It explodes, killing him alone.

Returning to school, Veronica takes the red scrunchie from Heather D., kisses her on the cheek and ends the era of social ridicule. Veronica invites Martha and Heather M. to hang out (depending on blocking, Heather D. is also included in some productions), rent a movie, and be kids before childhood is over ("Seventeen (Reprise)").

Musical numbers

† Not featured on any of the cast recordings.
†† Songs added to the West End version and all future productions.

"You're Welcome" replaces "Blue", a song on the World Premiere Cast Recording. "You're Welcome" was originally written by O'Keefe and Murphy for the High School edition but was added to the official show beginning with the 2018 London production. O'Keefe and Murphy preferred "You're Welcome" as "Blue" had been perceived by audiences as “treating date rape as a laughing matter” and trivializing the issue by presenting it as comical, “boyish antics”. When asked to comment on the choice to replace the track, O'Keefe and Murphy stated that "'You're Welcome' doesn’t shy away from showing that Veronica is in real danger from these two drunk football assholes." [2]

A new song for Heather Duke, "Never Shut Up Again", was also added for the London run, replacing "Blue (Reprise)". For the 2017 workshop, there was a different song to replace "Blue (Reprise)", which became "Big Fun (Reprise)", part of which is now included in "Never Shut Up Again". In the last week at The Other Palace, the authors added a new song after "Shine a Light (Reprise)" called "I Say No", in which Veronica finally dumps J.D. when he proposes a return to murdering, telling him "You need help I can't provide" and walking out on him. The song remained in the show for the Haymarket run and was released on February 15, 2019, as the first single on the West End cast album.

Background

Andy Cohen and J. Todd Harris secured the rights from  Daniel Waters  (the screenwriter of the film) and immediately thought of  Andy Fickman to direct. After seeing Laurence O'Keefe's work with Legally Blonde and how he transitioned film to theatre, he decided to pair him with  Reefer Madness collaborator  Kevin Murphy. Originally, lyricist  Amy Powers was on the creative team, but she transitioned to joining producers Cohen and Harris. Fickman, Murphy and O'Keefe were also producers on the original productions in Los Angeles and New York. Fickman said of the experience, "we found that Heathers gave a great deal of opportunity for '80s commentary and a great chance for music and storytelling." [3]

Productions

Development (2009-10)

Three private readings of the work in progress were held in Los Angeles in 2009, each starring Kristen Bell as Veronica. The first was in March at the Beverly Hills offices of Endeavor Agency (starring Christian Campbell as J.D.); the second in June at the Hudson Theatre on Santa Monica Boulevard (starring Scott Porter as J.D.); and the third in December at the Coast Theatre in West Hollywood, starring James Snyder as J.D. In each reading, Jenna Leigh Green, Corri English, and Christine Lakin played Heather Chandler, Heather McNamara and Heather Duke respectively. [4]

On September 13–14, 2010, Heathers was presented as a concert at Joe's Pub. The show was directed by Andy Fickman, and it starred Annaleigh Ashford as Veronica Sawyer, Jeremy Jordan as Jason Dean, Jenna Leigh Green as Heather Chandler, Corri English as Heather McNamara, and Christine Lakin as Heather Duke, James Snyder as Kurt Kelly, PJ Griffith as Ram Sweeney, and Julie Garnyé as Martha "Dumptruck" Dunnstock. [5]

Los Angeles (2013)

The show played at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles for a limited engagement on the weekends from September 21, 2013, to October 6, 2013. The cast included Barrett Wilbert Weed as Veronica, Ryan McCartan as J.D., Sarah Halford as Heather Chandler, Kristolyn Lloyd as Heather Duke, and Elle McLemore as Heather McNamara. The production was music directed by Ryan Shore. [6]

Off-Broadway (2014)

In 2013, it was announced that Heathers: The Musical would be brought to Off-Broadway, previews beginning in March at New World Stages, directed by Andy Fickman. Coincidentally, New World is also the name of the original film's distributor. In February 2014, the cast was announced, including Barrett Wilbert Weed, Ryan McCartan, and Elle McLemore reprising their roles as Veronica, J.D., and Heather McNamara, respectively, with new additions to the cast being Jessica Keenan Wynn as Heather Chandler, Alice Lee as Heather Duke and Tony Award winner Anthony Crivello as Bill Sweeney/'Big Bud' Dean. [7] The show began previews on March 15, 2014, and opened on March 31, 2014.

A cast album was recorded on April 15–16, 2014, with an in-store and digital release of June 17, 2014. [8] It was released a week early on June 10, 2014.

Heathers: The Musical played its final performance at New World Stages on August 4, 2014. [9] [10]

London productions and UK tours (2018 to present)

A workshop of the musical opened at The Other Palace, London which held 5 presentations in the Studio from 30 May to June 3, 2017. The workshop featured Charlotte Wakefield as Veronica Sawyer. [11]

Following the workshop, the musical had its official London premiere in the Theatre at The Other Palace, London from June 9 to August 4, 2018, starring Carrie Hope Fletcher as Veronica Sawyer and Jamie Muscato as J.D. [12] The production is produced by Bill Kenwright and Paul Taylor-Mills, directed again by Andy Fickman and with choreographer/associate director Gary Lloyd. [13] For the London production "Blue" has been changed to the new song "You're Welcome" and Heather Duke has received her own song "Never Shut Up Again" as well as a few script changes.

Heathers transferred to the West End at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, running from September 3, 2018, to November 24, 2018. [14] [13] A new song for Veronica, "I Say No", as well as a few script changes to Act 2 were added for the transfer.

A West End cast recording was released on Ghostlight Records on March 1. The album premiered at No. 1 on the iTunes UK Soundtracks Charts and at #2 on the iTunes UK Album charts. The album premiered at No. 24 on the Official Albums Chart.

On March 3, 2019, Heathers the Musical won the Best New Musical award at London's WhatsOnStage Awards. Carrie Hope Fletcher also won for Best Actress in a Musical. [15]

On October 3, 2019, it was announced via the Bill Kenwright LTD Twitter account that the show would embark on a UK & Ireland tour in 2020 which was later postponed until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

On April 8, 2021, it was announced that Heathers: The Musical would return to the West End. The production started performances on June 21, 2021, and ran at the Theatre Royal Haymarket until September 11, 2021. The West End revival cast was announced on May 28, with Jodie Steele reprising her role as Heather Chandler. [16] The tour opened in Leeds on 5 August 2021 and finished in Edinburgh. [17] [18]

Another London revival was announced, dubbed the "Homecoming", with a limited run at The Other Palace. After several extensions to the run, its final performance was on September 3, 2023, at The Other Palace. The revival was filmed in May 2022 at The Other Palace and was released on The Roku Channel on September 16, 2022. [19] [20] [21]

On October 27, 2022, it was announced via the Heathers Twitter account that the show would embark on another UK & Ireland tour in 2023. It opened in Windsor on 14 February 2023 before finishing in Wimbledon on October 28, 2023. [22] [23] [24]

A new UK tour was announced in February 2024 with initial performances scheduled for July following a return to the West End from the 22nd May to 6th July 2024 at @sohoplace.

Australia

The Australian premiere of Heathers: The Musical at the Hayes Theatre in Sydney was staged in July–August 2015. Directed by Trevor Ashley, the cast included Stephen Madsen as J.D. and Lucy Maunder as Heather Chandler. [25] The production transferred the following year, with mostly the same cast, for seasons in Brisbane (Playhouse, Queensland Performing Arts Centre) in January 2016, Melbourne (Playhouse, Arts Centre Melbourne) in May 2016, and the Sydney Opera House's Playhouse in June 2016. [26] [27] [28]

Brazil

The Brazilian premiere of Heathers: The Musical at the Viradalata Theatre in São Paulo was staged in October–November 2019. The production was soon announced that it would return in May–June 2020 but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [29] [30] [31]

Argentina

The Argentinian Premiere of Heathers: The Musical opened at the Teatro Opera in Buenos Aires on July 1, 2023, and closed on July 30, 2023. [32]

Cast

CharacterJoe's PubLos AngelesOff-BroadwayOff-West EndWest EndWest End RevivalUK TourOff-West End RevivalPro-ShotUK & Ireland Tour
2010201320142018202120222023
Veronica Sawyer Annaleigh Ashford Barrett Wilbert Weed Carrie Hope Fletcher Christina Bennington Rebecca WickesAilsa DavidsonJenna Innes
Jason "J.D." Dean Jeremy Jordan Ryan McCartan Jamie Muscato Jordan Luke Gage Simon GordonFreddie KingSimon GordonJacob Fowler
Heather Chandler Jenna Leigh Green Sarah Halford Jessica Keenan Wynn Jodie Steele Maddison Firth Emma Kingston Maddison FirthVerity Thompson
Heather McNamaraCorri English Elle McLemore Sophie Isaacs Frances Mayli McCann Lizzy ParkerTeleri HughesBillie Bowman
Heather Duke Christine Lakin Kristolyn Lloyd Alice Lee T'Shan WilliamsBobbie LittleMerryl AnsahInez BuddVivian PankaElise Zavou
Martha DunnstockJulie GarnyeKatie LadnerJenny O’LearyMadison SwanMhairi AngusLizzie BeaMhairi AngusKingsley Morton
Ram SweeneyPJ GriffithJon EidsonDominic Andersen Joaquin Pedro Valdes Rory PhelanTom ScanlonRory PhelanMorgan Jackson
Kurt Kelly James Snyder Evan Todd Chris Chung Ross HarmonLiam DoyleGeorge MaddisonLiam DoyleAlex Woodward
Bill Sweeney* / Big Bud Dean / Coach RipperEric LevitonRex Smith Anthony Crivello Edward BaruwaNathan AmziSimon BaileyKurt KansleyKieran BrownOliver Brooks* Played Paul KellyConor McFarlane
Paul Kelly* / Mr. Sawyer / Principal GowanKevin PariseauZachary FordDaniel CooneyJon BoydonSteven SerlinAndy BradySam FerridayAndy Brady* Played Bill SweeneyJay Bryce
Mrs. Sawyer / Pauline FlemingJill AbramovitzRena StroberMichelle Duffy Rebecca Lock Lauren Ward Georgina HagenVicki Lee TaylorKatie Paine

Critical reception

Off-Broadway

Heathers: The Musical's 2014 Off-Broadway run was generally received well by critics and audiences alike. The musical was praised for staying true to the film while still having its own original additions to the storyline. [33] The score and choreography of the musical were also given praise. [34]

The musical, however, was criticized for the length and its characters not living up to the cast of the original movie. It has also been criticized for taking the dark themes of the source material and sanitizing them with bubbly music and cartoon-like characters. [35]

Marilyn Stasio, writing for Variety , wrote, "[S]easoned industry pros could pick up a few tips on the Do's and Don'ts of adapting material from this smartly executed musical treatment of 'Heathers.'" She praised the lyrics but was not a fan of the music, writing: "Even at their giddiest, the lyrics never dumb down the characters singing them. Wish we could say the same for the music, which is brassy and blah and sounds nothing like the music that made the 80s." [36]

The Hollywood Reporter 's David Rooney stated: "Does the acidic comedy gain anything from being turned into a cartoonish pop musical? Hell, no. But as an extension of the movie's wicked pleasures, this version has its silly charms, as demonstrated by the rowdy response of the predominantly young audience. It's not exactly very — to borrow from Heather-speak — but for insatiable fans it might almost be enough, and the tacky high school-style staging seems somehow appropriate." [37]

The musical got two out of five stars from The Guardian 's Alexis Soloski, who wrote: "The off-Broadway adaptation of the 1988 Winona Ryder/Christian Slater teen movie is sunny and snarky, but the dark subject matter calls for something more wicked." [38] Elisabeth Vincentelli of the New York Post gave it four out of five stars, writing "The first act moves briskly as director Andy Fickman and his cast wring every last comic drop out of the script and songs... The production nearly derails in Act II, having killed off its antagonists. The film had the same problem, but here the sweetened worldview saps the grand finale of its effectiveness. Still, seeing “Heathers” onstage is a joy." [39]

Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly was harsher, giving the musical a C− rating: "Heathers: The Musical misses just about everything that made the film great, making it not only a colossally disappointing adaptation of a beloved property but also a generally unpleasant theater experience." [40]

West End

The London production received mixed reception and was flagged by some critics because they felt complex issues such as homosexuality, bulimia and suicide were made light of for comedic effect, making parts of the show feel "dated and uncomfortable for a 2018 audience." [41]

Awards and nominations

Original Off-Broadway production

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2014 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Music Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Musical Barrett Wilbert Weed Nominated
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actress in a MusicalNominated
Outstanding Choreographer Marguerite Derricks Nominated

Original West End production

YearAward CeremonyCategoryNomineeResult
2019 WhatsOnStage Awards [42] Best New MusicalWon
Best Actor in a Musical Jamie Muscato Nominated
Best Actress in a Musical Carrie Hope Fletcher Won
Best Supporting Actress in a MusicalJodie SteeleNominated
Best Direction Andy Fickman Nominated
Best Lighting DesignBen CracknellNominated

Heathers: The Musical (High School Edition)

Following its 2014 Off-Broadway run, the musical gained cult status from audiences that mirrored the characters at the fictional Westerberg High, and multiple high schools were putting in requests for the licensing rights; accordingly, an abridged "PG-13" version was prepared, newly revised by writers Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, iTheatrics, and licensing company Samuel French specifically for student productions. [43] Most of the profanity in the show was deleted, "Big Fun", "Dead Girl Walking", and the majority of the songs received rewritten lyrics and one new song, "You're Welcome" was written for the show to replace "Blue". [44] [43] The original playwrights—O'Keefe and Murphy—have since publicly stated that they prefer "You're Welcome" to "Blue", and the change was officially made for the London production of Heathers in June 2018 and all further licensed productions.

The world premiere of Heathers: The Musical (High School Edition) took place on September 15, 2016, at Pearce Theatre, J.J. Pearce High School, Richardson, Texas. [45] [43]

Brazilian version

The Brazilian version of Heathers: The Musical (High School Edition) or "Heathers – A Teen Musical" was set to open in 2020 at the Stunt Burger, [46] but because of the COVID-19 pandemic it made some changes. The version was well received by both the audience and critics. [47]

In 2019, a high school production of the musical is the focus of the "Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun" episode of Riverdale . The Riverdale cast album of the musical was produced via WaterTower Music. The lyrics from the songs in the episode are from the High School Edition of the musical with most of the profanity deleted. [48] [49]

Related Research Articles

<i>Heathers</i> 1989 American comedy film by Michael Lehmann

Heathers is a 1988 American teen black comedy film written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann, in both of their respective film debuts. The film stars Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, and Penelope Milford. Its plot portrays four teenage girls—three of whom are named Heather—in a clique at an Ohio high school, one of whose lives is disrupted by the arrival of a misanthrope intent on murdering the popular students and staging their deaths as suicides.

<i>Into the Woods</i> 1987 musical by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine

Into the Woods is a 1987 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine.

Annie Golden is an American actress and singer. She first came to prominence as the lead singer of the punk band the Shirts from 1975 to 1981 with whom she recorded three albums. She began her acting career as Mother in the 1977 Broadway revival of Hair; later taking on the role of Jeannie Ryan in the 1979 film version of the musical. Other notable film credits include Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), Baby Boom (1987), Longtime Companion (1989), Strictly Business (1991), Prelude to a Kiss (1992), 12 Monkeys (1995), The American Astronaut (2001), It Runs in the Family (2003), Adventures of Power (2008), and I Love You Phillip Morris (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Audra McDonald</span> American actress and singer (born 1970)

Audra Ann McDonald is an American actress and singer. Primarily known for her work on the Broadway stage, she has won six Tony Awards, more performance wins than any other actor, and is the only person to win in all four acting categories. In addition to her six Tony Awards she has received numerous accolades including two Grammy Awards, and an Emmy Award. She was honored with the National Medal of Arts in 2016 from President Barack Obama, and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donna Murphy</span> American actress (born 1959)

Donna Murphy is an American actress, best known for her work in musical theater. A five-time Tony Award nominee, she has twice won the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical: for her role as Fosca in Passion (1994–1995) and as Anna Leonowens in The King and I (1996–1997). She was also nominated for her roles as Ruth Sherwood in Wonderful Town (2003), Lotte Lenya in LoveMusik (2007), and Bubbie/Raisel in The People in the Picture (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Laura Michelle Kelly</span> British actress

Laura Michelle Kelly is an English actress and singer, best known for originating the roles of Mary Poppins in Mary Poppins in the West End, for which she received the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in Finding Neverland on Broadway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie J. Block</span> American actress and singer (born 1972)

Stephanie Janette Block is an American actress and singer, best known for her work on the Broadway stage.

<i>Little Shop of Horrors</i> (musical) 1982 horror comedy rock musical by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman

Little Shop of Horrors is a horror comedy rock musical with music by Alan Menken and lyrics and a book by Howard Ashman. The story follows a hapless florist shop worker who raises a plant that feeds on human blood and flesh. The musical is loosely based on the low-budget 1960 black comedy film The Little Shop of Horrors. The music, composed by Menken in the style of early 1960s rock and roll, doo-wop and early Motown, includes several well-known tunes, including the title song, "Skid Row (Downtown)", "Somewhere That's Green", and "Suddenly, Seymour".

<i>Spring Awakening</i> (musical) Rock musical

Spring Awakening is a coming-of-age rock musical with music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by Steven Sater. It is based on the 1891 German play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind. Set in late 19th-century Germany, the musical tells the story of teenagers discovering the inner and outer tumult of adolescent sexuality. In the musical, alternative rock is employed as part of the folk-infused rock score.

Laurence Crawford "Larry" O'Keefe is an American composer and lyricist for Broadway musicals, film and television. He won the 2001 Lucille Lortel Award, Outstanding Musical as composer for Bat Boy: The Musical.

<i>American Idiot</i> (musical) Musical based on the Green Day album

American Idiot is a sung-through rock musical based on the concept album of the same name by rock band Green Day. After a run at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre in 2009, the show moved to the St. James Theatre on Broadway. Previews began on March 24, 2010, and the musical officially opened on April 20, 2010. The show closed on April 24, 2011, after 422 performances. While Green Day did not appear in the production, vocalist/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong performed the role of "St. Jimmy" occasionally throughout the run.

<i>The Bodyguard</i> (musical) 2012 stage musical by Alexander Dinelaris

The Bodyguard is a 2012 stage musical with a book by Alexander Dinelaris, based on the 1992 film The Bodyguard, with the score featuring songs recorded by Whitney Houston including "One Moment in Time", "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and her pop version of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You". The show began previews at the Adelphi Theatre in London's West End, on 6 November 2012, and officially opened on 5 December 2012.

Lauren Ward is an American singer and actress. She has appeared in Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End musicals and plays. Ward originated the role of Miss Honey in the original Stratford-Upon-Avon, West End, and Broadway productions of the musical Matilda, and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance.

<i>Hands on a Hardbody</i> (musical) 2012 musical by Doug Wright

Hands on a Hardbody is a musical based on S.R. Bindler's 1997 documentary film Hands on a Hardbody. The book is by Doug Wright, music by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green, lyrics by Amanda Green. The documentary was adapted into a musical commissioned by La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucy Maunder</span> Australian cabaret and theatre performer

Lucy Maunder is an Australian cabaret and theatre performer. She originated the role of Lara in the Australian premiere of Doctor Zhivago opposite Anthony Warlow, and has toured with her own cabaret Songs in the Key of Black, releasing an album with the same name. Maunder toured with the national touring company of Grease playing the role of Rizzo. She then starred in the role of Miss Honey in the Australian tour of Matilda the Musical, replacing Elise McCann. In 2021-22, Maunder starred as the adult Alison Bechdel in the Sydney Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company's co-production of Fun Home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barrett Wilbert Weed</span> American actress

Barrett Wilbert Weed is an American actress and singer. She is best known for originating the roles of Veronica Sawyer in the Off-Broadway production of Heathers: The Musical and Janis Sarkisian in the Broadway production of Mean Girls. She also voices Octavia "Via" Goetia in Helluva Boss.

<i>Dear Evan Hansen</i> 2015 American musical

Dear Evan Hansen is a musical with music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, and a book by Steven Levenson. The musical follows Evan Hansen, a high school senior with social anxiety, "who invents an important role for himself in a tragedy that he did not earn".

<i>Waitress</i> (musical) 2016 musical by Sara Bareilles

Waitress is a musical with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles and a book by Jessie Nelson. Based on the 2007 film of the same name, written and directed by Adrienne Shelly, it tells the story of Jenna Hunterson, a baker and waitress in an abusive relationship with her husband, Earl. After Jenna unexpectedly becomes pregnant, she begins an affair with her doctor, Dr. James "Jim" Pomatter. Looking for ways out of her troubles, she sees a pie baking contest and its grand prize as her chance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun</span> 16th episode of the 3rd season of Riverdale

"Chapter Fifty-One: Big Fun" is the sixteenth episode of the third season of the American television series Riverdale and the fifty-first episode of the series overall. The episode was directed by Maggie Kiley, written by Tessa Leigh Williams, and choreographed by Heather Laura Gray. It centered around the stage musical Heathers: The Musical by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy, based on the 1989 film of the same name written by Daniel Waters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jamie Muscato</span> English actor

Jamie Muscato is an English actor and singer.

References

  1. Barnes, Frank (September 7, 2015). "Heathers: The Musical". Education. 96 (6). New South Wales Teachers Federation: 31 via Trove.
  2. 1 2 O'Keefe, Laurence; Murphy, Kevin. "Heathers Writers Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy Break Down the Musical's Full Album Track by Track". Playbill. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  3. Diamond, Jennifer (August 8, 2017). "Education Spotlight: Photos of Student Cast of HEATHERS With Dan Domenech". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  4. Hetrick, Adam (May 21, 2010). "What Rhymes With Corn Nuts? Heathers Musical Will Receive New York Concert". Playbill.com . Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  5. Hetrick, Adam (September 13, 2010). "'What Is Your Damage?' Heathers: The Musical Gets Joe's Pub Concerts Sept. 13". Playbill.com . Archived from the original on December 20, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2011.
  6. Snetiker, Marc (August 29, 2013). "Heathers the Musical, Based on the '80s Movie, Set for World Premiere in Los Angeles". Broadway.com. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  7. Peterson, Tyler (February 6, 2014). "Barrett Wilbert Weed, Ryan McCartan, Jessica Keenan Wynn & More to Star in HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL Off-Broadway; Full Cast Announced". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  8. McPhee, Ryan (April 14, 2014). "So Very! Heathers: The Musical Will Record Cast Album". Broadway.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014.
  9. Rosky, Nicole (July 10, 2014). "HEATHERS Sets Early August Closing Date Off-Broadway". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  10. Hetrick, Adam (July 10, 2014). "School's Out: Heathers: The Musical to Close Off-Broadway". Playbill.
  11. Hewis, Ben. "Cast announced for Heathers the Musical at The Other Palace" whatsonstage.com, May 22, 2017
  12. Hewis, Ben. " Heathers at the Other Palace announces full casting" whatsonstage.com, May 18, 2018
  13. 1 2 "Other Palace Production of Heathers The Musical to Head to the West End" broadwayworld.com, July 5, 2018
  14. Heathers The Musical Archived January 13, 2023, at the Wayback Machine officiallondontheatre.com, retrieved July 23, 2019
  15. Bowie-Sell, Daisy (March 3, 2019). "Hamilton and Aidan Turner among winners at 19th Annual WhatsOnStage Awards". WhatsOnStage.
  16. "Heathers West End Revival cast announced | WhatsOnStage". www.whatsonstage.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  17. Bill Kenwright Ltd [@BKL_Productions] (October 3, 2019). "HEY YO WESTERBURG! Who's ready to make 2020 BEAUTIFUL with a HEATHERS UK TOUR!? / @HeathersMusical @andyfickman @LarryIsOKeefe @kevinmurphyhc @PaulTaylorMills pic.twitter.com/YRKKe4H433" (Tweet). Retrieved October 6, 2019 via Twitter.
  18. Hetrick, Adam. "Revamped London Staging of Heathers the Musical to Launch U.K. Tour" Playbill, October 3, 2019
  19. "London's Heathers the Musical to Be Filmed for Release | Filmed on Stage". www.filmedonstage.com. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  20. "Filmed Heathers: The Musical to Stream Free as Roku Original | Filmed on Stage". www.filmedonstage.com. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  21. Harms, Talaura (September 16, 2022). "Tune-In Alert! Heathers: The Musical Streams on the Roku Channel September 16". Playbill. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
  22. website showing tickets and dates https://www.heathersthemusical.com/tour
  23. "Heathers the Musical on Twitter". Twitter. October 27, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  24. Wild, Stephi (October 27, 2022). "HEATHERS THE MUSICAL Will Embark on UK Tour in 2023". BroadwayWorld.com. Broadway World. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  25. Bsslake, Jason (July 23, 2015). "Heathers the Musical review: Impressive, calculating and anything but coy". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  26. "Heathers the Musical for Brisbane | Stage Whispers".
  27. Woodhead, Cameron (May 15, 2016). "Heathers the Musical review: Broadway ballads and gut-busting big-notes betray film's dark edge". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  28. Hook, Chris (June 9, 2016). "Original mean girls return in Heathers". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  29. Cavalheiro, Rodrigo (September 17, 2017). "'Heathers' chega ao Brasil em outburo; conheça o elenco". Mundo dos Musicais (in Portuguese).
  30. "Heathers Musical Brasil".[ dead link ]
  31. "Musical 'Heathers' ganha primeira montagem brasileira". Cena Musical (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on February 9, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2020.
  32. ""Heathers". Crítica. | Cine y Teatro Argentino". July 9, 2023.
  33. Stasio, Marilyn (April 1, 2014). "Off Broadway Review: 'Heathers' the Musical". Variety. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  34. Brantley, Ben (April 1, 2014). "'Heathers: The Musical' Brings Back Guilt-Free Mayhem". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  35. Brantley, Ben (April 1, 2014). "The Rich Girls are Going to Lose, for Once". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  36. Stasio, Marilyn (April 1, 2014). "Off Broadway Review: 'Heathers' the Musical". Variety. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  37. Rooney, David (March 31, 2014). "Heathers: The Musical: Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  38. Soloski, Alexis (April 1, 2014). "Heathers review – cult 80s film becomes a candy-coloured musical". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  39. Vincentelli, Elisabeth (April 1, 2014). "'Heathers' still cliques in musical re-imagining". New York Post. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  40. Anderson, Kyle (April 3, 2014). "'Heathers: The Musical': EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  41. Longman, Will (September 14, 2018). "Review – Heathers the Musical starring Carrie Hope Fletcher at Theatre Royal Haymarket". London Theatre. Retrieved May 27, 2019.
  42. "WhatsOnStage Awards 2019: The Winners". www.londontheatrereviews.co.uk. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  43. 1 2 3 Gioia, Michael (September 13, 2016). "How and Why Heathers Got Remade for High School". Playbill.com .
  44. Churnin, Nancy (September 12, 2016). "Song from world premiere of 'Heathers 101: High School Edition,' opening Thursday at Pearce HS". dallasnews.com.
  45. Churnin, Nancy (September 12, 2016). "Song from world premiere of 'Heathers 101: High School Edition,' opening Thursday at Pearce HS". dallasnews.com.
  46. "Stunt Burger".
  47. "Heathers: A Teen Musical Instagram".
  48. Highhill, Samantha (March 20, 2019). "Riverdale recap: Girls just want to have BIG FUN in Heathers musical episode". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  49. "Soundtrack Album for Heathers the Musical Episode from Riverdale to Be Released". Film Music Reporter. March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 21, 2019.