Next Up! Heathers: The Musical

The cast of Heathers: The Musical is amped for this show!

If you saw the video at their first rehearsal, you will see that most of them have seen the movie, but most of them weren’t alive when it first came out in 1988. To be honest, I was alive, but didn’t happen across the film Heathers until sometime in the last decade. And isn’t that what makes a cult film? Heathers has a following that has lasted decades and still brings new fans into its fold.

The Story

According to Marielle at IMDb, Heathers is about how “A regular girl, Veronica, tries to survive the social jungle of high school by sticking with the three most popular girls at school who are all called Heather. As she meets a sociopath named JD, her life spirals into a continuous cycle of hate, unintentional murder and indifference, as she exacts revenge on her enemies, also known as her best friends.”

The movie inspired this musical playing at MCT May 12-21, as well as a TV series of the same name in 2018. There are one-time-only showings of the movie in theaters across the country, and the story seems to be holding up. Maybe that’s because, no matter when you grew up, teenagers are teenagers just trying to figure out the world and their place in it. The story may be hyperbole (unfortunately more so then than it is now), but it works because it comes from a place of truth.

Heathers: The Musical

The musical version of Heathers takes that story and sets it to a stunning rock score. From upbeat songs like “Candy Store” to dramatic pieces such as “Dead Girl Walking,” the high energy music belays the dark themes such as bullying, violence and suicide.

Director Maribeth McCarthy is hard at work turning the MCT theater into Westerburg High. Songs are being learned and characters crafted. If you are a long-time fan or have never seen the movie, this is a show not to be missed. Just leave the kids at home; the language and themes are for a more mature audience.