Heathers

The Musical

• • Viewer discretion is advised due to onstage violence and mild language • •

Based on the classic 1989 film, Westerberg High is ruled by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather, and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark and mysterious stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place.

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Heathers: The Musical is a heartfelt and meaningful new show based on one of the greatest teen movies of all time. Are you in, or are you out?

• • Please Note: There is no performance on  October 31st • •

Oct. 30th & Nov. 1st & 2nd

at 7:00 pm

Auditorium

Reserved Seating: $9.00 

Watch our Production Trailer

Watch our Behind the Scenes Video

Immediately following each performance we will have a panel of mental health professionals, therapists, counselors, and more to help lead a post-show discussion regarding the themes and content of this production.

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This production of Heathers: the Musical is the licensed High School Edition.

Changes made to the High School Edition

(1) Removal of curse words as well as R-rated sexual scenes (note: there is still mild language included in the form of "name-calling").
(2) Replace “Blue” with “You're Welcome,” a new song created by the authors that adds Veronica's perspective.
(3) Changes to lyrics and stage directions of “Big Fun” to remove recreational drug use.
(4) Changes to lyrics and stage directions of “Dead Girl Walking” to remove R-rated sexual scenes.

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Please be advised that Heathers: the Musical involves serious themes, including: suicide, school violence, bullying, harassment, depression, and mental illness. Those themes are presented in this production in the following manner.

• Excessive name-calling and peer pressure throughout.

• Characters repeatedly humiliated in front of their peers.

• One suicide, two attempted suicides, and one faked suicide.

• Three murders disguised as suicides: one by poisoning and two by gunfire; all of which occur on stage.

• Characters who suffer from depression and mental illness and express their feelings through song and dialogue

School counselors and mental health professionals will be available during each performance for anyone who needs assistance processing this material.

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It is important to note that although Heathers: The Musical involves difficult themes, the story does conclude with an uplifting message and joyous ending.

Olathe East Theatre's objective with this production is to help destigmatize mental health discussions and hopefully create a path where students are comfortable talking to their parents about depression/suicide/bullying/violence and vice versa. Because depression and thoughts of suicide are oftentimes unseen, or unrecognized, we feel it’s important for family and friends to be comfortable talking about these issues, and ultimately seeking proper care and help.

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Here are some wonderful articles that stress the importance of producing Heathers: The Musical in High School.

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• How Heathers: High School Edition is Helping Difficult Discourse on Teen Issues in Johnson County, Kansas (and how it can help you, too)

A senior from Lansing High School addresses how Heathers has helped his community discuss sensitive topics present in the high school experience.​

• A Director's Perspective: Why Perform Heathers

Heather Biddle, Director of the premiere cast of Heathers: High School Edition discusses why she chose this as her school’s annual musical.

• Why It’s Important for High-Schoolers to Perform Spring Awakening, Heathers, and More

In this Playbill feature, educators and students make the persuasive case for tackling mature theatre at the high school level.

• Hear from the Students Performing Heathers: The Musical (High School Edition)

Learn about the students' experience and what they learned as the premiere cast of Heathers: The Musical (High School Edition). 

• Why Produce Heathers, or We Gotta Do Something to Stop Bad Behavior and Violence Everywhere

This passionate, raw testimonial from White Plains Performing Arts Center explains why HEATHERS is an important part of the American canon.

• Beautiful: The Multi-Generational Draw of Heathers The Musical

Why has HEATHERS had such an impact on teens? A  student in the premiere high school cast of the show discusses the impact the show has had on her friends and community.

• A Modest Proposal, or You Want Me To Adapt What? and The Writing Process, or Does He Have to Pull Out a Magnum in the Lunchroom?

Authors Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy talk about the creative process, including making the original film’s content appropriate for modern theatre audiences.

• Make It Beautiful Session 1 and Make It Beautiful Session 2

At the International Thespian Festival, Marty Johnson of iTheatrics sat down with the writers of Heathers The Musical, Kevin Murphy and Laurence O'Keefe, as well as Heather Biddle, JJ Pearce High School Theatre Director, to discuss the process of creating Heathers The Musical: High School Edition.

CAST LIST

Veronica Sawyer……………….….…..…Jade Belden

Jason Dean (J.D.)……....…….………..Paul Cameron

Heather Chandler……...……..…….....Maddie Bragg

Heather McNamara…..…….....…...Millie Grace Bell

Heather Duke….…..…………..........Addison Landes

Martha Dunnstock………..…………....Madie Wayne

Ram Sweeney…………..…..…..Jeremiah Valenzuela

Kurt Kelly……….…..………...……….Justin Cooley

Ms. Fleming.……………..………...….Willa Walberg

Ram’s Dad…...……..………….……….Caleb Brown

Kurt’s Dad...………......…….………….Zach Billings

Preppy Stud…..…...…………..….……...Ben Marlow

Hipster Dork……………….…………...Zach Billings

Stoner Chick.....………..………………….Liv Hollan

Young Republicanette…...........................Brillian Kina

Beleaguered Geek…..…..……………...Andrew Reed

New Wave Girl…....….…….……....Marissa Newkirk

Aggressive Jock….…………….…Matthew Malcolm

Principal Gowan.……….…………...William Wahaus

Coach Ripper……...………………….…...Jack Green

Veronica’s Mom…….…………………...Meg O’Neil

Veronica’s Dad...……………………….Zach Billings

Officer McCord.………………………..Caleb Brown

Officer Milner..…………………………...Jack Green

Big Bud Dean…...………...…….….........Jack Green

Students:

Ben Marlow, Zach Billings, Liv Hollan, Brillain Kina, Andrew Reed, Marissa Newkirk, Matthew Malcolm, Caila Cibrian, Kira Foster, Audrey McGinnis, Allison Besa, Maureen Pollock, Breanna Kristian, Lindsey Wilson, Reegan Townsend, Josh Sutherland

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Faculty:

Willa Walberg, Willian Wahaus, Jack Green, Meg O’Neil, Reegan Townsend, Rachel Glass, Juliana Maupin, Adilae Hollister, Caleb Brown

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Cheerleaders:

Caila Cibrian, Kira Foster, Audrey McGinnis, Marissa Newkirk

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Candy Trio:

Liv Hollan, Brillian Kina, Marissa Newkirk

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Candy Dancers:

Caila Cibrian, Kira Foster, Audrey McGinnis

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Spooky Kids:

​ Jeremiah Valenzuela, Justin Cooley, Ben Marlow, Zach Billings, Andrew Reed,    Matthew Malcolm, Allison Besa, Maureen Pollock, Breanna Kristian, Lindsey Wilson, Reegan Townsend, Josh Sutherland, Rachel Glass, Juliana Maupin, Adilae Hollister

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Reporters:

Reegan Townsend, Rachel Glass, Juliana Maupin, Adilae Hollister

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Village People:

Maddie Bragg, Jeremiah Valenzuela, Justin Cooley, Caila Cibrian, Kira Foster,

Audrey McGinnis