NewsPHOTO CALL: Billy Crystal, Carly Rae Jepsen, Constantine Maroulis, Tony Danza, Lesli Margherita and More at Opening Night of Heathers: The MusicalThe students of Westerburg High School hit the stage in the new Laurence O'Keefe-Kevin Murphy musical adaptation of Heathers, based on the 1988 black comedy about a clique of deadly and domineering high school girls, which officially opened March 31 Off-Broadway.
By
Matthew Blank
April 01, 2014
Tony Award-nominated Legally Blonde composer O'Keefe collaborated with Emmy-winning Reefer Madness author Murphy on book, music and lyrics for the musical. Andy Fickman ("Reefer Madness," "She's the Man") directs the production that began March 15 at New World Stages.
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Billy Crystal, Carly Rae Jepsen, Constantine Maroulis, Tony Danza, Lesli Margherita and More at Opening Night of Heathers: The Musical
The musical arrives in New York following a sold-out 2013 Los Angeles premiere. Several cast members from that production return for the Off-Broadway engagement, including Barrett Wilbert Weed (Lysistrata Jones, Bare) as Veronica, Ryan McCartan ("Liv and Maddie") as JD and Elle McLemore (Bring It On: The Musical, "Army Wives") as Heather McNamara.
Heathers has set design by Timothy R. Mackabee, costume design by Amy Clark, lighting design by Jason Lyons, sound design by Jonny Massena and music direction by Dominick Amendum. Choreography is by Marguerite Derricks.
Here's how it's billed: "September, 1989. Westerberg High is terrorized 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 sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under. Deliciously, darkly funny, romantic and moving, Heathers: The Musical is a truthful, uplifting parable for anyone who’s ever been in love, in trouble, or in high school."
Heathers is produced Off-Broadway by Bruce Bendell, Jamie Bendell, Scott Benson, Andy Cohen, J. Todd Harris, Amy Powers, Scott Prisand and Big Block Theatrical. Creators Fickman, Murphy and O’Keefe are also producers, along with executive producer Denise Di Novi.
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