Heathers The Musical
Full Length Musical, Dark Comedy / 8m, 9f
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 sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under.
Heathers The Musical
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Cast Size
8m, 9fDuration
120 minutes (2 hours)Subgenre
Adaptations (Stage & Screen)Accolades
From Off-BroadwayTarget Audience
- Adult
- Teen (Age 14 - 18)
Additional Info
Heathers The Musical is the darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D. When Heather Chandler, the Almighty, kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to bite the bullet and kiss Heather’s aerobicized ass...but J.D. has another plan for that bullet.
Brought to you by the award-winning creative team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness, “Desperate Housewives”), Laurence O’Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde) and Andy Fickman (Reefer Madness, She’s the Man). Heathers The Musical is a hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal new show based on the greatest teen comedy of all time. With its moving love story, laugh-out-loud comedy, and unflinching look at the joys and anguish of high school, Heathers will be New York’s most popular new musical. Are you in, or are you out?
Note on high school edition: Adapted in collaboration with iTheatrics, this dynamic show is now widely available to be performed by High Schools across the world. Note that high school and youth organizations may not produce the standard verison of HEATHERS, and must apply for HEATHERS: HIGH SCHOOL EDITION.
Accolades
NOMINEE! 2014 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music
NOMINEE! 2014 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best New Musical
Reviews
A rowdy guilty pleasure. - The New York Times
"Ingenious, naughty and very funny. Heathers still cliques." - New York Post, Read More
"Cue the corn nuts — and much-deserved applause. HOW VERY." - NY Daily News, Read More
"Heathers The Musical should score with just about everyone." - Variety, Read More
RELATED ARTICLES ON BREAKING CHARACTER
Why Produce Heathers, or We Gotta Do Something to Stop Bad Behavior and Violence Everywhere
by Jeremy Quinn
October 7, 2016
Exploring the Culture of Cult Musicals
by Chris Kam
May 5, 2015
Listen Up, Corn Nuts
by Heathers the Musical
May 6, 2015
A Modest Proposal, or, You Want Me To Adapt What?
by Laurence O'Keefe
May 7, 2015
The Writing Process, or, Does He Have To Pull Out A Magnum In The Lunchroom?
by Kevin Murphy
May 8, 2015
Videos
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Laurence O'Keefe and Kate Shindle - "Seventeen"
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Laurence O'Keefe discusses "Seventeen"
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LIVE FOOTAGE from HEATHERS THE MUSICAL!
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HEATHERS: Finding Your Inner Bitch
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Dead Girl Walking In the Recording Studio
Considerations
Performing Groups
- High School/Secondary
- College Theatre / Student
- Community Theatre
- Professional Theatre
- Large Stage
- Blackbox / Second Stage /Fringe Groups
Cautions
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Gun Shots
- Intense Adult Themes
- Strong Language
License details
- Performance rights for this title are currently withdrawn.
Production
Details
- Time Period: 1980s
- Duration: 120 minutes (2 hours)
- Setting: Westerberg High School. Various settings.
- Features / Contains: Period Costumes
Music
- Musical Style: Pop/Rock
- Vocal Demands: Difficult
- Orchestra Size: Medium
- Chorus Size: Small
Song Samples
Casting
8m, 9fJD - 17. He is darkly charismatic, compelling, attractive, charming on the outside yet very damaged on the inside. Keen smarts and strong inventive comedy. Voice: Strong, confident belt to at least an Ab, A preferable; wide emotional range.
HEATHER CHANDLER - 17. Richest, hottest, most magnetic, cruelest girl in town. Relishes power and wields it like a scalpel – no fear, no patience, no mercy. Voice: Strong belt to F or higher preferred. Mezzo for chorus. NOTE: In certain choral songs Chandler can switch parts with her other Heathers as needed.
HEATHER MCNAMARA - 17. Beautiful, innocent, stupid, can be mean on command if Heather Chandler orders it, but actually quite vulnerable and fearful. Voice: Strong belt to Db, D preferred. Soprano for chorus. NOTE: in certain choral songs Heather Mac and Duke can switch vocal parts as needed.
HEATHER DUKE - 17. Whipping-girl of the 3 Heathers. When she finally becomes Queen Bee she wields power like a bulldozer. Alto for chorus. Voice: Strong belt to C, D preferred. Alto for chorus. NOTE: in certain choral songs Heather Duke and Mac can switch vocal parts as needed.
MARTHA DUNNSTOCK - 17. Nicknamed “Martha Dumptruck”, the opposite of hot, confident, or popular. Huge and beautiful soul, optimistic even in the face of rejection. Voice: Strong belt to E or F, wide vocal expression.
RAM SWEENEY - 17, Linebacker. Big, insensitive to the feelings of others, ruled by appetites. Voice: Strong Baritone, belt to G, some Falsetto useful.
KURT KELLY - 17. Quarterback and Captain. Big, chiseled, rude, entitled, cocky. Mean, thinks he’s the brains in the friendship with Ram. Voice: Tenor, strong belt to Ab or A, some Falsetto. NOTE: in certain songs Ram and Kurt can switch choral assignment if, say, Ram sings higher than Kurt.
RAM’S DAD/BIG BUD DEAN/COACH RIPPER - 40 to 45. Ram’s Dad: Former football player turned suburban Dad, has never outgrown his glory days in high school. Hates weakness, but capable of soul-searching when tragedy strikes. Also plays Big Bud Dean: JD’s single Dad. Big jolly personality that barely conceals the enormous rage bubbling just below the surface. Quite possibly a serial bomber. Also plays Coach Ripper: Stalwart, man’s man; quick to defend his players. Voice: Baritone/Tenor – power Country/Gospel belt to Ab, higher welcome. NOTE: Sometimes this actor has played Principal Gowan instead of Big Bud/Coach.
MS. FLEMING/VERONICA’S MOM - 45 to 50. Ms. Fleming: Aging hippie teacher, still yearning for the day the Age of Aquarius reaches Ohio. Hungry for the spotlight, resentful of entitled youth. Also plays Veronica’s Mom: easygoing, distant, yet capable of laying down the law. Voice: Great belt up to C, higher always welcome.
KURT’S DAD/VERONICA’S DAD/PRINCIPAL GOWAN - 30 to 45. Kurt’s Dad: Straight-laced, very conservative, also former football player. A simple guy, not book smart, you’d be happy to share a beer with him. Also plays Veronica’s Dad: Easygoing and distant. Voice: Strong Baritone/Tenor -- power Country/Gospel belt to G, even higher better. Also plays Principal Gowan: Rumpled, burned out, hates conflict. NOTE: Sometimes this actor has played Big Bud/Coach instead of Principal Gowan.
BOY 1 - Bitter Geek 16-18. A put-upon, bitter geek. Voice: Bari (up to F#) or Tenor (up to A).
BOY 2 - Blowdried Preppy 16-18. A blowdried 80’s preppy. Voice: Bass (up to E) or Bari (up to G#).
BOY 3 - Hipster Dork 16-18. Thinks he’s Ducky from ‘Pretty In Pink.’ Voice: Bari (up to F#) or Tenor (up to A).
GIRL 1 - Goth Girl 16-18. A sullen goth girl. Voice: Belt to at least C# (a Soprano up to high A/B is also a plus).
GIRL 2 - Stoner Chick 16-18. A fuzzyheaded stoner chick. Voice: Belt to at least C# (a Soprano up to high A/B is also a plus).
GIRL 3 - Young Republicanette 16-18. A tennis-playing, uptight Student Council type. Voice: Belt to at least C# (Soprano up to high A/B is also a plus).
Cast Attributes
- Ensemble cast
- Non-Traditional casting
- Reduced casting (Doubling Possible)
- Expandable casting
- Roles for Teens
- Flexible casting
- Strong Role for Leading Woman (Star Vehicle)
Resources
Rehearsal Resources
Music Material Rental Packages
Full Package
1 Piano/Vocal Scores
18 Vocal Chorus Books
Reed (Baritone Sax, Oboe, Tenor Sax, and Clarinet)
Trumpet (Bb Trumpet with Harmon Mute and Straight Mute, Flugelhorn, and Piccolo Trumpet)
Percussion (Drum Kit and Congas)
Guitar (Electric, Steel Acoustic, and Nylon Acoustic)
Violin (one book)
Bass (Electric and Upright)
Performance Tracks Available (Additional Fee)
Available Services
SF Tracks
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Authors
Laurence O'Keefe
Larry was a producer of the original LA and NY productions of Heathers (Drama Desk nom for music). With his wife Nell Benjamin, he won the Olivier Award (London’s Tony) for co-writing Legally Blonde: The Musical, which ran 2 1/2 years on the West End and has toured the UK. Blonde received seven Tony Award nominations, ...
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Kevin Murphy
Kevin was a producer of the original LA and NY productions of Heathers (Drama Desk nom for music). He also provided lyrics and co-wrote the book for the stage musical Reefer Madness and was a producer on both the original Los Angeles and Off-Broadway productions. Reefer swept the three major Los Angeles theatre awards ...
View full profileThe first performance of Heathers The Musical was September 2010 at Joe’s Pub in New York City, followed by a run at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles in 2013. Heathers returned to New York Off-Broadway in March 2013 at New World Stages under the direction of Andy Fickman and ran through August 4, 2014.
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