Thespians at Westerville South High School will perform in Heathers the Musical (High School Edition,) at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 12 and Saturday, October 14; and at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 14. Tickets cost $10 and can be purchased at www.localevel.com (service fees apply) or at the door.
Heathers the Musical (High School Edition), by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, 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 handsome 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 butt... but J.D. has another plan for that bullet. Matthew Wolfe directs.
This show is based on the dark humor of the 1988 film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater and the 2014 off Broadway musical of the same name. While based on both properties, the version Westerville South Troupe 513 is putting on is the high school version with changes to several lines, songs, and scenes that were too dark, sexually explicit, or problematic for a high school’s target audience. All of the dialogue and songs have been combed over by the original musical writers to make it more appropriate for a high school audience while still staying true to the feel of the popular cult classic and maintaining the teenage angst that resonates with young audiences. The musical is now PG-13 rather than rated R, but please note there are still scenes that are quite intense in multiple ways and not suitable for younger children.
Heathers is a musical that deals with heavy themes and Westerville South Troupe 513 aims to raise awareness of these issues. At each performance, donations will be collected for Suicide Prevention Services (SPS) of America. In order to open dialogue about sensitive topics like bullying, peer pressure and suicide, the cast and crew, along with representatives from SPS, are inviting the community to a cast talkback at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, October 13, in the Westerville South High School auditorium.