“Heathers The Musical” at Z Playhouse
- OC Theatre Guild
- Apr 8
- 4 min read
A Musical Theater Spin on the Dark Dramedy of the 1988 Film
By Eric Marchese
It’s often years before a movie makes the leap to a stage adaptation. Such was the case with “Heathers.” It wasn’t until 2010 that the 1988 film was re-created as a musical. The new show got several workshops and staged readings in Los Angeles, and three concert-style performances in New York City.
In Z Playhouse’s new production in Mission Viejo, Orange County audiences will have the chance to see “Heathers: The Musical” for most of April.
A ‘Mean Girls’ for the ’80s
Director Julia Barbee said, “On a surface level, I would describe ‘Heathers’ as ‘80s Mean Girls,’ just darker and more intense.”
“In depth, I would describe it as being an extremely dramatized, yet still somewhat realistic, case study regarding social hierarchy among teenagers and the psychological damage that it can cause.”
Barbee said the story “follows Veronica Sawyer, a teenage misfit who makes it into the popular clique at school-- the Heathers-- and is transformed from a nobody to a somebody. One day, she meets new kid Jason Dean (JD), a mysterious, brooding loner with whom she builds a relationship.”
“Together, Veronica and JD ‘accidentally’ kill Heather Chandler, the lead Heather, and frame it as a suicide-- leading to a spiraling chain of events as more students succumb to death and suicidal tendencies.”
Barbee said she first discovered the movie in college and fell in love with it. After watching a recording of the off-Broadway musical, she said she “wanted to be involved with it in some way or another, whether it was performing in it or directing it.”
So, when planning the season for Z Playhouse, Barbee “knew ‘Heathers’ was one of my top picks for shows to direct because it’s a relatively small and intimate show.” She said what attracted her to the show is that it’s part dark comedy, part drama-- “it handles sensitive topics seriously without spilling into melodrama.”
Film Versus Stage
Barbee said the main differences between the original film and the stage musical “stem from the characters’ interpretations, especially how Veronica’s involvement with the Heathers shapes her character for the rest of the story.”
“In the movie, Veronica is already a Heather and has been for most of the school year. The movie shows that she is numb and wants out but is in too deep. In the musical, the audience is introduced to Veronica at the beginning of the school year and watches her sudden transformation into a Heather.”
“Because of this, she is more quirky and outspoken, and while initially excited about her newfound status, we watch her become disillusioned in real time rather than starting the story with her already disillusioned.”
As for JD, he’s “a charming bad boy. In the movie, he is a straight-up psychopath who thinks he’s this morally deep rebel, while in the musical, he is a victim of abuse who blames society and his upbringing for making him the way he is.”
Barbee said the Heathers’ personalities “are more exaggerated in the musical. In the movie, they are quiet and subtle with their cruelty in how they treat each other and everyone around them. In the musical, they are borderline caricatures-- especially Heather Chandler, basking in her queen-like status over everyone.” This character, Barbee says, “borders on classic Disney villain levels of being over-the-top.”
Key Themes and Songs
The musical vividly portrays the harsh realities of high school cliques and the destructive nature of bullying. The characters grapple with the pressures of fitting in, finding their place in the world, and navigating the emotional turmoil of adolescence.”
She said the show’s songs contribute to its thematic impact– particularly, “Beautiful,” “Our Love Is God,” and “Seventeen.”
These three, she said, “contain musical motifs heard throughout the course of the show. ‘Beautiful’ sets up the story and characters, as well as showing the reality of Veronica’s world while singing about how much better the world would be if everyone were decent to each other.”
‘Our Love Is God,’ she said, “is basically a musical summary of Veronica & JD’s relationship. The song starts out as a generic love song, progressing into a dark and demented version of itself. While ‘Seventeen’ sounds like a generic pop-rock ballad at a surface level, the lyrics are about wanting the generic teenage experience as opposed to dealing with the death and destruction moving the narrative.”
What Audiences Will See
Barbee has cast Nadia Salina Salvia as Veronica Sawyer, Jeremy Vance as JD, and, as the Heathers, Sammy Spieger as Heather Chandler, Emma Gottlieb as Heather Duke, and Olivia Oakley as Heather McNamara, with Elena Shumaker as Martha Dunstock, Erik Perez as Kurt Kelly, and Steve Phan as Ram Sweeney.
Barbee said, “I know this may sound cliché, but I’m grateful to work with a cast that has developed such a tight and supportive bond, which has really helped with that process. We relied on humor and fun during rehearsals so that we all felt at ease when it came to working on the more intense aspects of the script.”
Rounding out the cast are Kyla Hull as Ms. Fleming and Veronica’s Mom, Jeff Tierney as Ram’s Dad, Veronica’s Dad, and Principal Gowan, Alden Stoneman as Kurt’s Dad, Big Bud Dean, and Coach Ripper, Noah Reitz as Beleaguered Geek, Brendon Sutorius as Preppy Stud, Nat Bull as Hipster Dork, Tuscany Hill as New Wave Girl, Shantelle Cueva as Stoner Chick and Elana Harnack as Young Republicanette.
Z Playhouse founder Stephen Zygo serves as producer. The production is music-directed by Sofia Levi and choreographed by Chloe King. Set designs are by cast lead Salvia and Liz Young, who is also the stage manager; costumes by Jana Russick; lighting design by Justin Ekowibowo; projections by Laura Vega; and Chris Tom as prop master.
Eric Marchese has written about numerous subjects for more than 40 years as a freelance and staff journalist at a wide variety of publications, but is best known as a critic, feature writer, and news reporter covering theatre and the arts throughout Orange County and beyond.
‘Heathers: The Musical’
Z Playhouse
24196 Alicia Parkway, Suite M, Mission Viejo
April 11 - 27, 2025
(949) 446-6572, zplayhouse.org
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