HEATHERS THE MUSICAL ARRIVES IN CANADA IN JANUARY 2016
Heathers The Musical is the darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer (Christine Quintana), a brainy, teenage misfist who never dreamed of getting in with the most popular and cruel clique at high school. But she did. She never dreamed of dating the dark and mysterious new kid at her school. But she did. And she certainly never dreamt of killing anyone. But she kind of did.
Gently with a Chainsaw Artists’ Collective brings this outrageous musical based on the 1988 cult film which was written by Daniel Waters, and starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater, to Canada. Adapted by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, Heathers The Musical will run at the York Theatre in Vancouver January 6th to 17th, 2016. Heathers The Musical is a shockingly funny, heartfelt, homicidal show directed by David C. Jones. Equal parts social commentary and psycho thriller, Heathers the Musical is guilt-free mayhem. Director David C. Jones has assembled a diverse cast of established talent and fresh new voices from Vancouver’s performing arts community.
“When I was an elected member of Canadian Actors Equity I learned about the importance of theatre to reflect the cultural make-up of the city it is in,” admits director David C. Jones. “Theatre has the ability to transform audiences but if they do not see themselves reflected how can they connect? I became a strong advocate of fair representational casting practices. When we announced auditions I was determined that we get the cast that reflected the city of Vancouver which currently sits at 52% non-Caucasian. It just seems right, it just seems fair and it just seems important.”
Jessie Richardson Award Winning actress Christine Quintana plays Veronica Sawyer, our misfit heroine who gets in with the wrong crowd, with recent Studio 58 graduate Kamyar Pazandeh as the brooding JD. The trio of terrorizing Heathers is Synthia Yusuf, Devon Busswood and Nhi Do. Playing against type – Colin Sheen (and Hal Wesley Rogers play the brutish and dumb football bullies, while Steffanie Davis plays one of their victims. The adults are played by producer Lori Watt, Ken Overbey and Nelson Wong. Rounding out the cast of high school students and cliques are Quinn Cartwright, Daren Dyhengco, Vivian Full, Brent Hirose, Matt Montgomery, Deanna Rayne and Hall Wesley Rogers.
David C. Jones directs this rompy musical comedy with Liz McLaughlin Assistant Directing. Sarah Mabberley recreates the high school scene of 1989 along with Sacha Picard’s 80’s inspired looks from Main Street’s F as in Frank Vintage clothing store and props by Quinn Cartwright. Gabriel Carter’s fight direction blends the humour and the homicidal urges of the actors with Ken Overbey’s choreography and lighting design by Michael Methot. Under Steven Greenfield’s musical direction, a live onstage band brings this musical to life with Sound Design by Kyra Soko. Stage Manager is Michael Brooks.
Performance details for Heathers the Musical are as follows:
• Runs January 6 to 17 at The York Theatre, 639 Commercial Drive
• Previews: January 6 & 7, at 7:30 pm ($15) OPENING NIGHT: January 8, at 7:30 pm
• Matinees performances are at 2:00 pm January 9, 10, 16 and 17 ($25)
• Evening performances are at 7:30 pm January 8 to 9 ($30), 12 to 16 ($40)
• To book tickets, call the Cultch box office at 604-251-1363 or online.
