Heathers:TheMusical-2017

Director-????

FromTheWebsite

HEATHERSTHEMUSICAListhedarklydeliciousstoryofVeronicaSawyer,abrainy,beautifulteenagemisfitwhohustlesherwayintothemostpowerfulandruthlesscliqueatWesterbergHigh:theHeathers.Butbeforeshecangetcomfortableatopthehighschoolfoodchain,VeronicafallsinlovewiththedangerouslysexynewkidJ.D.WhenHeatherChandler,theAlmighty,kicksheroutofthegroup,VeronicadecidestobitethebulletandkissHeather’saerobicizedass…butJ.D.hasanotherplanforthatbullet.

Broughttoyoubytheaward-winningcreativeteamofKevinMurphy(ReeferMadness,“DesperateHousewives”),LaurenceO’Keefe(BatBoy,LegallyBlonde)andAndyFickman(ReeferMadness,She’stheMan).HEATHERSTHEMUSICALisahilarious,heartfeltandhomicidalnewshowbasedonthegreatestteencomedyofalltime.Withitsmovinglovestory,laugh-out-loudcomedyandunflinchinglookatthejoysandanguishofhighschool,HEATHERSwillbeNewYork’smostpopularnewmusical.Areyouin,orareyouout?

Fromme

Heathersisabasedonthe80smovieofthesamename.Andit’swrittenbythesameguywhodidBatBoy,it’sINCREDIBLYcatchyandwellputtogether.ThemoviestarsayoungWinonaRider,ChristianSlaterandShannonDochertyandalthoughitdidn’tdoverywellinitiallyithassincebecomeacultclassic.IthassincebeenadaptedtobeabrilliantmusicalandthemusiciswrittenbythesamegentthatdidBatBoy&LegallyBlonde.

Thestoryisatypicalclichéhigh-schoolstoryoflove,life,sexandmurder.Veronicajustwantstofitinandbeacceptedbythe‘Heathers’(thethreemostpopulargirlsintheschoolthatallalsohappentobecalledHeather).Andthingsworkoutforher!Foraboutonesong.Sheisthencruellycastoutofthegroupbythe‘alpha’Heather,HeatherChandler,andherlifequicklybecomesamess.FromthenonthingstwistandturnafterVeronicameetsJDandinthey“accidentally”killHeatherChandlerandthenmakeitlooklikeasuicide.

Fromthenonthere’smore“suicide”,morekilling,somebullying,adashofhomophobia,guns,violenceandbomb-scares,allwhilsttheschoolralliesbehindthedeadHeatherChapmanwhomtheyrisetomartyrstatus,despiteherbeinganheinousbitchinlife.

Vision

I’mgoingtoleavethisuptothedirectorforthemostpart.HoweverIwillsaythatthereare25namedcharactersintheshow,intheoriginalproductionmanyofthesepartsweremultirole,howeverwithourselvesitmeansevenwithabigcastanyoneintheshowwouldlikelyhaveanamedpart.

Asyou’llseebythepicturesincludedwithinthispitchthesetitselfcanbeveryminimal.Which,let’sfaceit,isexactlyourMO.Itallcomesfromtheactorsandcostume.Bigbightandboldcoloursshouldbeused.ThemoviehadeachoneoftheHeathersrepresentedbyasinglecolour(red,yellow,green),thestageversionhasbuiltonthatbygivingVeronicaherowncolourtoo(blue).Ifwestyleeveryoneinasimilarfashionandaccompanyitwithsomeofourownspectacularlightingitwouldcertainlycreateandincrediblelookingshow.

WWDNhashistoricallyalwaysstruggledformenandalthoughthenextshowmaybedifferentitmaynot.Heathershelpswiththisasoutofthetop5castmembers4ofthemarefemale,(3Heathers&Veronica),Heather’sbestfriendMarthaisalsofemale,there’salsomothersandfemaleteacherstoplay.IfwestrugglefurtherthencharacterslikeCoachRipperandPrincipleGowancanalsobeplayedbyafemale.Ifwestrugglefurtherthenmalerolescanbemulticast(asoriginallyintended)andfemalerolescanbesinglecast.Pow.

Note.Thisisamusicalthatissetinaschool.Andsoinsayingthat,manyofthecharactersareteenagers.Atthistimealotof‘regular’membersofWWDNareintheir20sand30s.Thiscanbeseenasanegativepoint.ButtobehonestIdon’treallyseeitasthatbigofadeal.Althoughit’ssetinaschoolthereareplentyof‘older’roles.Thereareplentyofteachersandparentsandmanyofthemallhavesongsorpartstosing.Ontopofthat,manyexistingmembersWWDNcanactinyoungerpartsthanwhattheirageis.So,alotoftherolescouldeasilybeplayedbycurrentmembersofWWDN.Butmaybemoreimportantly,thisisalsoafantasticopportunityforustobringinnewer,youngermembersofWWDNintothefold.WWDNisafantasticcompanythatshouldn’tdieoutiftheoriginalmemberseverleave.

Cast

VERONICASAWYER-17.Sheburnstobebothcoolandkind,butdoesn’tknowyethowtobebothatthesametime.Fiercesenseofrightandwrong,keensenseofironichumor.Thinksshe'sanoldsoul,butshe'sstillinnocentenoughtobeblindsidedbylove/hormones(orshockedbycruelty).Voice:Highbeltingrequired,uptoAb.Musthavedynamicandstylisticrange.

JD-17.Heisdarklycharismatic,compelling,attractive,charmingontheoutsideyetverydamagedontheinside.Keensmartsandstronginventivecomedy.Voice:Strong,confidentbelttoatleastanAb,Apreferable;wideemotionalrange.

HEATHERCHANDLER-17.Richest,hottest,mostmagnetic,cruelestgirlintown.Relishespowerandwieldsitlikeascalpel–nofear,nopatience,nomercy.Voice:StrongbelttoForhigherpreferred.Mezzoforchorus.NOTE:IncertainchoralsongsChandlercanswitchpartswithherotherHeathersasneeded.

HEATHERMCNAMARA-17.Beautiful,innocent,stupid,canbemeanoncommandifHeatherChandlerordersit,butactuallyquitevulnerableandfearful.Voice:StrongbelttoDb,Dpreferred.Sopranoforchorus.NOTE:incertainchoralsongsHeatherMacandDukecanswitchvocalpartsasneeded.

HEATHERDUKE-17.Whipping-girlofthe3Heathers.WhenshefinallybecomesQueenBeeshewieldspowerlikeabulldozer.Altoforchorus.Voice:StrongbelttoC,Dpreferred.Altoforchorus.NOTE:incertainchoralsongsHeatherDukeandMaccanswitchvocalpartsasneeded.

MARTHADUNNSTOCK-17.Nicknamed“MarthaDumptruck”,theoppositeofhot,confident,orpopular.Hugeandbeautifulsoul,optimisticeveninthefaceofrejection.Voice:StrongbelttoEorF,widevocalexpression.

RAMSWEENEY-17,Linebacker.Big,insensitivetothefeelingsofothers,ruledbyappetites.Voice:StrongBaritone,belttoG,someFalsettouseful.

KURTKELLY-17.QuarterbackandCaptain.Big,chiseled,rude,entitled,cocky.Mean,thinkshe’sthebrainsinthefriendshipwithRam.Voice:Tenor,strongbelttoAborA,someFalsetto.NOTE:incertainsongsRamandKurtcanswitchchoralassignmentif,say,RamsingshigherthanKurt.

RAM’SDAD/BIGBUDDEAN/COACHRIPPER-40to45.Ram’sDad:FormerfootballplayerturnedsuburbanDad,hasneveroutgrownhisglorydaysinhighschool.Hatesweakness,butcapableofsoul-searchingwhentragedystrikes.AlsoplaysBigBudDean:JD’ssingleDad.Bigjollypersonalitythatbarelyconcealstheenormousragebubblingjustbelowthesurface.Quitepossiblyaserialbomber.AlsoplaysCoachRipper:Stalwart,man’sman;quicktodefendhisplayers.Voice:Baritone/Tenor–powerCountry/GospelbelttoAb,higherwelcome.NOTE:SometimesthisactorhasplayedPrincipalGowaninsteadofBigBud/Coach.

MS.FLEMING/VERONICA’SMOM-45to50.Ms.Fleming:Aginghippieteacher,stillyearningforthedaytheAgeofAquariusreachesOhio.Hungryforthespotlight,resentfulofentitledyouth.AlsoplaysVeronica’sMom:easygoing,distant,yetcapableoflayingdownthelaw.Voice:GreatbeltuptoC,higheralwayswelcome.

KURT’SDAD/VERONICA’SDAD/PRINCIPALGOWAN-30to45.Kurt’sDad:Straight-laced,veryconservative,alsoformerfootballplayer.Asimpleguy,notbooksmart,you’dbehappytoshareabeerwithhim.AlsoplaysVeronica’sDad:Easygoinganddistant.Voice:StrongBaritone/Tenor--powerCountry/GospelbelttoG,evenhigherbetter.AlsoplaysPrincipalGowan:Rumpled,burnedout,hatesconflict.NOTE:SometimesthisactorhasplayedBigBud/CoachinsteadofPrincipalGowan.

BOY1-BitterGeek16-18.Aput-upon,bittergeek.Voice:Bari(uptoF#)orTenor(uptoA).

BOY2-BlowdriedPreppy16-18.Ablowdried80’spreppy.Voice:Bass(uptoE)orBari(uptoG#).

BOY3-HipsterDork16-18.Thinkshe’sDuckyfrom‘PrettyInPink.’Voice:Bari(uptoF#)orTenor(uptoA).

GIRL1-GothGirl16-18.Asullengothgirl.Voice:BelttoatleastC#(aSopranouptohighA/Bisalsoaplus).

GIRL2-StonerChick16-18.Afuzzyheadedstonerchick.Voice:BelttoatleastC#(aSopranouptohighA/Bisalsoaplus).

GIRL3-YoungRepublicanette16-18.Atennis-playing,uptightStudentCounciltype.Voice:BelttoatleastC#(SopranouptohighA/Bisalsoaplus).

SIZEOFORCHESTRA–Medium(guitars,bass,piano,drums,wind…arockband.Batboybandminuscowbell)

MUSICALSTYLE-Pop/Rock

VOCALDEMANDS-Moderate

BudgetItemsCostOutgoingsRights£500.00TheatreHire(4NightsattheUnity)£1,500.00Costume£100.00Set£0.00Tech£0.00Props£50.00Marketing£100.00IncomingCastSubs(15)£600.00Total/Breakeven£1,650.00Ticketstosellforbreakeven190Thingsthatwilldefinitelycostmoneyiscostume,lightingandprops.I’llbehonest,i’mnot100%onthebudgetjustyetasIdon’tknowhowmuchtherightsoranythingcost.Ijustmadeallthatstuffupupthere.I’mhopingyouwon’treadthisfar.

Congratulationsonmakingittothebackpage.HerearesomemorepicturesfromprevioustimesHeathershasbeenputon.Thanksforreadingandlistening!

- Tom