Heathers
Playing at New World Stages
Musical or play? Musical
Lottery or Rush Tickets? $38.00 Digital Lottery and Digital Rush
What I Paid: $140.00
My Rating: ★★★★
Official Website: https://heathersthemusical.com/
Welcome to Westerberg High, where popularity is a matter of life and death, and Veronica Sawyer is just another of the nobodies dreaming of a better day. But when she’s unexpectedly taken under the wings of the three beautiful and impossibly cruel Heathers, her dreams of popularity finally start to come true. That is until J.D., the mysterious teen rebel, teaches her that it might kill to be a nobody, but it is murder being a somebody…
REVIEW
When I heard Heathers was making a return to New York City off-broadway at New World Stages, I knew I had to check this cult classic musical out for myself. All I knew about Heathers was that it is set in a high school, starred Carrie Hope Fletcher in the West End, and had a controversial scene depicting suicide. Otherwise, I managed to avoid spoilers, and boy was I in for a surprise! I can only describe Heathers as Mean Girls meets Stephen King, as the show got very intense very quickly.
I purchased a full price ticket for Heathers online from the box office. Thankfully, the prices are not too steep given the off-broadway venue, and even though I was farther back in Orchestra Center, I had a great view as the theatre is on the smaller side. Because this show is selling quite well, I do recommend buying your tickets in advance if you are looking for specific seats or a specific date.
At the center of Heathers is the classic story of a bullied high school student who just wants to fit in with the popular crowd. Here, Veronica Sawyer (Lorna Courtney) decides to befriend the top clique, the Heathers, so that she can get through high school unscathed. However, Veronica quickly realizes that popularity isn’t everything, but instead of simply breaking off the friendship, Veronica ends up in murderous situations with her new boyfriend, J.D. (Casey Likes). What follows is a terrifying tale where the teenagers of Westerberg High start dying off in quick succession.
It is undeniable that the cast of Heathers is fully stacked. Courtney is incredible as Veronica, with vocals that left me beyond impressed every time she hit a run. She also captures the essence of an intelligent yet naive teenager well. Her facial expressions during the song Our Love is God are so perfect. Similarly, anyone who saw Likes portray Marty McFly in Back to the Future will immediately recognize his acting ability, as he is downright scary in Heathers! As for the Heathers themselves, understudy Sara Al-Bazali was on for Heather Chandler, usually played by McKenzie Kurtz, and she, Olivia Hardy, and Elizabeth Teeter have the crowd in the palms of their hands from the moment they appear on stage. It’s worth seeing Heathers just to experience the immense talent of this cast alone!
Moreover, I will say that the content of Heathers did feel a bit dated to me. Yes, the show is set in the 1980s and based on a movie from the same time period, but do we really need to keep gay slurs in the script? In the same way, while I understand that the show is meant to be satire and a social commentary on the high school experience, the fun, upbeat, and poppy songs sometimes feel as if the show is marginalizing topics such as violence in schools, bullying and suicide. Heathers therefore feels similar to The Book of Mormon, where in the process of using dark comedy to joke about serious issues, negative ideals are perpetuated. Perhaps if the theatre wasn’t filled with cosplaying young folks who joyfully scream at the conclusion of each song, I wouldn’t be as concerned with whether the messages of Heathers are being received literally or figuratively in today’s social and political climate.
That being said, Heathers is an electrifying musical with very catchy songs. The set functions well as it transitions from the high school to the students’ homes to even a 7-11. I also really enjoyed the lighting in the show, specifically in Candy Store, where the Heathers are drenched in their signature red, green, and yellow colors. While I would love to see some rewrites to the Heathers story to strengthen the satire and update it for a 2025 crowd, I was very impressed with this off-broadway production. If you enjoy dark comedies, Heathers is certainly an excellent option, especially considering the current cast. However, I would strongly recommend looking up content warnings in advance, and keep in mind this show is not appropriate for kids.
STAGE DOOR
The Stage Door at New World Stages is on 49th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues. It is on the opposite side of the main door to the theatre on 50th Street. I typically take a right when I exit the theatre and cut through Worldwide Plaza before taking another right. You will see barricades and security set up at the Stage Door itself. Most of the cast came out to sign Playbills and take selfies with those who asked. Casey Likes stopped to wave and say hi to everyone before heading to another event, and Lorna Courtney did not come out to sign. The crowd was very polite and respectful, and all of the actors were very friendly and gracious. It was a great way to end the evening!
Follow me on Instagram to see my vlog of seeing Heathers HERE.