The musical adaptation of Heathers, the 1989 cult classic dark comedy, is featured at Cohoes Music Hall through March 9, with Playhouse Stage Academy’s advanced teen actors performing alongside professional performers.
Based on the 1989 New World Pictures film by Daniel Waters, Heathers focuses on the students of Westerberg High School in the fictional town of Sherwood, Ohio. A cult classic, the darkly funny and highly stylized movie helped launch the careers of Wynonna Rider, Christian Slater, and Shannon Doherty. The property has since been adapted into a musical and a television reboot. The musical adaptation features a book, lyrics, and energetic eighties-inspired score by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe.
Heathers: The Musical premiered off-Broadway in 2014 and was updated for a 2021 West End run in London. The show tells the story of high school misfit Veronica Sawyer, who ingratiates herself with a popular trio of girls, all of whom are named Heather, only to find that their behavior causes great harm to her classmates. After meeting and falling for a transfer student named Jason “J.D.” Dean, the pair set out to enact revenge on the Heathers, with fatal results.
“While Heathers is undoubtedly funny and energetic, it also tackles issues that teens in high school still face to this day. This story that concerns teen suicide, bullying, sexual assault, and gun violence is an ideal vehicle to challenge and develop our fantastic Playhouse Stage Academy advanced teen students.
As has become the core of our programming in recent seasons, these incredible teen performers will appear in age-appropriate roles alongside dynamite regional professional actors, with our top-notch design and creative team guiding them.”
PSC Producing Artistic Director Owen Smith.
Heathers: The Musical is directed by PSC Managing Director Chuck Kraus, with choreography and musical staging by AshleySimone Kirchner and musical direction by Brandon Jones. The Trio have regularly collaborated to helm shows featuring Playhouse teens in recent season, most recently on 2024’s acclaimed production of Spring Awakening.
The cast is led by Molly Kirby, now in her eighth year as a Playhouse student, as Veronica Sawyer. Ms. Kirby was recently cast in the lead role of Ariel for this coming summer’s production of The Little Mermaid. Joining her are Keith DuBois as J.D., and the trio of Nora Miller, Ava Papaleo, and Vandy Benson as the Heathers. The fifteen cast members are supported by Playhouse veterans Molly Rose McGrath, Nick Martiniano, and Lancelot Douglas playing a variety of adult roles.
The 37th Playhouse Stage Company Season continues in March with Schoolhouse Rock Live, available for school field trips all month, with public performances on March 29 & 30. The company’s summer season will kick off in June with a developmental premiere production of the new musical The Waiting, and will continue with Oklahoma! at Park Playhouse in July, along with The Little Mermaid and Moana Jr. at Cohoes Music Hall in July and August.
Tickets for Heathers and 37th Season Memberships are now on sale at the Cohoes Music Hall (58 Remsen Street in Cohoes) and Playhouse Stage box office, or by phone at 518-434-0776, or online. Adult tickets are $40, with $30 available for Seniors (65 and older), and $20 tickets for under 18. Shows are now through March 9 with 7:30pm evening performances Thursday through Saturday, as well as 2pm matinees on Saturdays and Sundays.
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