Vancouver Sun Entertainment Blogger has featured Heathers the Musical in a recent post. 

 

Years in High School: 3. Producing Indie Theatre: A lifetime

 

In the last week I have been inundated with invites, requests, plans and other general info about 2 upcoming events. A) an impending high school event back in Saskatchewan and B) a local independent theatre company producing what will be the show of 2016 in Vancouver. I then realized that the 2 aren’t so different. High school has its cliques: Jocks, Nerds, Rich-Kids, Indie Theatre has its cliques: Technicians, Designers, Actors. High school has its pressures: Exams, Prom dates, Beer money. Indie Theatre has its pressures: Reviews, Ticket Sales, Beer money. So my question was, how can 2 seemingly completely different parts of my life control my emails inbox all at once?

 

About 1 million emails later and I thought I had my answer. My flight is booked for the summer reunion, I had volunteered my parents farm for the weekend BBQ and dance and I had called my old girlfriend (who has a kid and is married…) But I still wanted to connect with the team behind what is quickly becoming the most ambitious show for the Vancouver 2016 theatre scene.

 

David C. Jones the director behind Heathers: The Musical is bringing every once of truth and passion from his devoted team of creatives on stage and off stage. “Although set in 1989 the issues are still obviously relevant today. This musical allows us to look at it from a safe distance and uses comedy to make light of the heaviness. My vision for the the show is bigger, deeper, raw(er). I want truth and risk.” A little further into our conversation I came to realize that Heathers: The Musical is based on the 1988 cult classic film Heathers. Although the staged version is almost identical to the filmed there are still many differences. For those people that loved the film, David C. Jones guarantees that “This musical will capture you with it’s fantastic and memorable score by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe, the audacious cruelty of the bullies and the innovative desperation of the protagonists will shock and engage audiences.”

 

I still wasn’t sold on the weird happenings of my seemingly possessed inbox: High School reunion, Theatre. This is when Producer/Actor Lori Watt and I were able to share a long overdue Skype session. Her experience with Heathers: The Musical sold it for me. “Having attended a private catholic girls high school myself (many years ago) I could totally relate to the class distinction between the “Heathers” and everyone else. The stereotypes portrayed in the movie weren’t that far off from the ‘popular’ girls at Marion High and the jocks that went to St. Thomas Moore.” That sounded like my time in school as well and I knew that this was all meant to happen in the same week. “Teen years can be tough and trying at times, I can remember wondering if I’d ever get through it. Having been a fan of the original movie back in 1988 (written by Daniel Waters) I was thrilled at an opportunity to relive the teen angst “bullshit” that is Heathers: The Musical”

 

Both Lori Watt and David C. Jones have been involved in the Performing Arts for years (I’m legally not allowed to say) their experience, passion and artistic integrity is what is going to make Heathers: The Musical stand above the rest. Something that is making waves already is David C. Jones mandate to cast the show reflecting the multiculterism of Vancouver. “I was also committed to making the show reflect the diversity of Vancouver and have achieve a 53% non-Caucasian cast. No tokenism and no colourful chorus only.” His demand for honesty is going to make fireworks. On top of that Lori Watt’s extensive resume and her drive to find truthful theatre in Vancouver is second to none. “In 2014 I went to New York to see some shows (I go as often as I can to New York to see shows) and to my delight Heathers: The musical was making it’s world premier at the New World Stages. In that moment I knew I had to bring Heathers: The Musical to Vancouver.”

 

A show set in high school tackling high school issues set in my birth year… Was this some sort of weird joke my roommate was playing on me with the School Reunion and seeing Heathers: The Musical pop up in my Facebook newsfeed? I decided it must be a sign. I myself have had the same trials and tribulations in high school as many of us. I have also encountered a mirrored set of problems in the theatre world. But then I thought, “hold on” at the end of the day we are all there for the same reason. To create something beautiful. David C. Jones and Lori Watt are bringing a show to Vancouver that does that. You won’t want to miss it.

 

Heathers: The Musical plays at the beautiful York Theatre from January 6-17, 2016. Its the perfect CHristmas present for anyone!

 

Style Stenberg