‘Heathers: The Musical’ channels high school struggles in GPAC show
Actors (from left) Sierra Mitchell, Grace Phillips and McKinley Klotz play the three Heathers (McNamara, Duke and Chandler) in 鈥淗eathers: The Musical鈥� at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale.
In a photo that mimics the poster for the "Heathers: The Musical" are actors the Sierra Mitchell, Grace Phillips and McKinley Klotz.
The social hierarchy at Westerberg High is tough to navigate 鈥� just ask Veronica Sawyer or her romantic interest JD.
Run by Heather Duke, Heather McNamara and Heather Chandler, the fictional school is rife with typical teenage strife 鈥� including concerns about popularity and acceptance.
鈥淗eathers: The Musical鈥� (based on the 1989 film 鈥淗eathers鈥�) will tell their stories 鈥� both tragic and comedic 鈥� through song and dance today through Sunday at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale.
鈥淚 chose this show in hopes to bring a ray of hope into today鈥檚 world that we can all find peace,鈥� said the show鈥檚 director, Chris Schaffer. 鈥淲e can all see we are beautiful in our own ways.鈥�
Like the movie, the stage production centers around the complicated relationship of high school students JD and Veronica.
鈥淛D, who dislikes most people, has moved from town to town to follow his father鈥檚 job,鈥� Schaffer said. 鈥淰eronica is unpopular and picked on and longs to be accepted to make it through high school.鈥�
In a bid to make her time in high school a little less angsty, Veronica befriends the three Heathers 鈥� each beautiful, popular and untouchable. She also starts a romance with JD that will change Westerberg High forever.
鈥淭he show reflects the lengths that teens will go to to be accepted, and the tragedy that can come from feeling rejected or like an outcast,鈥� Schaffer said.
While the musical (and the movie) both death with sensitive and adult topics, both also include a fair bit of dark humor.
鈥淚t鈥檚 challenging to keep the balance between light-hearted moments and the severely dramatic scenes,鈥� Schaffer said. 鈥淚 wanted to be respectful to the subject matter and audience while still telling the story the way it needs to be told.鈥�
He said the show鈥檚 songs range from hilarious to powerful with such selections as 鈥淐andy Store,鈥� 鈥淣ever Shut Up Again,鈥� 鈥淏ig Fun鈥� and 鈥淪hine A Light.鈥� Those four, he said, are incredibly catchy and feature choreography guaranteed to wow the audience. Other songs like 鈥淒ead Girl Walking,鈥� 鈥淔reeze Your Brain,鈥� 鈥淪eventeen,鈥� and 鈥淟ifeboat鈥� are meant to evoke strong emotions in the audience.
鈥淲e are fortunate enough to have two dynamite singers like Aubrey Burchell and Aiden Cheek whose singing will move you to tears,鈥� Schaffer said. 鈥淭he vocals and dancing are amazing and guaranteed to have people singing these songs after leaving.鈥�
Burchell, of North Huntingdon, plays Veronica. She said showing the character鈥檚 wide berth of emotions was a fantastic challenge.
鈥淪he is a cool, yet still dorky, teen who feels she is wise, but is a tad more na茂ve than she lets on,鈥� Burchell said. 鈥淪he is kind and stands up for what she believes in.鈥�
Cheek, of Peters Township, plays JD. He classified the character as a walking red flag 鈥� the kind of boy no parent would want their child to date.
鈥淭he role is very all over the place, and I feel like I get to portray every single emotion at once,鈥� he said.
The show has 31 performers and 10 artistic staff/crew helping to put the production together.
Assistant Director Becca Mitchell said all of the show鈥檚 actors embraced their roles fully.
鈥淲ith a cast this big, if even one person is not feeling their role, it can make it hard for everyone on stage,鈥� Mitchell said. 鈥淭hey have all worked incredibly hard, and it really shows.鈥�
Schaffer agreed.
鈥淓ach person in the show takes on a different character and represents different groups of high school students,鈥� he said. 鈥淥ur leads have been amazing at showing the pain and awkwardness of being a high school teenager. They all do so well I forget I鈥檓 watching people act.鈥�
The show, intended for mature audiences, will be performed today through Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at geyerpac.com, or at the door of the Geyer Performing Arts Center, 111 Pittsburgh St., Scottdale.