On Nov. 7-9, Footlighters returned to the stage with their production of “Heathers: The Musical.” Based on the 1989 cult classic film, “Heathers” blends sharp wit with catchy rock ballads, exploring nuanced themes of adolescence like bullying, peer pressure and suicide. Despite being a college-level production, Footlighters brings a degree of sophistication to each of their performances, and this semester’s show was no different. Their rendition of “Heathers” strays from the original off-Broadway production but in the best way. The group brings “Heathers” to life with detailed props, costumes and sound effects that add a modern flair without compromising the irreverence and emotional depth that fans of the musical have come to love.
Set in the fictional Westerberg High School, “Heathers” follows the journey of outcast Veronica Sawyer who seeks to join the Heathers—the three most popular girls at school. Your quintessential mean girls, the Heathers embody everything that is wrong with high school. While Veronica despises their methods, she believes being a part of the Heathers and hating life is much better than navigating high school without their status and protection, a commonality between older and newer teen narratives alike. Through its musical numbers, “Heathers” documents the ups and downs of Veronica’s rise to popularity, complicated by her male interest Jason “J.D.” Dean, the poetry-quoting new kid. Together, the pair seeks to rewrite their high school story by whatever means necessary—even murder.
Fourth-year student Daniela Richardson played the perfect Veronica. Her portrayal of the disillusioned high schooler was relatable and poignant with stand-out vocals in songs like “Dead Girl Walking” and “Seventeen.” With each number, Richardson captured Veronica’s internal conflict—her desire for power and acceptance mixed with her growing awareness of the moral consequences of her actions. Her partner in crime J.D. was just as talented. Playing J.D. demands a delicate balance of menace and vulnerability, and second-year Jack Exline rose to the challenge. In the darkly comedic “Freeze Your Brain,” J.D. convinces Veronica that numbing her emotions through slushies and rebellion is the key to freedom. These two deserve special applause for handling the show’s more provocative scenes with depth and professionalism that speak to their strength as performers.
The ensemble—consisting of fourth-year Katelyn Miller as Heather Chandler, first-year Evie Oehlers as Heather McNamara and first-year Kashmere Shafik as Heather Duke—brought girlish flair and attitude to their respective roles. “Heathers” is, after all, as much about the Heathers as it is about Veronica and J.D., and these actors fully embraced the exaggerated personas of their characters. Notably, the self-proclaimed “queen bee” Heather Chandler delivered her lines with confidence and subtle humor, particularly in the iconic “Candy Store” number where she encourages Veronica to embrace her dark side.
One of Footlighters’ largest casts, every one of the 22 students owned their roles. And some other standout performances came from the ditzy Mrs. Fleming, played by second-year Eva Lavrinc, and our favorite football players Kurt and Ram, played by first-year Austin Kennedy and second-year AJ Williams, respectively. All three shone in their respective roles, bringing life to their characters and featured musical numbers.
As with all productions, great actors are a small part of the overall experience. The sets, sounds, lights and dance numbers bear just as much weight. Once again, Footlighters did not disappoint in terms of set design. From the rainbow lights projected at the end of “My Dead Gay Son” to the realistic design of the 7-Eleven fitted with a fluorescent light, there was always something to catch your eye. I will not forget to give a special mention to the sound team for their perfectly-timed effects or the live pit who carried out the show’s rock-infused score with an infectious energy. They may have been tucked into the lower level of Eldred Hall, but their contributions shall not be overlooked!
“Heathers” was another triumph for Footlighters, proving that you do not need to be professionals to put on a great show. The team of over 100 students brought their passion, dedication and love for theater to the stage, and I think every audience member could feel it. With well-designed sets, coordinated costumes, lights and, of course, a talented cast, “Heathers” blended humor, horror and heart in one fell swoop. Even if you missed this semester’s show, rest assured that the crew will be back very soon, bringing yet another unforgettable performance to our humble Eldred stage.