Heathers: High School Edition

The Arts Department presents
HEATHERS:
THE MUSICAL
HIGH SCHOOL EDITION

Book, music, and lyrics by
Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin Murphy
Based on the film written by Daniel Waters

Friday, February 18, 2022
Saturday, February 19, 2022
7:30 p.m.

Theodore G. Bergmann Theater
at the
Wilkie Center for the Performing Arts

Originally directed Off-Broadway by Andy Fickman and choreographed by Marguerite Derricks.
Heathers: The Musical, High School Edition is presented by arrangement
with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com

THE VIDEOTAPING OR MAKING OF ELECTRONIC OR OTHER AUDIO AND/OR VISUAL RECORDINGS OF THIS PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTING RECORDINGS OR STREAMS IN ANY MEDIUM, INCLUDING THE INTERNET, IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED, A VIOLATION OF THE AUTHORS' RIGHTS AND ACTIONABLE UNDER UNITED STATES COPYRIGHT LAW. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT: https://concordtheatricals.com/resources/protecting-artists

NOTES

A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTORS

This show has been an absolute blast to put together. Working with this group of students was an exciting prospect; we knew we had the makings of a triumphant return to live theater. This is a group of students who were excited to really dig into the work.

Most of the time that we perform a musical with high school students, the actors are mostly portraying people in a different stage of life. With this show, the actors get to embody people their own age. They get to dig into their characters from a place of true knowing. Because of that inherent connection to their characters—even when the character's personality is very different from the actor's—this show has an electricity to it. These actors sparkle in these scenes and these songs. The crew has taken the sets and effects and run with them. The musicians are locked in, forming a tight ensemble in collaboration with the singers.

Though it is definitely dark, Heathers is also lighthearted in its treatment of the darkness. The writers, and the actors in turn, have found a way to illuminate the absurdity in what feels like the abyss of the high school social hierarchy. Laughing at these situations is fun—necessary, even, and cathartic.

With that said, as educators, we take many of these topics seriously. There is nothing funny about the real-world issues of gun violence, bullying, and suicide. We have included some resources below in case any of you in the audience, or anyone you love, might be struggling.

Please enjoy this delightful show.

CONTENT WARNINGS

This is not an exhaustive list of content warnings, but these are the most prominent: suicidal ideation; suicide attempt; swearing; sex; gun violence; violent death/murder; minor child abuse.

SUICIDE RESOURCES

If you are struggling with mental health challenges or thoughts of suicide, know that you are not alone. For students, campus resources are available through the Duncan Health and Wellness Center (978-499-3126). For faculty and staff, resources are available through The EAP.

If you are in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisis Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). Both services are free and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential.

For LGBTQ+ youth, The Trevor Project is a helpful resource. The Association for Suicide Prevention also maintains a list of mental health resources specifically for underrepresented communities.

A NOTE ABOUT SAFETY

A rubber firearm—with no moving parts or functionality of any kind—is used in this performance. The on-stage use of a gun is central to the plot of this show, so we opted to include the prop weapon in its safest possible form. We have temporarily blacked out the orange tip of the prop gun.

ACTS & MUSICAL NUMBERS

ACT ONE

BEAUTIFUL (Part I)
Veronica, Martha, Ram, Kurt, Principal Gowan, Coach Ripper, Ms. Fleming, Student Ensemble

BEAUTIFUL (Part II)
Veronica, Heather Chandler, Heather Duke, Heather McNamara, Ms. Fleming, Principal Gowan, Coach Ripper, Student Ensemble

CANDY STORE
Heather Chandler, Heather Duke, Heather McNamara

FIGHT FOR ME
Veronica, Student Ensemble

FREEZE YOUR BRAIN
J.D.

BIG FUN
Ram, Kurt, Heather Chandler, Heather McNamara, Heather Duke, Veronica, Student Ensemble

DEAD GIRL WALKING
Veronica, J.D.

THE ME INSIDE OF ME
Veronica, J.D., Dead Heather Chandler, Officer Milner, Officer McCord, Ms. Fleming, Principal Gowan, Coach Ripper, Student Ensemble

YOU'RE WELCOME
Veronica, Ram, Kurt

NEVER SHUT UP AGAIN
Heather Duke, Veronica, Ram, Kurt, Student Ensemble

OUR LOVE IS GOD
J.D., Veronica, Student Ensemble

INTERMISSION

ACT TWO

PROM OR HELL?
Veronica

MY DEAD GAY SON
Ram's Dad, Kurt's Dad, Ensemble

SEVENTEEN
Veronica, J.D.

SHINE A LIGHT
Ms. Fleming, Ensemble

LIFEBOAT
Heather McNamara

SHINE A LIGHT (Reprise)
Heather Duke, Ensemble

I SAY NO
Veronica

HEY YO WESTERBERG
Heather McNamara, Student Ensemble

KINDERGARTEN BOYFRIEND
Martha

YO, GIRL / MEANT TO BE
J.D., Dead Heather Chandler, Dead Ram, Dead Kurt, Student Ensemble

DEAD GIRL WALKING (Reprise)
Veronica, J.D., Student Ensemble

FINALE (SEVENTEEN)
Company

THE CAST
in order of appearance

VERONICA SAWYER
Amalka Stuck '23

RAM SWEENEY
Cecelia Rhodes '22

MARTHA DUNNSTOCK
Liv Pasquale '22

KURT KELLY
Ericson Kuo '22

HEATHER McNAMARA
Emma Dawson '22

HEATHER DUKE
Rayha Karanth '22

HEATHER CHANDLER
Selina Liu '22

JASON DEAN (J.D.)
Helena Kristensen '22

PRINCIPAL GOWAN
Evelyn Zhang '23

COACH RIPPER
Lily Ewald '24

MS. FLEMING
Nyati Misra '23

VERONICA'S MOM
Josephine DelGaizo '24

VERONICA'S DAD
Jason Zhu '24

RAM'S DAD
Kevin Jiao '24

KURT'S DAD
Bryce Ciampitti '23

OFFICER McCORD
Cosima Mosher-Owens '25

OFFICER MILNER
Maddie Goldsmith '25

BIG BUD DEAN
Abby Boyko '22

PREPPY STUD
Jason Zhu '24 (doubling)

HIPSTER DORK
Katie Robey '23

STONER CHICK
Josephine DelGaizo '24 (doubling)

YOUNG REPUBLICANETTE
Alice Murphy '25

BELEAGUERED GEEK
Edward Shen '25

NEW WAVE GIRL
Khanh Vu '25

THE PIT

FLUTE
Maggie Zhou '25

CLARINET
Nate Lynch '25

SAXOPHONES
Rob Daisy

TRUMPET
Tim Deik

TROMBONE
Harry Nie '23

VIOLIN
Edward Qi '22 & Christina Wang '23

CELLO
Albert Niu '23

PIANO
Radmila Repczynski P'25

SYNTHESIZER
Colin Henkes '23

GUITAR
Joey DiNanno '24

ELECTRIC BASS
Hazen Dixon '24

DRUM SET
YJ Zhao '25 & Roger Brockelbank

THE CREW

ASSISTANT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR & LIGHTING DESIGNER
Katie Riley '22

STAGE MANAGER
Tyler Garvey '22

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGERS
Beatrix Brown '25 & Alice Murphy '25

LIGHT BOARD OPERATOR
Christine Qian '22

SOUND DESIGNER & PROPERTIES MASTER
Maillie Staff '24

SOUND BOARD OPERATOR
Nick Reimer '24

SCENIC DESIGNER & CAMERA CONTROL OPERATOR
Lizzie DelMonico '22

MASTER CARPENTER
Elly Gulick '24

CAMERA OPERATORS
Henry Gesing '25 & Peter Abenante '25

SPOTLIGHT OPERATORS
Nate Armondino '24, Elly Gulick '24, John Wallace '25, & Morgan Proops '24

THE DIRECTORS

DIRECTOR
Geoff Brace

MUSIC DIRECTOR
Currie Joya Huntington

TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Joe Repczynski P'25

PIT ENSEMBLE DIRECTOR
Gabby Tober

CHOREOGRAPHER
Jen Steeves

COSTUME DESIGNER
Bonniejean Wilbur

SPECIAL THANKS

The parents and families of the cast, crew, and pit; Tom Woodruff, Chris Champion, Randy Lyon, and all the members of the Facilities Department; Head of School Peter Quimby, Ph.D., '85, P'14 and Dr. Laurie Quimby; Director of Athletics and Afternoon Program Claudia Barcomb; Jed Wartman and the Dean of Students team; and the entire faculty, staff, student, and family community at Governor’s.

THE ARTS DEPARTMENT

Geoff Brace
Film, Architecture & Theater

Fontaine Dubus P’11, ’13, ’15
Asst. Director of Dance

Shanna Fliegel
Clay & 3D

Currie Joya Huntington
Arts Department Chair; Director of Choral Music

David Oxton P’03, ’08
Photography

Monica Palmer, Ed.D. P’21
Dean of Faculty; Theater

Joe Repczynski
Director of Technical Theater

Radmila Repczynski
Collaborative Pianist

Pam Smith
Asst. Director of Dance

Erin Staffiere
Director of Dance

Belle Struck ’94
Studio Art

Gabby Tober
Director of Instrumental Music

Paul Wann P’94
Theater, Public Speaking & English

The Arts Department presentsHEATHERS: THE MUSICALHIGH SCHOOL EDITION

Book, music, and lyrics by Laurence O'Keefe and Kevin MurphyBased on the film written by Daniel Waters