‘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 无毛视频淗eathers: The Musical无毛视频� 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 无毛视频� 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 无毛视频� including concerns about popularity and acceptance.
无毛视频淗eathers: The Musical无毛视频� (based on the 1989 film 无毛视频淗eathers无毛视频�) will tell their stories 无毛视频� both tragic and comedic 无毛视频� through song and dance today through Sunday at the Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale.
无毛视频淚 chose this show in hopes to bring a ray of hope into today无毛视频檚 world that we can all find peace,无毛视频� said the show无毛视频檚 director, Chris Schaffer. 无毛视频淲e can all see we are beautiful in our own ways.无毛视频�
Like the movie, the stage production centers around the complicated relationship of high school students JD and Veronica.
无毛视频淛D, who dislikes most people, has moved from town to town to follow his father无毛视频檚 job,无毛视频� Schaffer said. 无毛视频淰eronica is unpopular and picked on and longs to be accepted to make it through high school.无毛视频�
In a bid to make her time in high school a little less angsty, Veronica befriends the three Heathers 无毛视频� each beautiful, popular and untouchable. She also starts a romance with JD that will change Westerberg High forever.
无毛视频淭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,无毛视频� Schaffer said.
While the musical (and the movie) both death with sensitive and adult topics, both also include a fair bit of dark humor.
无毛视频淚t无毛视频檚 challenging to keep the balance between light-hearted moments and the severely dramatic scenes,无毛视频� Schaffer said. 无毛视频淚 wanted to be respectful to the subject matter and audience while still telling the story the way it needs to be told.无毛视频�
He said the show无毛视频檚 songs range from hilarious to powerful with such selections as 无毛视频淐andy Store,无毛视频� 无毛视频淣ever Shut Up Again,无毛视频� 无毛视频淏ig Fun无毛视频� and 无毛视频淪hine A Light.无毛视频� Those four, he said, are incredibly catchy and feature choreography guaranteed to wow the audience. Other songs like 无毛视频淒ead Girl Walking,无毛视频� 无毛视频淔reeze Your Brain,无毛视频� 无毛视频淪eventeen,无毛视频� and 无毛视频淟ifeboat无毛视频� are meant to evoke strong emotions in the audience.
无毛视频淲e are fortunate enough to have two dynamite singers like Aubrey Burchell and Aiden Cheek whose singing will move you to tears,无毛视频� Schaffer said. 无毛视频淭he vocals and dancing are amazing and guaranteed to have people singing these songs after leaving.无毛视频�
Burchell, of North Huntingdon, plays Veronica. She said showing the character无毛视频檚 wide berth of emotions was a fantastic challenge.
无毛视频淪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,无毛视频� Burchell said. 无毛视频淪he is kind and stands up for what she believes in.无毛视频�
Cheek, of Peters Township, plays JD. He classified the character as a walking red flag 无毛视频� the kind of boy no parent would want their child to date.
无毛视频淭he role is very all over the place, and I feel like I get to portray every single emotion at once,无毛视频� 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无毛视频檚 actors embraced their roles fully.
无毛视频淲ith a cast this big, if even one person is not feeling their role, it can make it hard for everyone on stage,无毛视频� Mitchell said. 无毛视频淭hey have all worked incredibly hard, and it really shows.无毛视频�
Schaffer agreed.
无毛视频淓ach person in the show takes on a different character and represents different groups of high school students,无毛视频� he said. 无毛视频淥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无毛视频檓 watching people act.无毛视频�
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.