Heathers Off-Broadway Is Getting a New Football Star

Off-Broadway's Heathers revival is getting more new students later this month, as the multi-extended production continues at New World Stages. Original cast member Xavier McKinnon has taken his final bow as Ram Sweeney, and beginning April 27, Chris Marsh Clark (A Beautiful Noise) will succeed him in the role.

Understudy James Caleb Grice is playing Ram through April 26, with Daniel Brackett (Redwood) joining in Grice's usual roles of Beleaguered Geek and Officer McCord April 13-26.

“I have had the best time at Westerberg High and will miss the Heathers cast so much, especially my fantastic scene partner, Cade Ostermeyer,” says McKinnon in a statement. “I’m sad to leave, but I know Chris Marsh Clark is going to be a wonderful addition to the cast.”

Clark joins the company as especially apt casting, with a background playing high school football and starring in school plays. He's previously performed with the national tours of A Beautiful Noise and Escape to Margaritaville. He will join the revival alongside screen star Lisa Ann Walter (Abbott Elementary) in her Off-Broadway stage debut as Westerberg High guidance counselor Ms. Fleming and Veronica's mom, Isabelle Esler (Beetlejuice) as Veronica, John Cardoza (The Notebook) as J.D., and Zan Berube (Back to the Future) as Heather Chandler, as previously announced. Current stars Casey Likes, Peyton List, and Kate Rockwell take their final bows as J.D., Heather Chandler, and Ms. Fleming, respectively, April 26, while current Veronica, Kuhoo Verma, plays her final performance April 12. Standby Sara Al-Bazali will star as Veronica April 13-26.

This revival opened July 10, 2025, and is currently set to continue through September 6. The cult favorite show is back in the venue that hosted its original production, now coming via London's The Other Palace. Adapted from the 1988 film, the musical follows Westerberg High student Veronica Sawyer, who's on track to become one of the most popular girls in school after befriending the beautiful but cruel Heathers, only to meet a mysterious teen rebel who changes everything. Andy Fickman directs.

The revival cast is currently led by Verma (Octet) as Veronica Sawyer, Likes (Back to the Future) as J.D., List as Heather Chandler, Jackera Davis (Beetlejuice) as Heather Duke, Elizabeth Teeter (Beetlejuice) as Heather McNamara, and Rockwell (Beetlejuice) as Ms. Fleming and Veronica's Mom. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Rachel Hoffman and Jimmy Larkin.

Heathers the Musical premiered with a sold-out run in Los Angeles in 2013, and transferred to New World Stages in 2014, also directed by Fickman in a different staging. The authors revised the show for a 2018 West End run, before playing two national tours and a West End encore engagement—several new songs and script changes can be heard in New York for the first time in this revival.

READ: Heathers, Where Are They Now?

Fickman reunited his London creative team for the Off-Broadway mounting, including choreographer Gary Lloyd (the New York iteration also includes additional choreography by Stephanie Klemons), set and costume designer David Shields (this staging also features co-costume design by Siena Zoë Allen), lighting designer Ben Cracknell, and sound designer Dan Samson. Will Joy serves as music supervisor, with Mona Seyed-Bolorforosh as music director. Jason Weixelman is production stage manager, with Elizabeth Allen stage managing and Eszter Zador serving as assistant stage manager.