In Heathers: The Musical, high school is a battlefield—and there is a body count. But for the cast of the Off-Broadway revival of the cult hit musical, their own high school was a lot less tense. When asked where the cast sat in their own lunch rooms, a number said they sat with fellow theatre kids. 

"I sat with my mom because she was my theatre teacher, and she had the theatre room open every day," says Casey Likes, who plays bad boy J.D. in the musical.

Heathers: The Musical is currently running at New World Stages, and was recently extended until January 25, 2026. The show, written by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O'Keefe, 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.

The show has become popular among young people everywhere since its first run in 2013 in Los Angeles. Fans even call themselves "Corn Nuts." There are a number of self-professed "Corn Nuts" in this new revival cast. "It deals with real topics like mental health that people struggle with and go through," says Lorna Courtney (who plays Veronica) of why the show is so beloved. "They see the show, and the show is inspiring and uplifting and empowering for them."

See the cast and creative team discuss Heathers in the video above with Playbill's Jeffrey Vizcaíno.

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Photos: Heathers: The Musical Off-Broadway Meets the Press

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The revival cast is led by Lorna Courtney (& Juliet) as Veronica Sawyer, Casey Likes (Back to the Future) as J.D., McKenzie Kurtz (Wicked) as Heather Chandler, Olivia Elease Hardy (Kimberly Akimbo) as Heather Duke, Elizabeth Teeter (Beetlejuice) as Heather McNamara, and Kerry Butler (Beetlejuice) as Ms. Fleming and Veronica's Mom.

They share the stage with Erin Morton as Martha Dunnstock; Xavier McKinnon as Ram Sweeney; Cade Ostermeyer as Kurt Kelly; Ben Davis as Ram's Dad, Big Bud Dean, and Coach Ripper; and Cameron Loyalas Kurt’s Dad, Veronica’s Dad, and Principal Gowan. The ensemble features James Caleb Grice, Devin Lewis, Kiara Michelle Lee, Brian Martin, Syd Sider, and Cecilia Trippied, with standbys and swings Sara Al-Bazali, Emma Benson, Louis Griffin, and Lav Raman rounding out the company. Casting is by The Telsey Office's Rachel Hoffman and Jimmy Larkin.

READ: Big Fun! Look Back on the Original Productions of Heathers the Musical

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.

Fickman reunited with 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.

The associate team includes associate director Taylor Haven Holt, associate lighting designer Colleen Doherty, associate sound designer Germán Martinez, and assistant costume designer Amanda Roberge. Lisa Connell serves as fight director, with Rebecca Reaney as intimacy coordinator. Bess Marie Glorioso is production stage manager, and Katherine Shea and Eszter Zador are assistant stage managers.

General management for Heathers the Musical is by Pemberley Productions. Bill Kenwright LTD., Paul Taylor-Mills, and Jerry Goehring are producing, joined by Madison Mohn, Scott Prisand/Rob Kolson, Broadway Investor's Club, No Guarantees Productions, Willette and Manny Klausner, Aron Tomko, Carl Moellenberg, The Shubert Organization, Inc., Nick Padgett/Vasi Laurence, Andrew Patino/Chris Devlin, John Gore Organization, Richard Batchelder, and Dave Alperson. Pemberley's Tim Smith is serving as executive producer.

Tickets are available at HeatherstheMusical.com.

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Photos: Heathers Off-Broadway Revival

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