Press release:
On August 9-11 and August 16-18, the 1989 dark comedy Heathers comes to life onstage at Castaways Theatre with Heathers: The Musical, featuring a talent-stacked cast of performers from across the DMV.
Heathers centers on high school student, Veronica Sawyer, fighting to survive the senior year to end all senior years, contending with bully jocks, clueless teachers, backstabbing “friends” and, of course—murder.
Heathers presents a heightened reality where the social stakes of high school are literally life or death. The bright, cartoonish color palette is contrasted by the dark and oftentimes controversial subject matter, offering the audience moments of shock, heartbreak, and laughter—heavy on the laughter.
“My favorite thing is the amount of play I’m able to get away with,” says Maddie Siepe, who plays Heather Chandler, one of the show’s central villains. “The freedom to be unhinged and big in my choices is something that I’ve been starving for.”
While the original film was released in 1989, according to Castaways’ cast of young performers, the central themes of Heathers still ring true.
“I believe this show resonates with a lot of people in different ways because it’s such a universal experience,” says Sophia Sharaa, who plays protagonist Veronica Sawyer, portrayed in the film by Winona Ryder. “Who am I? What am I doing? Where am I going? Why am I here? Those words resonate to everyone.”
“Those who hurt others hurt only themselves in the end,” adds Jax Berg, who plays Veronica’s brooding love interest, Jason “JD” Dean, played in the film by Christian Slater.
Revisit this nostalgic favorite set to a rousing pop-rock score, and enjoy the characters and catchphrases of the classic film like never before.
Heathers runs August 9-11 and August 16-18 at the A.J. Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Dr., Woodbridge, VA 22191.
Tickets run $18 – $20 and are available for purchase at the door, or at castawaystheatre.org under “Production & Auditions.”
About Castaways Theatre
Since 1981, we’ve been committed to the local community, award-winning performances, and having fun in the process by producing plays and musicals. www.castawaystheatre.org
To widen and vary the audience scope, Castaways Theatre has initiated a survey to collect opinions from the community on the types of plays they would like to see in future productions. The goal is to ensure that the theater caters to diverse preferences.
The recent productions, including the stage adaptation of the award-winning 1985 film documentary “SHOAH” and the upcoming performance of “Heathers,” highlight Castaways Theatre’s commitment to presenting various theatrical experiences.
“SHOAH,” a condensed version of the original 9-hour film, delves into the inhumanity of the “Final Solution” during the World War II years of 1942-1944. The theater has hosted performances at the AJ Ferlazzo Building in Woodbridge, Va.
Castaways Theatre comprises individuals who contribute their time and effort to provide quality live theatre to the community. Castaways Theatre is affiliated with the Prince William Arts Council, Prince William Chamber of Commerce, NVTA (formerly the Northern Virginia Theatre Alliance), and WATCH (Washington Area Theatre Community Honors). Partial funding for their endeavors has been provided by Prince William County.
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Castaways Theatre: “The Holocaust is a passion of mine. I lost family in the Holocaust and those that I knew who survived, I could always see the pain in their eyes, it never left. When I first saw the documentary in 1985, I was mesmerized. As I got more enveloped in the theatre, I knew I wanted to adapt the transcript to stage,” said Dr. Harry Kantrovich (play director).”
“SHOAH is the stage adaptation of the award-winning 1985 film documentary by French director Claude Lanzmann. The original 9-hour film has been condensed for the stage and includes interviews with Holocaust survivors, former members of Nazi organizations, and residents of communities near the death camps. The goal of SHOAH is unique and single-minded: to describe in detail the inhumanity of the “Final Solution” during the World War II years of 1942-1944.”
“Performances in 2024 will be at the AJ Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge VA on Fridays and Saturdays, January 5, 6, 12, 13 at 7:30 PM and Sundays, January 7, 14 at 2 PM. Order tickets today at castawaystheatre.org. Castaways is partially supported by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment of the Arts.
“Castaways Theatre is a non-profit theater company. Castaways seeks to enrich and entertain a range of audiences through a variety of live productions that enhance the cultural life of the community.”
Castaways Theatre: “SHOAH is the stage adaptation of the award-winning 1985 film documentary by French director Claude Lanzmann. The original 9-hour film has been condensed for the stage and includes interviews with Holocaust survivors, former members of Nazi organizations, and residents of communities near the death camps. The goal of SHOAH is unique and single-minded: to describe in detail the inhumanity of the “Final Solution” during the World War II years of 1942-1944.”
“The stage adaptation of SHOAH provides an opportunity to educate, understand, and live it in our hearts and minds. As Simone de Beauvoir stated: “It becomes our experience.”
“More than twenty actors will touch your heart as they recall their time during the Holocaust. A cellist and violinist perform actual music written by Jewish concentration camp inmates.”
“Performances in 2024 will be at the AJ Ferlazzo Building, 15941 Donald Curtis Drive, Woodbridge VA on Fridays and Saturdays, January 5, 6, 12, 13 at 7:30 PM and Sundays, January 7, 14 at 2 PM. Order tickets today at castawaystheatre.org. Castaways is partially supported by a grant from the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment of the Arts.
“Castaways Theatre is a non-profit theater company. Castaways seeks to enrich and entertain a range of audiences through a variety of live productions that enhance the cultural life of the community.”
