Hasty Pudding Joins Production Team of Off-Broadway's HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL

The producers of Heathers: The Musical, the new stage adaptation of Daniel Waters' iconic 1989 dark comedy film, have announced that The Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770 has chosen Heathers: The Musical as their first foray into producing a New York stage production. Their newest initiative, Hasty Pudding Presents, is a production arm whose mission is to develop the Hasty Pudding franchise by backing performing arts endeavors consistent with its unique 200 year old brand.

Previews for Heathers: The Musical begin on Saturday, March 15, and the show is set to open on Monday, March 31, 2014 - the 25th Anniversary of the film's release - at New World Stages in New York City (340 West 50th Street). Written by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy) and Emmy Award winner Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness, "Defiance", "Desperate Housewives"), Heathers: The Musical is directed by famed stage and screen director Andy Fickman (Reefer Madness; films: Parental Guidance, She's The Man), with choreography by Emmy Award winner Marguerite Derricks (Fame, Charlie's Angels, Austin Powers films). Tickets are now on sale at Telecharge.com/1-800-447-7400.

The Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770's philanthropic mission is to provide educational and developmental support in all aspects of the performing arts for the underprivileged, to encourage satire and comedy, and to cultivate young talent around the world. The Institute is comprised of The Hasty Pudding Club (the oldest social club in the United States), The Hasty Pudding Theatricals (the third oldest theater group in the world, after the Comédie Française and the Oberammergau Passion Players) and the Harvard Krokodiloes (one of the foremost collegiate a cappella group in the United States). Over the last two centuries, it has grown into a premiere performing arts organization, a patron of the arts and comedy, and an advocate for satire and discourse as tools for change worldwide. Laurence O'Keefe, co-author and producer of HEATHERS, is a graduate of Harvard University and proud alumni of The Hasty Pudding. The cast of Heathers: The Musical will perform during the Pudding's Order of the Golden Sphinx Gala honoring Producer David Heyman on Monday, March 10, 2014 at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. The evening's additional performances are written and composed by O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin.

"Everything I do for a living I learned by performing, writing and composing with the Pudding and the Krokodiloes, so getting a chance to partner with them again is a thrilling homecoming," said O'Keefe. "There's nowhere on Earth like the Pudding. It's not just a professional incubator for young artists and a theater company that's been making audiences cheer for decades; it's a family that teaches everyone it meets how to approach life with laughter and music. HEATHERS continues the Pudding's greatest traditions: speaking out loud, singing louder, and kicking as high as you can. So I'm over the moon that the Pudding and HEATHERS are taking this step together. I am positively cross-dressing with anticipation."

"We are thrilled to launch this new initiative to propel the Institute's mission forward and reach a wider audience," said Andrew L. Farkas, Graduate Chairman and Grand Sphinx of the Hasty Pudding Institute of 1770. "We are excited to partner with Heathers: The Musical and take our first step in expanding the scope of the Institute's presence in the arts and entertainment industry."

"We are thrilled beyond belief that the iconic and legendary Hasty Pudding has joined our merry band of players," added director Andy Fickman. "HEATHERS plans to give the audience a magical musical treat and there is no better partner in the world to help us deliver that gift than Hasty Pudding!

September, 1989. Westerberg High is terrorized by a shoulder-padded, scrunchie-wearing junta: Heather, Heather and Heather, the hottest and cruelest girls in all of Ohio. But misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their evil regime for a new boyfriend, the dark sexy stranger J.D., who plans to put the Heathers in their place - six feet under. Deliciously, darkly funny, romantic and moving, Heathers: The Musical is a truthful, uplifting parable for anyone who's ever been in love, in trouble, or in high school.

Many members of the cast from the sold-out premiere engagement in L.A. will be continuing their roles Off-Broadway, including Barrett Wilbert Weed (Lysistrata Jones, Bare) as Veronica and Ryan McCartan (Disney's "Liv and Maddie") as JD. Taking on the roles of The Heathers are Jessica Keenan Wynn (LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary Nat'l Tour) as Heather Chandler, Elle McLemore (Bring It On: The Musical, "Army Wives") as Heather McNamara and Alice Lee (Spring Awakening, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark) as Heather Duke. Katie Ladner will star as Martha Dunnstock, Jon Eidson as Ram Sweeney, Evan Todd as Kurt Kelly, Tony Award-winner Anthony Crivello (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Golden Boy) as Ram's Dad/Big Bud Dean, Dan Cooney (Mamma Mia, 9 to 5) as Kurt's Dad/Veronica's Dad/Principal, and Michelle Duffy (Leap of Faith) as Ms. Fleming/Veronica's Mom. Completing the cast are Dan Domenech, Cait Fairbanks, Rachel Flynn, Molly Hager, Charissa Hogeland, AJ Meijer, Matthew Schatz and Dustin Sullivan.

The feature film Heathers was released in March 1989 and helped launch the careers of actors Winona Ryder (Veronica), Christian Slater (J.D.) and Shannen Doherty (Heather Duke). The film became a cult favorite, spawning memorable phrases such as "What's your damage?", "It'll be very," and "Are we going to prom or to hell?" that have since enriched the pop culture lexicon. In 2006, Heathers was included in the top five of Entertainment Weekly's list of the "Greatest High School Movies of All Time".

The production features Set Design by Timothy R. Mackabee (Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth), Costume Design by Amy Clark (Chaplin, A Night With Janis Joplin), Lighting Design by Jason Lyons (Rock of Ages, Bring It On: The Musical), Sound Design by Jonny Massena, and Music Direction by Dominick Amendum (First Date).

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is produced Off-Broadway by Hasty Pudding Institute, Bruce Bendell (Grace), Jamie Bendell (A Gentleman's Guide To Love And Murder), Scott Benson (Inappropriate: The Musical), Andy Cohen (Untraceable, Captain Ron), J. Todd Harris (The Kids Are All Right, Bottle Shock, Dr. Zhivago Australian Tour), Amy Powers (Dr. Zhivago, The Game), Scott Prisand (Rock Of Ages, Legally Blonde, Grace) and Big Block Theatrical. Fickman, Murphy and O'Keefe are also producers. Denise Di Novi (the film Heathers; Crazy, Stupid Love) will executive produce.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride