'Witch Mountain' helmer Andy Fickman developing prod'n
By Borys Kit
Get ready for "Heathers: The Musical."
The influential 1988 teen dark comedy, which launched the careers of Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and scribe Dan Waters, is stagebound in a production being developed by Andy Fickman, director of "Race to Witch Mountain," who is making a return to his musical roots.
Fickman, who helmed the musical "Reefer Madness," is working with "Reefer" partner Kevin Murphy, who is writing the "Heathers" lyrics and the book, and composer Larry O'Keefe, who earned a Tony nomination for best score for the Broadway version of "Legally Blonde."
The trio has worked on the production under the radar for some time, even doing readings this week in Endeavor's screening room. The readings saw "Veronica Mars" star Kristen Bell playing the lead and Christian Campbell as J.D., with Jenna Leigh Green ("Wicked"), BrokeDown Cadillac lead singer Corri English and Christine Lakin (the CW's "Valentine") as the three Heathers.
The actors doing the reading will not necessarily do the musical; that depends on their availability when the play is mounted.
Andy Cohen, J. Todd Harris and Amy Powers are producing with Fickman, Murphy and O'Keefe.
Denise Di Novi, who produced the movie, is executive producing the musical. Lakeshore Entertainment also is creatively involved.
The project has the blessing of Waters, who controls the underlying rights to the material. Fickman said he sat down with Waters early on "to make sure we were on the same page" and that Waters has seen the readings.
"He understood that our goals were to be creatively attuned to his original work," said Fickman, who is repped by Endeavor and Evolution.
The film offered many over-top-moments as well as choice lines, something Fickman is eager to bring out musically.
" 'I love my dead gay son," Fickman quoted. "If you can get that into a song, then that is just perfect."
The creative team hopes to have a fully mounted regional production ready for 2010, followed ideally by a Broadway run. The next step would see the stage show adapted for the big screen -- the way John Waters' 1988 film "Hairspray" became a Broadway musical that was then adapted into a hit movie musical.
Damnit i want to see this. But i must say Kristen Bell as Veronica in this seems WAY OFF. She does not have any of the darkness or angst that Winona possesed in the film. that will not work. and CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL as JD? COME ON he's not at all mysterious or sexy enough to play bad boy JD! what are they thinking?
but hey i'd still see this.
Heathers is such a perfect movie though i'm almost sad to see someone else trying to recreate it in any medium.
Ps. I am so praying they can get Shannen Doherty to appear in this in ANY ROLE... seriously that would be KICK BUTT!
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Boidiva02,
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
Originally posted by Boidiva02: Damnit i want to see this. But i must say Kristen Bell as Veronica in this seems WAY OFF. She does not have any of the darkness or angst that Winona possesed in the film. that will not work. and CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL as JD? COME ON he's not at all mysterious or sexy enough to play bad boy JD! what are they thinking?
but hey i'd still see this.
Heathers is such a perfect movie though i'm almost sad to see someone else trying to recreate it in any medium.
Ps. I am so praying they can get Shannen Doherty to appear in this in ANY ROLE... seriously that would be KICK BUTT!
"Veronica Mars" was a pretty dark show, Veronica was date raped in the first episode, and Kristen Bell was dripping with angst and sarcasm. She was a psychopath on "Heroes". Ditto on a few episodes of "Deadwood". Have you only seen Bell in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"?
Can Shannon Doherty sing?
This message has been edited. Last edited by: pacinofan,
Posts: 27141 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
Originally posted by Boidiva02: Damnit i want to see this. But i must say Kristen Bell as Veronica in this seems WAY OFF. She does not have any of the darkness or angst that Winona possesed in the film. that will not work. and CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL as JD? COME ON he's not at all mysterious or sexy enough to play bad boy JD! what are they thinking?
but hey i'd still see this.
Heathers is such a perfect movie though i'm almost sad to see someone else trying to recreate it in any medium.
Ps. I am so praying they can get Shannen Doherty to appear in this in ANY ROLE... seriously that would be KICK BUTT!
"Veronica Mars" was a pretty dark show, Veronica was date raped in the first episode, and Kristen Bell was dripping with angst and sarcasm. She was a psychopath on "Heroes". Ditto on a few episodes of "Deadwood". Have you only seen Bell in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"?
Can Shannon Doherty sing?
In regards to Kristen Bell---yes, FSM is all i know her from but based on her general demeanor in interviews and the press she seems very bubbly and up-beat- i just can't picture her in the agnsty role of Veronica but if you say she can do it i believe you..
In regards to Shannen---i was thinking more of a non-singing cameo in the play; perhaps with just one or two non-musical lines.
It would just kick butt to see her in this play in anyway...
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
Originally posted by Boidiva02: Damnit i want to see this. But i must say Kristen Bell as Veronica in this seems WAY OFF. She does not have any of the darkness or angst that Winona possesed in the film. that will not work. and CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL as JD? COME ON he's not at all mysterious or sexy enough to play bad boy JD! what are they thinking?
but hey i'd still see this.
Heathers is such a perfect movie though i'm almost sad to see someone else trying to recreate it in any medium.
Ps. I am so praying they can get Shannen Doherty to appear in this in ANY ROLE... seriously that would be KICK BUTT!
"Veronica Mars" was a pretty dark show, Veronica was date raped in the first episode, and Kristen Bell was dripping with angst and sarcasm. She was a psychopath on "Heroes". Ditto on a few episodes of "Deadwood". Have you only seen Bell in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"?
Can Shannon Doherty sing?
In regards to Kristen Bell---yes, FSM is all i know her from but based on her general demeanor in interviews and the press she seems very bubbly and up-beat- i just can't picture her in the agnsty role of Veronica but if you say she can do it i believe you..
In regards to Shannen---i was thinking more of a non-singing cameo in the play; perhaps with just one or two non-musical lines.
It would just kick butt to see her in this play in anyway...
I would not expect doing a small role in a theatrical version of "Heathers" is anything Shannon Doherty would want to do. Doing theatre is a big step down in salary for those used to movie and TV money. And I am talking lead roles. As there is a big difference in money only actors who love and are really devoted to the theatre (say Patrick Wilson, John Lithgow, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kevin Kline, etc) continue to do it when they have other opportunities with much bigger paydays. I do not know of Shannon Doherty even having a theatre background as her career began as a child in television.
Posts: 27141 | Location: Phoenix, AZ | Registered: February 02, 2003
Originally posted by Boidiva02: Damnit i want to see this. But i must say Kristen Bell as Veronica in this seems WAY OFF. She does not have any of the darkness or angst that Winona possesed in the film. that will not work. and CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL as JD? COME ON he's not at all mysterious or sexy enough to play bad boy JD! what are they thinking?
but hey i'd still see this.
Heathers is such a perfect movie though i'm almost sad to see someone else trying to recreate it in any medium.
Ps. I am so praying they can get Shannen Doherty to appear in this in ANY ROLE... seriously that would be KICK BUTT!
"Veronica Mars" was a pretty dark show, Veronica was date raped in the first episode, and Kristen Bell was dripping with angst and sarcasm. She was a psychopath on "Heroes". Ditto on a few episodes of "Deadwood". Have you only seen Bell in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"?
Can Shannon Doherty sing?
In regards to Kristen Bell---yes, FSM is all i know her from but based on her general demeanor in interviews and the press she seems very bubbly and up-beat- i just can't picture her in the agnsty role of Veronica but if you say she can do it i believe you..
In regards to Shannen---i was thinking more of a non-singing cameo in the play; perhaps with just one or two non-musical lines.
It would just kick butt to see her in this play in anyway...
I would not expect doing a small role in a theatrical version of "Heathers" is anything Shannon Doherty would want to do. Doing theatre is a big step down in salary for those used to movie and TV money. And I am talking lead roles. As there is a big difference in money only actors who love and are really devoted to the theatre (say Patrick Wilson, John Lithgow, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kevin Kline, etc) continue to do it when they have other opportunities with much bigger paydays. I do not know of Shannon Doherty even having a theatre background as her career began as a child in television.
Well i figured she would want to appear in a production that is based on one of her most famous movie roles to date. It was merely my fanboy attempt at bringing up the fact that she was FING awesome in "Heathers".
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
Originally posted by Boidiva02: Damnit i want to see this. But i must say Kristen Bell as Veronica in this seems WAY OFF. She does not have any of the darkness or angst that Winona possesed in the film. that will not work. and CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL as JD? COME ON he's not at all mysterious or sexy enough to play bad boy JD! what are they thinking?
but hey i'd still see this.
Heathers is such a perfect movie though i'm almost sad to see someone else trying to recreate it in any medium.
Ps. I am so praying they can get Shannen Doherty to appear in this in ANY ROLE... seriously that would be KICK BUTT!
"Veronica Mars" was a pretty dark show, Veronica was date raped in the first episode, and Kristen Bell was dripping with angst and sarcasm. She was a psychopath on "Heroes". Ditto on a few episodes of "Deadwood". Have you only seen Bell in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"?
Can Shannon Doherty sing?
In regards to Kristen Bell---yes, FSM is all i know her from but based on her general demeanor in interviews and the press she seems very bubbly and up-beat- i just can't picture her in the agnsty role of Veronica but if you say she can do it i believe you..
In regards to Shannen---i was thinking more of a non-singing cameo in the play; perhaps with just one or two non-musical lines.
It would just kick butt to see her in this play in anyway...
I would not expect doing a small role in a theatrical version of "Heathers" is anything Shannon Doherty would want to do. Doing theatre is a big step down in salary for those used to movie and TV money. And I am talking lead roles. As there is a big difference in money only actors who love and are really devoted to the theatre (say Patrick Wilson, John Lithgow, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kevin Kline, etc) continue to do it when they have other opportunities with much bigger paydays. I do not know of Shannon Doherty even having a theatre background as her career began as a child in television.
Well i figured she would want to appear in a production that is based on one of her most famous movie roles to date.
It would mean putting her career on hold to waste months of her life in rehearsals and an extended run-through. Who would want that?
Originally posted by Boidiva02: Damnit i want to see this. But i must say Kristen Bell as Veronica in this seems WAY OFF. She does not have any of the darkness or angst that Winona possesed in the film. that will not work. and CHRISTIAN CAMPBELL as JD? COME ON he's not at all mysterious or sexy enough to play bad boy JD! what are they thinking?
but hey i'd still see this.
Heathers is such a perfect movie though i'm almost sad to see someone else trying to recreate it in any medium.
Ps. I am so praying they can get Shannen Doherty to appear in this in ANY ROLE... seriously that would be KICK BUTT!
"Veronica Mars" was a pretty dark show, Veronica was date raped in the first episode, and Kristen Bell was dripping with angst and sarcasm. She was a psychopath on "Heroes". Ditto on a few episodes of "Deadwood". Have you only seen Bell in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall"?
Can Shannon Doherty sing?
In regards to Kristen Bell---yes, FSM is all i know her from but based on her general demeanor in interviews and the press she seems very bubbly and up-beat- i just can't picture her in the agnsty role of Veronica but if you say she can do it i believe you..
In regards to Shannen---i was thinking more of a non-singing cameo in the play; perhaps with just one or two non-musical lines.
It would just kick butt to see her in this play in anyway...
I would not expect doing a small role in a theatrical version of "Heathers" is anything Shannon Doherty would want to do. Doing theatre is a big step down in salary for those used to movie and TV money. And I am talking lead roles. As there is a big difference in money only actors who love and are really devoted to the theatre (say Patrick Wilson, John Lithgow, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Kevin Kline, etc) continue to do it when they have other opportunities with much bigger paydays. I do not know of Shannon Doherty even having a theatre background as her career began as a child in television.
Well i figured she would want to appear in a production that is based on one of her most famous movie roles to date.
It would mean putting her career on hold to waste months of her life in rehearsals and an extended run-through. Who would want that?
Okay, nevermind already. it was just a fanboy reaction to my favorite movie being made into a play... geez...
Praying The Daytime Emmys air on TV in 2010!
Posts: 20035 | Location: just outside Providence, Rhode Island | Registered: July 28, 2002
