‘Heathers’ musical to debut in L.A. in September

“Heathers” -- the 1989 Winona Ryder comedy that immortalized such lines as “what is your damage, Heather?” and “I love my dead gay son!” -- is getting the musical-stage treatment in a production that will debut in Los Angeles in September at the 99-seat Hudson Backstage Theatre.

The musical, which was adapted from the screen by Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, is scheduled to have a brief run from Sept. 21 to Oct. 6. The production will be directed by Andy Fickman, who has staged such small-scale hits as “Reefer Madness!” and “Jewtopia.”

Daniel Waters, who penned the original screenplay, had reportedly been involved in various stages of development, but his name isn’t listed among the credits on the musical’s official Facebook page.

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Barrett Wilbert Weed will star as Veronica, the role originally played by Ryder in the movie. Ryan McCartan will take the role of J.D., originally played by Christian Slater.

“Heathers” had a concert production in 2010 at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater in New York. The L.A. production will run 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. on Sundays.

The movie follows the friendship between two social outcasts in a suburban high school and the dark revenge fantasies they enact on the popular kids.

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