Kokandy Productions’ HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL – Through April 24, 2016 at Theater Wit

Kokandy Productions' HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL - Through April 24, 2016 at Theater Wit 1 Kokandy Productions is pleased to launch its 2016 season with the Chicago premiere of the dark “mean teen” comedy HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL, based on the hit 1980s cult film of the same name, from the award winning-team of creative team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer Madness, Desperate Housewives) and Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde). Directed by James Beaudry, with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Sawyer Smith, HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL will play February 28 – April 24, 2016 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

Kokandy Productions is pleased to launch its 2016 season with the Chicago premiere of the dark “mean teen” comedy HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL, based on the hit 1980s cult film of the same name, from the award winning-team of creative team of Kevin Murphy (Reefer MadnessDesperate Housewives) and Laurence O’Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde). Directed by James Beaudry, with music direction by Kory Danielson and choreography by Sawyer SmithHEATHERS: THE MUSICAL will play February 28 – April 24, 2016 at Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago. Tickets for HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL are currently available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL features Courtney Mack as Veronica, Chris Ballou as J.D., Teressa LaGamba as Martha Dunstock, Jacquelyne Jones as Heather Chandler, Haley Jane Schafer as Heather Duke, Rochelle Therrien as Heather McNamara, Garrett Lutz as Kurt Kelly, Denzel Tsopnang as Ram Sweeney and Veronica Garza as Pauline Fleming/Mrs. Sawyer with Caitlyn CerzaDiego ColonCarly CozadColin FunkCasey HayesMeghan ShanahanAndrew Sickel and Andrew Spatafora.

HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL is a rock musical based on the 1988 cult film Heathers. Seventeen-year-old Veronica Sawyer is a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: The Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D. A hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal new show based on one of the greatest teen comedies of all time.

The production team for HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL includes: Ashley Ann Woods (scenic design), Brandon Wardell (lighting design), Bob Kuhn (costume design), Mike Patrick (sound design), Johnny Buranosky (props design), Charlotte Rivard-Hoster (assistant music director/conductor), Aaron Shapiro (production manager), Kait Samuels (stage manager) and Evan Frank (asst. stage manager).

PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL

Book, Lyrics and Music: Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe

Director: James Beaudry

Music Director: Resident Music Director Kory Danielson

Choreographer: Sawyer Smith

Cast: Chris Ballou (J.D.), Caitlyn Cerza (Stoner Chick), Diego Colon (Bill Sweeney, Big Bud Dean, Coach Ripper), Carly Cozad (Young Republicanette), Colin Funk (Hipster Dork, Officer McCord), Veronica Garza (Pauline Fleming, Mrs. Sawyer), Casey Hayes (Paul Kelly, Mr. Sawyer, Principal Gowan), Jacquelyne Jones (Heather Chandler), Teressa LaGamba (Martha Dunstock), Garrett Lutz (Kurt Kelly), Courtney Mack (Veronica), Haley Jane Schafer (Heather Duke), Meghan Shanahan (New Wave Party Girl), Andrew Sickel (Beleaguered Geek), Andrew Spatafora (Preppy Stud/Officer Milner)Rochelle Therrien (Heather McNamara) and Denzel Tsopnang as Ram Sweeney.

Location: Theater Wit, 1229 W. Belmont Ave. in Chicago

Dates: Previews: Sunday, February 28 at 7:30 pm, Monday, February 29 at 7:30 pm and Thursday, March 3 at 8 pm

Regular run: Saturday, March 5 – Sunday, April 24, 2016

Curtain Times: Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays at 8 pm; Sundays at 3 pm. Please note: there will be added performances on Saturday, March 12 at 3 pm, Saturday, March 19 at 3 pm, Saturday, March 26 at 3 pm, Sunday, April 3 at 7:30 pm, Wednesday, April 6 at 8 pm, Saturday, April 16 at 3 pm and Saturday, April 23 at 3 pm.

Tickets: Previews $25. Regular run $38. Tickets are available at www.kokandyproductions.com, by calling (773) 975-8150 or in person at the Theater Wit Box Office.

About The Creative Team

James Beaudry (Director) is the Artistic Director of Timber Lake Playhouse. In addition to staging over 50 productions for Timber Lake, his credits include the world premieres of Mark Twain’s Blues (Off-Broadway) and Jason & Ben (New York Musical Theatre Festival). Chicago credits include: Meet John DoeBabes In Arms in ConcertMiracle on 34th Street and Best Musical! (Porchlight Music Theatre), Aspects of Love and Pump Boys & Dinettes (Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre), Lucky Stiff and Triumph of Love (The Music Theatre Company), The Wedding Singer (Haven Theatre), Other Desert Cities (Theatre of Western Springs). Additional credits include West Side Story (CUNY 50th Anniversary Production), Cosi (The LeeStrasberg Theatre Institute), Big FishSunset BoulevardChicagoFiddler on the RoofThe WizInto the WoodsAnything GoesPippin and The Secret Garden. Peer reviewer: Oxford University Press, Music and Dance Division. MFA, Mills College. BA, The College of Wooster.

Kory Danielson (Music Director) is a Chicago-based music director, pianist/conductor and vocal coach. As Resident Music Director, Kory has served as the MD/Conductor for Kokandy’s Loving RepeatingThe Full Monty and Assassins. He is currently the Associate Conductor at Paramount Theatre in Aurora (The Who’s TommyLes MiserablesOklahomaA Christmas Story). Kory is also the Resident Music Director at Haven Theatre (Hedwig and the Angry InchThe Wedding Singer), and has worked as MD/pianist/conductor for Porchlight’s How to Succeed…, Theo Ubique’s Passion (for which he won the 2014 Jeff Award for Outstanding Music Direction); pianist/conductor for Smokey Joe’s Café (Royal George transfer); and has served as the AMD under Roberta Duchak at Drury Lane Oakbrook (XanaduSingin’ in the Rain). Kory has worked with The Music Theatre Company (Young Artist Program, 48-hour Musicals, Zanna Don’tLucky StiffTriumph of Love), as well as Chicago Children’s Theatre, Bailiwick, Broadway in Chicago, National Pastime Theatre, Hell in a Handbag and Street Tempo Theatre.

Sawyer Smith (Choreographer) is an actor and choreographer based out of Chicago. Choreography credits include TITANIC, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Griffin Theatre), Gentlemen’s Rule In Concert (PBS), Saudade: Dreams and LongingThe Pajama Game (The Music Theatre Company) and Sweet Charity (Timber Lake Playhouse). Recent theater credits include The Addams Family (Mercury Theater), CATSRENT and A Chorus Line (Paramount Theater), First Date (Royal George), Carrie (Bailiwick Chicago), Hairspray (Drury Lane), Hairspray (Royal Carribbean) and Pippin (Bohemian Theater Ensemble). Sawyer is a Graduate of The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University.

Charlotte Rivard-Hoster (Assistant Music Director/Conductor) is a music director, pianist and educator based in Chicago. Favorite music direction and performance credits include Methtacular! (About Face),The Last 5 Years (Metropolis), The Producers (NightBlue), See Rock CityThe Light in The Piazza (Berklee), and Carousel (Boston Conservatory). Charlotte has taught with Chicago’s Beverly Arts Center, Studio BE, Theatre of Western Springs, Youth Company Chicago, Metropolis SOPA, Roosevelt’s CCPA and is a teaching artist and accompanist for Merit School of Music’s Bridges Program and Foundations of Music.

About Kokandy Productions

Founded in 2010, Kokandy Productions seeks to leverage the heightened reality of musical theater to tell complex and challenging stories, with a focus on contributing to the development of Chicago-based musical theater artists, and raising the profile of Chicago’s non-Equity musical theater community.

The company’s artistic staff is comprised of John D. Glover (Co-Artistic Director), Allison Hendrix (Co-Artistic Director), Scot T. Kokandy (Executive Producer), Kory Danielson (Resident Music Director) and Jonathan Goldthwaite (Production Assistant).

For additional information, visit www.kokandyproductions.com.