Over 30 years later,Winona Ryderis still the red-scrunchie-sporting queen of Westerberg High.
The actress, who played the lead role of Veronica Sawyer in 1989’s dark teen cult classicHeathers, saw an early production ofHeathers: The Musicalback in Los Angeles, before it hit the stage Off-Broadwayin 2014 (and later on London’s West End).
According to the show’s longtime directorAndy Fickman, who chatted with PEOPLE ahead of the London version’s debut on The Roku Channel Friday, “We were just on the edge of our seats to make sure she liked it.”
Fickman tells PEOPLE that Ryder, now 50, was “so supportive” of the show, with just one critique: “She said, ‘But you cut my favorite line in the movie about patronizing bunny rabbits.’ "
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Andy Fickman (L); Winona Ryder inHeathers(1989).courtesy andy fickman, shutterstock
According to Fickman, the show’s production team — including Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy, who co-wrote the music, lyrics and book — “all looked at each other, and we’re like, ‘Okay, that will never happen again.’ And the next day, Kevin put it in.”
Now, “It’s the most protected line in the show,” Fickman tells PEOPLE. “It’ll never get cut.”
It was also important to Fickman to be involved “from the get-go” with the team behind the original movie, he says, as “a massive fan” ofHeathershimself.
“Having [writer] Dan Waters and [director] Michael Lehmann and [producer] Denise De Novi linked in from the get-go was very important. Because I think that’s what the connecting tissue was,” he says.
Simon Gordon and Ailsa Davidson inHeathers: The Musical.Christian Slater and Winona Ryder inHeathers(1989).
Simon Gordon and Ailsa Davidson inHeathers: The Musical.
Christian Slater and Winona Ryder inHeathers(1989).
And not only that, but several other original cast members aside from Ryder have shown their support and come to see the musical in person over the years, includingChristian Slater.
“Christianwent onstage Off Broadway, and he [put on his character J.D.’s signature] trench coat,” Fickman recalls. “And Lisanne Falk, the original [Heather McNamara], she lives in the U.K. and is our fairy godmother for the production and has been with that for every version of the show she has been there. And it’s really lovely to have that happen.”
“The original Martha [Carrie Lynn] came and brought us a cake,” he adds. “We never got anything that felt pushback. I think because we embraced the movie from the very beginning.”
Veronica soon meets the mysterious Jason “J.D.” Dean (Slater, now 53), who gives her a fresh perspective on popularity — with deadly consequences.
From left: Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker and Winona Ryder inHeathers(1989).New World Pictures/Getty
Fickman — who also directed films like 2006’sShe’s the Man, 2007’sThe Game Planand 2019’sPlaying with Fire— said he was excited about helmingHeathers: The Musicalin part because it allowed him “to blend my love of all my different mediums.”
And when it came to filming the show for television, “I wanted the camera to be the best seat in the house. And so every decision was based on, ‘How do we do that?’ " he tells PEOPLE.
Heathers: The Musical.Roku Channel
RELATED GALLERY:TheHeathersCast: Where Are They Now?
As for whether the show will ever return to the U.S. in an official tour capacity, Fickman says, “It’s on our to-do list.”
“I would love to seeHeathersget out, from our professional side, and see the world,” the director adds. “And no director of musicals doesn’t dream of someday how wonderful it would be toget back to New York again. So all of that, I think, is on the wish-list table for us.”
And while the stage production is its own animal, “For people who love the movie, that they can get something out of the musical,” Fickman says.
“If people don’t know the movie, hopefully they’ll go back and rediscover it,” he adds. “But we just wantHeathersfans.”
Heathers: The Musicalis streaming Friday onThe Roku Channel.
source: people.com
