‘How Very!’ ‘Heathers the Musical’ comes to Manila in 2027
The dark and catty story of high school, murder and true love, with a side of dynamite, is set to bring mayhem to the Philippine stage in January.
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The dark and catty story of high school, murder and true love, with a side of dynamite, is set to bring mayhem to the Philippine stage in January.
It’s time for some murder, mystery and mayhem when these high school mean girls come to town to kick the 2027 Philippine theater season into high gear. So get your scrunchies ready, grab your lunch trays and sharpen those pencils as GMG Productions, in association with Bill Kenwright Ltd. and Paul Taylor-Mills, brings Heathers the Musical to Manila for a limited run from 21 January to 7 February 2027, at The Theatre at Solaire.
It was in 1989 when Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty shook up high school with the cult classic film of the same name. Set in the fictional Westerberg High, popularity is a matter of life and death. Veronica Sawyer is just another nobody dreaming of a better day — which comes when she is unexpectedly taken under the wing of the three beautiful, powerful, and impossibly cruel Heathers. Suddenly, Veronica has everything she ever wanted: status, attention and a seat with the popular kids. When the dark and mysterious J.D. shows up and turns Veronica’s world upside down, she gets caught between her newfound popularity and the pressure to keep up appearances. And just like that, she discovers that being a somebody isn’t always as glamorous as it seems.
While the film was not a box-office hit back then, it has built a cult following as a daring piece of filmmaking with its dark themes and razor-sharp script. It has also held on to its 93 percent certified fresh ranking on Rotten Tomatoes.
Almost 25 years later, the film gets a new life on stage. Heathers the Musical premiered in Los Angeles in 2013 to sold-out audiences, then hopped over to Broadway’s New World Stages in 2014. Four years later, it jumped across the pond with a reimagined staging for the West End, directed by acclaimed American screen and stage director Andy Fickman, with new songs and an updated script.
The new production features a catchy mix of ballads and bangers, such as “Seventeen,” Candy Store, “Meant to Be Yours,” I Say No and “Dead Girl Walking,” by award-winning writers Kevin Murphy (Desperate Housewives) and Laurence O’Keefe (Legally Blonde The Musical).
Following record-breaking seasons and sold-out runs in London, New York and Melbourne, Heathers the Musicalmakes its highly anticipated Manila debut, bringing its wicked humor, unforgettable characters, and LSS-worthy songs to Filipino audiences. Leading the Manila cast is Filipino actress Gerardine Sacdalan in the central role of Veronica Sawyer, opposite Louis Hearsey as Jason “J.D.” Dean. Starring as the “Heathers” are Liberty Stottor as Heather Chandler, Jessica Ibadin as Heather Duke and Lou Henry as Heather McNamara.
It also features Veronica Carabai, Sophie Manners, Markus Södergren, Beau Jackson, John Gurdián, Reuben Browne, Christian De-Gallerie, Ellouise Delooze, Caitlin Garcia, Alexander Howarth, Charlotte O’Rourke, Thomas Oxley, Tola Sokoya and Carys Taylor.
Fickman returns to direct the Manila staging of Heathers the Musical, with choreography by Gary Lloyd, design by David Shields, lighting by Ben Cracknell, sound by Dan Samson, musical supervision by Jeremy Wootton and Will Joy, and production by Bill Kenwright Ltd. and Paul Taylor-Mills.
For Carlos Candal, CEO of GMG Productions, this show will be an out-of-the-box offering for them, saying, “It’s bold, irreverent and incredibly funny, with a brilliant score and a story about friendship, identity and finding your place that remains remarkably relevant. We’re proud to give Manila audiences the opportunity to experience Heathers live on stage. We can’t wait to welcome audiences to Westerberg High — color us stoked!”
So polish up those croquet mallets, and get ready to sign up for the waitlist for your spot at Westerberg High before the show opens in January 2027. If you’re hoping to get in before everyone else, sign up for the UnionBank Presale, which runs from 8 to 11 September 2026, followed by the Waitlist Onsale on 12 September 2026, with both offering 10 percent off and early access ahead of the General Public Onsale on 13 September 2026.
