Ghostlight takes on the dark comedy musical 'Heathers'

MENOMONIE — The cult musical favorite “Heathers” will soon be heading to the Mabel Tainter.

The musical, adapted by Kevin Murphy and Laurence O’Keefe from the 1989 film of the same name, is a dark comedy that follows the misadventures of 17-year-old Veronica Sawyer, who hates being surrounded by the cliques and social hierarchy of her high school. Thanks to her skills in forgery, she is invited into the exclusive clique of the prettiest and most popular girls in the school — the titular Heathers. Veronica sees what the clique is and tries to abandon them for a new boyfriend who has a unique and lethal way of handling the parts of Veronica’s life that she no longer wants.

Jillian Phillips, the director for the show, admitted she had wanted to be involved with some form of the musical “Heathers” once she saw a production of the show put on by the Rock River Repertory Theater in Janesville; she said the production won her over. Soon, she heard that a local theater group was doing a production.

“My first conversation ... was, ‘I heard you’re doing “Heathers,”’ she said. “It’s my number one bucket list show to direct. This is me literally on my knees begging you to let me direct this.’”

And now Phillips has her chance, directing the show she fell in love with as the summer show for Menomonie’s Ghostlight Players. The theater group, founded in 2020 by Menomonie local and member of the Menomonie Theater Guild Courtney Ernste. Its formation was in part a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it has also branded itself as unique due to its embrace of the diversity of its actors.

“Part of the mission statement of Ghostlight is inclusivity,” said Phillips. “We’re a family. Community first, theater second.”

Phillips said the theater group wanted to include those wanting to act, regardless of size, gender identity, sexuality, or other factors. She has been involved in theater for many years and has unfortunately seen actors throughout that time get turned down roles due to these factors. Worse still, many in Ghostlight have stories of being involved in other groups where they got undesirable roles, got typeset, or were directed to do things that they are not comfortable with on stage.

“We do not want to tell you to do something that you don’t want to do,” said Sadie Patko, an actress involved in prior productions with Ghostlight. “We want to make sure everybody feels included. We want to make sure everybody feels secure in who they are as a person.

“And we all want to work together towards a common goal.”

She said that such a mindset made her feel 100% supported by the others putting on past productions.

“These were probably ... the closest-knit productions that I've been in when it comes to how close a bond some of the actors have,” she said. “I’ve been in productions with half this cast, but I know the other half of the cast that I don’t know is going to put their best foot forward.”

While the themes of the musical — exclusive social cliques looking down upon others — might not initially seem to be a match for a theater group that is all about inclusivity, delving deeper reveals that the show was a perfect match for a good reason: the cast and those involved in the show are very familiar with being outcasts, particularly in a school setting.

“People say, “Oh my gosh, that’s so risqué,’ but there are cast members in our show that have had to transfer schools because of things like that,” said Phillips. “My children have had to transfer because of bullying. I remember being bullied as a teenager and being pushed out in the halls.

“We make it funny so we can make it palatable, but this is what we experience every day as individuals. This was put out there in 1989, but it actually seems to hit home more now.”