Illini Student Musicals hits the Lincoln Hall Theater this Mom’s Weekend to put on its 13th annual spring show, “Heathers: The Musical.”
“Heathers” follows the journey of Veronica, a nerdy girl who is talented at forgery, as she stumbles upon power and popularity when joining the Heathers’ clique, followed by a twisted love affair and a series of violent acts of revenge.
Despite the dark themes portrayed in the plot, Ryan Kreiter, sophomore in LAS and director of the show, is excited to bring a message about being true to yourself to the stage.
“We’re teaching a lesson of authenticity and honesty,” Kreiter said.
The cast and rehearsal staff look forward to showcasing their hard work on stage. ISM puts on one mainstage musical each semester, entirely run by University students.
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According to Kreiter, 94 students auditioned for “Heathers,” but only 24 could be cast. This makes for a tight-knit group of very talented individuals.
“We celebrate together, we hang out together,” Kreiter said. “We’re friends on and off the stage, and I think that makes it super special.”
As the cast warmed up in the next room, laughing and cheering one another on through their improv games, Kreiter beamed with pride.
“I think this is a really hard-working group, and I think they really care about this material and the message we’re trying to send,” Kreiter said. “I think it’s really showing in their performances.”
Nora Maier, freshman in LAS cast as Veronica, expressed her gratitude for ISM and its welcoming, artistic community.
“I was really excited for the whole process, even the auditions, because that meant meeting new people, making connections and challenging myself again after not really doing theatre for the first semester,” Maier said. “Everyone is so kind, and the rehearsal process has honestly been … one of the smoothest I’ve ever been involved in.”
Ellie Pierzina, senior in FAA and ISM president, discussed the process of putting together a large-scale performance like their mainstages.
Pierzina oversees a 12-member executive board that collaborates to select a show based on student proposals. From there, rehearsal staff, including the director, vocal director, choreographer and others will be hired. Once the rehearsal staff meet and determine their vision for the show, they conduct auditions and interviews to build their cast and crew.
“It’s a job meant for a lot of people,” Pierzina said. “It could not possibly be done by … one person at all. There’s everything from room bookings to booking Lincoln Hall, to ensuring we have members of our pit and have enough music stands … It takes so many brains to make sure that everything runs smoothly.”
The complex coordination required to put together performances results from good teamwork and communication. Luckily, each of the three individuals explained that their favorite part of ISM is “the people.”
“Everybody who does ISM is such an ambitious, determined and motivated person,” Pierzina said. “Everybody is just so friendly, so talented. I love that I’ve been able to surround myself with this type of population here at the University.”
The curtain goes up at the Lincoln Hall Theater on Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Excitement is building throughout ISM, and the show is bound to be “beautiful.”
“(ISM) does theatre like nobody else because we create art from the bottom of our hearts,” Kreiter said. “I want you to come see this show because you are going to walk away with a message that only will be pertinent to you … It’s a love letter to individuality.”
