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Capitol Hill Community Post | Pullman.vs.Paxton Productions Brings Heathers To Seattle As A Benefit For It Gets Better Project

“Well f#!*$ me gently with a chainsaw!” Heathers is finally coming to Seattle! The artistic team behind independent theater company, Pullman.vs.Paxton Productions, proudly announces their upcoming staging of Heathers The Musical (based on the 1988 cult classic film by Daniel Waters). From April 6-15, PVP is turning the Erickson Theatre Off-Broadway into the 1980s technicolor battleground of Westerburg High School, all in support of Dan Savage and Terry Miller’s It Gets Better Project.

Heathers Synopsis: Best friends, social trends and occasional murder. It’s September 1989 in Sherwood, OH. On account of her uncanny forgery skills, smart girl Veronica Sawyer (played by Chloe Rain Roberts) is taken into the tight circle of Westerberg High’s most popular girls known as the Heathers (because, duh, they’re all named Heather). But with social popularity comes a level of cruelty that Veronica can’t stomach, and she quietly defects from the inner circle. Hooking up with moody bad boy, Jason “J.D.” Dean (played by Danny Denial of local band DARK SMITH), she becomes complicit in his homicidal takedowns of the school’s popular crowd. Wickedly funny, oddly romantic, relentlessly intense, and occasionally powerful, this is a surprisingly truthful parable for anyone who’s ever been in love, in trouble, or in high school.

Ticket and bar sales from this event will benefit the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit organization (with Seattle roots) whose mission is to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. Much like the central themes in Heathers, IGB understands growing up isn’t easy, especially when you are trying to affirm and assert your sexual orientation and/or gender identity. “We chose IGB as our charity this time around because amid the gags and riffs and cool girl antics, Heathers sucker-punches you with this story-that feeling of not fitting in, of being the odd person out,” says PVP Founder and Executive Director, Dustin Schisler. “What we are hoping to highlight is so clear in IGB’s mission statement – even though [growing up] can be a challenging and isolating process -the good news is, no one has to do it alone. And in addition to top-notch performances on stage in April, you can expect to see an amazing outreach of support from our cast on PVP’s social media as we lead up to opening night. We plan to feature interviews and videos of the actor’s own stories and advice for youth who are struggling to find hope and inspiration. Bottom line: We want people as involved in this important cause as they are in enjoying the dark genius of Kevin Murphy and Lawrence O’Keefe’s adaptation of Heathers.”

Pullman.vs.Paxton’s take on the show also features the talents of Jordan Sloan Frost as Heather Chandler, Yena Han as Heather MacNamara, Simone Alene as Heather Duke, M. Keala Milles, Jr. as Ram Sweeney, Nate McVicker (catch him on stage of Mamma Mia at the 5th Avenue Theatre in February) as Kurt Kelly, Hannah Knapp-Jenkins as Martha Dunnstock, Lauren Trew (of local bands The Fog Horns and The James Apollo Five) as Ms. Fleming/Veronica’s Mom, Clay Frost as Principal Gowan/Veronica’s Dad/Kurt’s Dad, Michael Loudon as Coach Ripper/Big Bud Dean/Ram’s Dad, Maddie Brantz as Young Republicanette, Victoria Champion as Stoner Chick, Emily Welter as Goth Girl, Preston Black as Blowdried Preppy, Dustin Schisler as Bitter Geek, and Don Zhang as Hipster Dork.

About Pullman.vs.Paxton: Pullman.vs.Paxton Productions is a Seattle based 501c3 non-profit Production Company focused on musical theater works. Our artistic selections speak to our vision of what a theater-going experience should be in 2018 – uninhibited and disruptive. Rule breaking. A large portion of our proceeds from each production are donated to LGBTQ+ and LGBTQ+ ally non-profit agencies such as Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets, Gay City Health Project, It Gets Better Project, Freedom to Marry, and Human Rights Campaign.

Our Past: From 2011-2015, along with our former partner Jack Chandelier, we worked as the Executive and Artistic Directors of Chandelier Productions. In that time, our shows raised needed funds for many organizations, including Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets (2015), Gay City Health Project (2012/2013), and the It Gets Better Project (2011). We have had a lot of success with “one-night only” or short run productions in music venues and non-traditional theater spaces in Seattle including “The Rocky Horror Show” at the Showbox Market and Washington Hall (raising over $8,000 for Gay City) and a sell-out performance of “Hedwig & The Angry Inch” at The Crocodile in 2011 (where in conjunction with Rudy’s Barbershop, The Stranger, and Cupcake Royale, we raised more than $10,000 for IGB Project).

Tickets available at https://heathersseattle.brownpapertickets.com/. For additional information and updates, visit www.pullmanvspaxton.org, “LIKE” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pullmanvspaxton, or follow us on Instagram at @pullmanvspaxton.

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