When the dark-comedy coming-of-age movie Heathers, about high-school cliques and outsiders, bullying and vengeance, premiered in 1989, it quickly became a cult classic. The fan-favorite film was then adapted for the stage as a musical, which made its Off-Broadway debut at New World Stages in 2014, and dramatically increased its cult status. A revival of Heathers The Musical has now returned to the same theater in NYC for a limited engagement that’s been playing to packed houses, attracting wildly enthusiastic young audiences, and has already been extended for four months, into 2026.
Starring as the extremely smart and attractive but emotionally damaged new student JD, intent on evening the score with the viciously exclusive popular kids, is Casey Likes, recently seen on Broadway as the fledgling journalist William Miller in the 2022 production of Almost Famous, and as the time-traveling teenager Marty McFly in Back to the Future: The Musical from 2023-25. He turns in a fully nuanced, funny, frightening, and psychologically insightful performance that brings a shifting balance of human feelings and over-the-top black humor to the demanding role, driven by pain, romance, and the need to hold the people who hurt him and his girlfriend Veronica accountable.
Between his full schedule of performances, including his upcoming concert Casey Likes: Back To The Past at 54 Below on August 27-30, Casey shared his thoughts with me about the character, his favorite moments in Heathers, and the relevance of the story.
What do you find most relatable about JD?
Casey: The smart writing of this show allows for most of the characters to be relatable at least once, that’s why we care for them. JD isn’t necessarily someone you want to admit caring for due to his violent actions; however, I do think we see as audience members that he has an interesting outlook on life and occasionally a morally strong agenda. He wants good for the world, himself, and most importantly, Veronica, and I guess in a weird, sick way, I relate to that part of him.
What is it about him that engenders so much sympathy from the audience?
I grew up in Chandler, Arizona, where diversity, racially, financially, etc., was forefront in my life from a young age. I met a lot of different kids who went to school with me who had a large variety of upbringings, and I think all of us have so much empathy for people who come from different upbringings than our own. We want to see the best in people, even JD. Which is ironic because JD himself isn’t interested in seeing the best in anyone, since he’s been so proven his whole life that people as close to him as his family can betray him.
Do you have a favorite song or line you deliver that best embodies the role?
It’s funny because it’s a line that is so quick that it’s kind of a blink-and-you-miss-it. The line is “the extreme always seems to make an impression.” It seems to be the definition of this role and the JD within all of us. Do we have to lead by extremism? Is that the only way to make things happen or not happen?
Is there an inherent message that you hope audiences take away from the character and the show?
I hope the audience comes in and is just open to getting to know people. These characters can’t be defined in a sentence. Yes, there’s the killer, the popular girls, and yes, there are the nerds, but also there is so much more to each of them; my role is no different. JD is someone you should analyze, and more importantly, you should analyze yourself and the people you come with to come up with answers for “why did we care about these characters, and how can we implement that into our own lives?”
Thanks, Casey, for sharing your insights about JD and contributing immensely to the enduring popularity of Heathers.
Running Time: Approximately two hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission.
Heathers The Musical plays through Sunday, January 25, 2026, at New World Stages, 340 W 50th Street, NYC. For tickets (priced at $38-180, including fees), call (212) 239-6200, go online, or find discount tickets at TodayTix.
