Entertainment

Interview: Millicent Sarre (playing Veronica in Heathers: The Musical)

This week Segue Productions are presenting the South Australian premiere of Heathers: The Musical. Glam Adelaide’s Arts Editor, Brian Godfrey, managed to catch up with the show’s ‘Veronica’, Millicent Sarre to find out her thoughts on the production and the role she plays.

This week Segue Productions are presenting the South Australian premiere of Heathers: The Musical, which is based on the 1989 film staring Winona Ryder, Christian Slater and Shannen Doherty, directed by Michael Lehmann and written by Daniel Waters. Heathers The Musical is a hilarious, heartfelt, and homicidal show based on the greatest teen comedy of all time.

Glam Adelaide’s Arts Editor, Brian Godfrey, managed to catch up with the show’s ‘Veronica’, Millicent Sarre to find out her thoughts on the production and the role she plays.

Millicent Sarre

B.G: Tell us a little about yourself.
M.S: I’m a singer, songwriter, cabaret artist and music theatre performer. I studied theatre at Graceland University in the USA, and have a lot of experience in the Adelaide amateur and pro-am musical theatre scene. I recently debuted my first original cabaret show Friendly Feminism for the Mild Mannered in the Adelaide Cabaret Fringe Festival, which has been nominated for an Adelaide Theatre Guide Curtain Call Award for Best Cabaret.

I’m also a singing and performing arts teacher and musical director at Theatre Bugs/Adelaide Theatre Academy.

B.G: Why did you audition for Heathers?
M.S: The show is just so good: an awesome, challenging sing; 3-dimensional, flawed characters; and dark subject matter that really breaks the mould of what is expected of the music theatre genre. I love theatre that challenges its audiences, and Heathers falls squarely into that category.

Ever since hearing Seventeen and Dead Girl Walking for the first time, I’ve been in love with the score, and I’m still reeling that I get to sing it. The song writing is unparalleled in my opinion. I auditioned to be a part of this production because I wanted to sing this incredible score, embody these complex characters, and explore the important themes of the show. Auditioning for this production was an especially easy decision given the kick-ass production team. Ben (Stefanoff – Director), Kristin (Stefanoff – Musical Director) and Ashleigh (Rathjen-Robson – Choreographer) have been so fantastic to work with.

B.G: Describe ‘Veronica’ and any difficulties in portraying her.
M.S: Veronica is so cool, so flawed, so human, and so relatable.

The Heathers and Veronica (blue blazer)

On one hand, portraying her has come quite naturally because I think that she and 17-year-old Mim are not dissimilar; some of her lines fall out of my mouth in a tone that resembles that of my angsty teenage self a little too closely. And there are a number of shared traits between Veronica and myself in high school; a strong moral compass that is sometimes compromised, a strong sense of individuality which is at odds with a desire to fit in and be accepted, and a tendency to be attracted to assholes (HAH).

On the other hand, it’s proven challenging to play someone who clearly has a strong sense of morality doing evil things, while still maintaining her relatability and setting her up to be someone with whom an audience can still empathise. It’s a fine balance, and one I’m still grappling with.

B.G: 4) Is there anything else you may want to say about the production?

Main cast of “Heathers: The Musical”

M.S: I think this show has a lot to say about abusive relationships, toxic masculinity and rape culture, and the tokenism of suicide in high schools. I love that such important, challenging themes are being tackled in the music theatre genre.

I’m also in love with this cast. Gus has been so fantastic to work with as my J.D. and strikes a beautiful balance of terror and pathos. Maya is heartbreakingly beautiful as Mac; Nikki fully embodies the mythic bitch that is Chandler; Kelsey is hilariously evil as Duke; and Kirsty’s Martha is the shining light of good in the show. The whole supporting cast and ensemble are bringing so much individuality, hilarity and heart to their roles, and I can’t wait for Adelaide audiences to see them. 

“Are you in?”

Interview by Brian Godfrey

Heathers: The Musical previews tonight (12 Sept 2019) 8pm at the Goodwood Institute, 166 Goodwood Rd, Goodwood, opens tomorrow night (13 Sept 2019) 8pm and then runs 14th (2pm & 8pm), 18th (8pm), 19th (8pm), 20th (8pm) and 21st (2pm & 8pm).

Ticket prices are: Adults: $35, Concession: $30, Preview Night: $26, Special Price Night – Wednesday September 18: $27, Group discounts are available online, or by phoning the company directly (0472 600 850): 10+ tickets: $28 (All ticket prices include a 50c booking and handling fee, which applies to both phone and internet sales.)

Bookings can be made by clicking here

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