Lisa Ann Walter is a force of nature, and her enthusiasm for her current project, Heathers: The Musical, is infectious. This off-Broadway hit, an adaptation of the darkly comedic 1989 film, has captured her heart and imagination, and she's having a hard time sleeping because the melodies run through her brain. In my opinion, this is a dream come true for Walter, who grew up listening to West Side Story, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Godspell on her father's hi-fi.
What makes this particularly fascinating is that Walter is the only new cast member not playing a teenager. She plays both hippie guidance counselor Pauline Fleming and the mother of high school student Veronica, and her favorite onstage moment is during Ms. Fleming's big number, "Shine a Light." As she leads the students in an inspirational song and dance, she gets the chance to improvise with an audience member standing in for "Steve," the guy her character has just dumped. In my view, this is a testament to Walter's versatility and her ability to bring depth and nuance to her characters.
Walter's own high school experience was considerably less fraught than those of the students in Heathers. She was a theater geek, a jock, and an honor society student, feeling like she was a part of all of them. This, in my opinion, is a reflection of her own multifaceted personality and her ability to connect with people from all walks of life. Her brains were a boon for the Entertainment Community Fund when she won playing Celebrity Jeopardy!, and she was recently inducted into her high school's alumni Hall of Fame.
One thing that immediately stands out is that Walter's stage work in Los Angeles was relegated to performances at benefits, where she rewrote the words to Broadway shows and did medleys about whatever the big news story was. This, in my view, is a testament to her creativity and her ability to adapt to different situations. However, she never did full shows, and her own high school experience was considerably less fraught than those of the students in Heathers.
What many people don't realize is that Walter is happy to be involved in a work that embraces acceptance. In my opinion, this is a wonderful thing, and it's really fun to be a part of. Heathers: The Musical is a show that keeps going and keeps giving people delight and joy, and Walter is thrilled to be a part of it. If you take a step back and think about it, this is a show that has captured the hearts and imaginations of audiences, and it's a testament to the power of theater to bring people together and create lasting memories.
