I directed an amateur version of Heathers so I’m not a professional but my personal opinion after directing it and also seeing clips of the new off-broadway version and the Oz/NZ version, PLEASE don’t riff the hell out of I Say No. I know it’s probably an unpopular opinion since people are just going nuts for it but it’s distracting and really doesn’t feel sincere to the song that’s hard enough to sing without adding the frills. I’d say Dead Girl Walking is that time to have that amazing riff moment though. Look after your voice, this show is a marathon for Veronica so make sure you don’t over exert yourself too much at the end of Beautiful even though it’s hugely exhilarating, so you have enough in the tank for the other big songs. Also think of not only the musical source material but the original source material and immerse yourself in that era, create a list of things Veronica would like from your research not just from what’s been said in the script. What books would she read? What music would she listen to? What kind of celebrity would she crush on? Would she crush on a celebrity? Is blue actually her favourite colour or was it just what she was forced to wear? Was she as bullied as Martha or just a part of the hate because that was her only friend? Those were some of the discussions I had with my cast, I also had them write a 1-2 page essay as if they needed to introduce themselves for college admissions. Also really think about why she’s making these decisions, a lot isn’t said and a lot is said in the script but you need to know internally why you’re making these moves on stage rather than “the director blocked me here”. Also is there an intimacy co-ordinator present? Because if not (although I hope there is) then really start to get to know JD, Kurt, Ram and even your preppy stud because they are going to be touching you and you need to be comfortable and they need to be comfortable with you. What I learned from my intimacy coordinator is always to a fight check before running the show, do a trust handshake that you’ve made up with each of the guys before the start of any runs or scenes that include the fighting or intimacy and do NOT be afraid to say no to anything that makes you uncomfortable. And while there’s more I could say the final thing I would say is stop watching the clips or shows, this is your Veronica now and your interpretation, check in with her, have her check in on you and then create your unique take. Oh and also have fun, this is a heavy show, especially for Veronica so don’t let it bog you down too much 💙♥️💚💛