Isabella Esler and John Cardoza have been cast as the new Veronica Sawyer and Jason “J.D.” Dean in “Heathers The Musical.”
Both actors will begin performances on April 27 at New World Stages. They replace Kuhoo Verma and Casey Likes, who had headlined the hit show. Verma will play her final performance as Veronica Sawyer on April 12. Standby Sara Al-Bazali will play the role of Veronica from April 13 to April 26. Likes will play his final performance as J.D. on April 26.
Esler is making her Off-Broadway debut in “Heathers.” Most recently, she made her Broadway debut as Lydia Deetz in “Beetlejuice” after touring with the company for a year and a half. She also starred in the new Canadian musical “Life After,” earning a Dora Mavor Moore nomination for her performance.
Cardoza also makes his Off-Broadway debut in Heathers. He created the role of Younger Noah in the original Broadway company of “The Notebook.” He recently starred as Christian in “Moulin Rouge!” on Broadway and its Los Angeles run at the Pantages Theatre. John made his Broadway debut in the original cast of Alanis Morissette’s “Jagged Little Pill.”
“Heathers” began performances on June 22, 2025, at New World Stages, where it opened to the largest advance in the venue’s 21-year history, and has broken the house record four times. The production recently extended its run for the third time, and is now playing through Sept. 6, 2026.
The show is based on the 1989 cult film that starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. It follows Veronica as she is taken under the wings of The Heathers – three beautiful and impossibly cruel classmates all named Heather. At the same time, she becomes entangled with J.D., a mysterious teen rebel with a really, really dark side.
“Heathers” features book, music and lyrics by Kevin Murphy (“Reefer Madness The Musical”) and Laurence O’Keefe (“Legally Blonde The Musical”).
Esler is represented by CESD and LBI Entertainment. Cardoza is represented by Paradigm Talent Agency and McKegney Management.
English (US) ·