There’s a buzz in the air at New World Stages – not just from the audience queuing outside, but from backstage, where one of Broadway’s brightest young stars is radiating with pre-show energy. While Team Service95 was in New York last month, we went behind the scenes with Casey Likes: the magnetic 23-year-old currently playing the charismatic JD in the off-Broadway revival of Heathers: The Musical.
Heathers is like the darker, more mischievous older sister of Mean Girls. A high-energy show based on the cult 1988 film (starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater), blending sharp satire with a pop-rock score to explore teen angst and toxic popularity. Set amongs the unforgiving halls of a suburban high school, the show follows outsider Veronica Sawyer (played currently by Lorna A Courtney) whose new romance with the brooding JD pulls her into the orbit of the Heathers, a fearsome clique whose power quickly spirals out of control.
Casey is the kind of performer whose spark doesn’t fade when the curtain falls. He’s been in the world of theatre almost his entire life (the true definition of a theatre kid), growing up in Arizona where he started performing at just three years old, inspired by his mum – fellow actor, Stephanie Likes. The two shared stages, lines and even pre-show bowls of matzo ball soup at New York’s Hotel Edison, building early memories that laid the foundation for a lifelong love of storytelling. His first role? Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol, which he performed for five years. Fast-forward to 2022, and Casey made his Broadway debut as William in the stage adaptation of the film Almost Famous.
Before the rest of the cast and crew arrived for that evening’s performance of Heathers, we spent an afternoon with Casey at New World Stages – the same venue where the musical first premiered in 2014. As we wandered the backstage corridors, he spoke about his love of storytelling and the thrill of exploring new characters. But acting isn’t his only creative outlet: “I’ve made short films, documentaries, songs... I’m always asking myself: how can I best tell a story? That’s the dream,” he says.
In our video below, go behind the scenes of Heathers as Casey shares how he stays grounded and focused, even when performing in front of one of theatre’s most passionate (and vocal) fanbases. From the die-hard devotees who know every lyric to the nightly crowd reactions that practically shake the walls, Heathers brings a unique kind of intensity to the New York theatre scene. Casey talks about how he navigates that energy, what helps him tap into his character night after night, and why, for him, storytelling – in all its forms – still means everything.
Heathers The Musical is running until 25 January 2026. Tickets are available here.
