Rebecca Gayheart Is “Scared Sh*tless” For Her Musical Debut In ‘Jawbreaker’

Although Jawbreaker killed the teenager dream in 1999, Rebecca Gayheart is returning to her breakout teen cult traditional to high school a complete new era of imply ladies.

While on break from rehearsing to play Principal Sherwood in Jawbreaker The Musical, premiering Frida and operating by means of Sept. 20 at Hudson Backstage Theatre, the actress admitted to Deadline that she’s “scared shitless” to make her musical theater debut within the manufacturing, however is aware of the efficiency shall be “so much fun” regardless.

“Well, I’m scared shitless about singing. I’m just going to say that,” she instructed me on the Hudson Theater Coffee Shop. “I’m not a singer, so I have one solo and I’m really nervous about it. But at the same time, I am going to make it entertaining and fun. And if the singing isn’t amazing, it won’t matter, because the scene will be so much fun.”

Jawbreaker (1999) author/director Darren Stein, who additionally penned the ebook for the musical, expressed how “thrilling” it’s to reunite with Gayheart on the stage manufacturing, noting her position is definitely a mixture of two characters from the unique.

“It’s so fun to have her playing the Carol Kane role,” stated Stein of Principal Sherwood. “Actually, in the musical, the Carol Kane role, Ms. Sherwood, and Pam Grier, the detective, are one role together. So, Rebecca, she’s the principal, but then she becomes empowered to sort of solve the case. So, it’s a really fun arc for that character that wasn’t in the movie.”

In the movie, Ms. Sherwood (Kane) was a mousy, kind-hearted college administrator, who finally meets the robust and decided Detective Vera Cruz (Grier) when common scholar Liz Purr dies.

“So, it’s tricky because they’re polar opposites, as you know. Pam Grier and Carol Kane, it doesn’t get more different,” defined Gayheart of her strategy to the position. “So, what I’m trying to do is just really find it for myself, make it my own. I will tell you this Ms. Sherwood goes through a transformation throughout the play. And so, it’s nice. It’s not just Ms. Sherwood, she has her own story and she has her own transformation. Not unlike Fern.”

That onstage evolution features a solo for Principal Sherwood, full with some whip-cracking choreo by Jay Jackson (RuPaul’s Drag Race‘s Laganja).

More than 1 / 4 century after taking part in cool lady with a coronary heart of gold, Julie Freeman, within the film, Gayheart hopes her former co-stars may take over the position in a possible West End run.

“Well, Darren and I spoke about this. I think that the role of Ms. Sherwood—and in any play, you know, no one does a play for the entirety of the run—so what I think would be great is if Julie Benz, Judy Greer and Rose McGowan all play this role at some point when the musical is happening on the West End in London,” she stated. “I think it would be amazing, and I think it would be really fun to see all of us in our different ways of doing it, and exciting for fans of the movie to see all of us come back and return.”

Read on about Rebecca Gayheart’s return to Jawbreaker together with her musical theater debut.

DEADLINE: Tell me about the cult legacy of the unique Jawbreaker film and attending to replace it for the stage musical.

REBECCA GAYHEART: I imply, it’s fairly unimaginable that 27 years later, this film continues to be related, and Darren Stein stored it timeless. I believe that’s why each era retains discovering it, and the message within the film is admittedly relatable for therefore many style, sorts of folks. People ask me on a regular basis, “What is the genre?” And I’m like, “Well, it’s a heartfelt dark comedy.” I don’t know.

DEADLINE: Tell me about taking part in Principal Sherwood, however as a mixture of Ms. Sherwood and Detective Vera Cruz, and in addition including your individual private contact to it.

GAYHEART: So, it’s tough as a result of they’re polar opposites, as you realize. Pam Grier and Carol Kane, it doesn’t get extra completely different. So, what I’m making an attempt to do is simply actually discover it for myself, make it my very own. I’ll let you know this Ms. Sherwood goes by means of a change all through the play. And so, it’s good. It’s not simply Ms. Sherwood, she has her personal story and he or she has her personal transformation. Not not like Vylette.

DEADLINE: I’m excited to see that. And inform me about passing the torch of Julie. Did you give any knowledge to Kristen Seggio in her portrayal?

GAYHEART: No, I believe for Kristen, she has a very good deal with on it. And I believe that is such a distinct beast, which are all making it their very own they usually’re doing a beautiful job. So, I’m not providing any suggestions as a result of I don’t suppose they’re wanted. And if they need, I’m right here, after all, however I actually don’t suppose they want it. These children are so proficient.

DEADLINE: What’s been your favourite scene to recreate on stage, or do you’ve gotten a favourite musical quantity?

GAYHEART: Well, I’m scared shitless about singing. I’m simply going to say that. I’m not a singer, so I’ve one solo and I’m actually nervous about it. But on the identical time, I’m going to make it entertaining and enjoyable. And if the singing isn’t wonderful, it gained’t matter, as a result of the scene shall be a lot enjoyable.

DEADLINE: Well, I’m excited to see it. And I do know you’ve achieved theater earlier than. You have been on Broadway, weren’t you?

GAYHEART: Yes, I used to be in Steel Magnolias, and we did that for slightly below a yr. I performed Shelby, which was an iconic position, the Julia Roberts position from the film. And then I additionally did Boeing Boeing with Christine Baranski and Mark Rylance and Greg Gorman. And so, that was additionally very nice. But I’m going to level out that for me, doing a play, even on Broadway, is so completely different than doing a musical. I don’t even perceive a few of the language they use. They’re like, “Oh, we’re going to send the plunk track.” And I’m like, “What is that?” They’re like, “Oh, let’s work on the reprisal.” I’m like, “What’s that? Somebody help me.” So, I’m out of my consolation zone. It’s a journey. It’s thrilling, nevertheless it’s scary and it’s enjoyable.

DEADLINE: Is there anybody else from the unique forged that you simply suppose ought to perhaps take a swing at one of many stage characters?

GAYHEART: Well, Darren and I spoke about this. I believe that the position of Ms. Sherwood—and in any play, you realize, nobody does a play for everything of the run—so what I believe could be nice is that if Julie Benz, Judy Greer and Rose McGowan all play this position in some unspecified time in the future when the musical is going on on the West End in London. I believe it could be wonderful, and I believe it could be actually enjoyable to see all of us in our alternative ways of doing it, and thrilling for followers of the film to see all of us come again and return.

DEADLINE: Yeah, completely. Also, they introduced the Urban Legend reboot, and I’m curious when you have heard something about what’s occurring there or when you would reprise your position?

GAYHEART: So, there’s been lots of chatter about it. I don’t suppose something has come to fruition but. I might be open to it as a result of I actually love Brenda Bates. I believe she was forward of her time. I really like that they let a feminine be a serial killer, and I believe she was justified in her actions. So sure, I’m open to it if it’s achieved proper they usually follow the tone of how we originated the film. I might completely like to be part of it.