FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Contact: Seanna Hore, Ginsberg/Libby
seanna.hore@ginsberglibby.com

Gladys Santos, Ginsberg/Libby
gladys.santos@ginsberglibby.com
 

NEW YORK (May 15, 2026) – Film Independent, the nonprofit arts organization behind the Spirit Awards, has teamed up with MUBI to bring a one-night-only live reading of the cult classic Heathers to New York City. The event, guest-directed by Meredith Alloway, will take place on Tuesday, May 19, at the Directors Guild of America New York.

This special performance is part of Film Independent’s ongoing Live Read® series, presented in partnership with MUBI, which has delighted audiences since 2011. Each exclusive event unites high-profile actors for a fresh, unrehearsed on-stage reading of a celebrated screenplay.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to bring the Live Read® series to New York with Heathers, a script that remains as razor-sharp and subversive today as when it premiered in 1988,” said Rachel Bleemer, Director of Programming and Events for Film Independent. “With Meredith Alloway at the helm and an incredible cast bringing this cult classic to life for one night only, audiences are in for a sharp, hilarious and totally unforgettable evening.”

The dark satire Heathers, written by Daniel Waters and directed by Michael Lehmann, premiered in 1988. The film earned multiple nominations and won Best First Feature at the 1990 Film Independent Spirit Awards. Now, audiences will experience it anew through this live performance.

Writer-director Meredith Alloway (Forbidden Fruits) will direct, bringing the audience back into the deliciously twisted world of Heathers. The full cast will be announced soon, but anticipation is already building.

Confirmed cast members include Taylour Paige, Adam DiMarco, Ivy Wolk, Ariela Barer, Andrew Dismukes, Patti Harrison and Devon Walker. Additional names to be announced.

Past Live Read guest directors and their chosen scripts include Edward Berger (Conclave), Paul Feig (Bringing Up Baby), Laurence Fishburne (The Maltese Falcon), Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body), Zoe Lister Jones (Wayne’s World), Marlee Matlin (Sunset Boulevard), Natalie Morales (Napoleon Dynamite), Ruben Östlund (Triangle of Sadness), Patton Oswalt (Raising Arizona), Alex Russell (Single White Female), Ben Schwartz (Back to the Future), Quentin Tarantino (The Hateful Eight), Justine Triet (Anatomy of a Fall), David Wain (Tootsie) and Julio Torres (Cruel Intentions), among others.

Previous Live Read cast members include Alison Brie (Together), Nicholas Braun (Succession), Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary), Sherry Cola (GOAT), Ayo Edebiri (The Bear), Eugenio Derbez (Acapulco), Maya Erskine (Mr. and Mrs. Smith), Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso), Abbi Jacobson (Broad City), Riley Keough (Jay Kelly), Troy Kotsur (CODA), Bob Odenkirk (Better Call Saul), Sam Richardson (Detroiters), Rachel Sennott (I Love LA), Tessa Thompson (Hedda), Taika Waititi (Thor: Love and Thunder), Olivia Wilde (The Invite), Steven Yeun (Nope) and many more.

Tickets are $30 for Film Independent Members, $40 for the general public. For more information, please visit filmindependent.org.

Film Independent Presents is supported year-round by Lead Sponsor The Golden Globe Foundation. Additional support for this special event is provided by MUBI. Special thanks to Heathers screenwriter, Daniel Waters, for making this event possible.
 

ABOUT FILM INDEPENDENT

For over 40 years, Film Independent has helped filmmakers get their projects made and seen. The nonprofit organization’s core mission is to champion creative independence in visual storytelling in all its forms and foster a culture of inclusion, in support of a global community of artists and audiences who embody diversity, innovation, curiosity and uniqueness of vision.

In addition to producing the Film Independent Spirit Awards, the organization supports creative professionals with Artist Development programs, grants and labs. Signature mentorship program Project Involve fosters the careers of talented filmmakers from underrepresented communities. Weekly Education events and workshops equip filmmakers of all ages and experience levels with tools and resources. International programs provide cultural exchanges and career-building opportunities for film professionals around the world. And year-round screening series Film Independent Presents offers a robust program of unique cinematic experiences, including screenings, conversations, Live Reads and Bring the Noise musical events.

For more information or to become a Member, visit filmindependent.org.
 

ABOUT MUBI

MUBI is a global streaming service, production company and film distributor dedicated to elevating great cinema. MUBI creates, curates, acquires and champions visionary films, bringing them to audiences all over the world.

MUBI is a place to discover ambitious films by boundary-pushing filmmakers — from iconic directors to emerging auteurs — all carefully chosen by MUBI’s curators. With MUBI GO, members in select countries can get a free ticket every week to see the best new films in cinemas. And Notebook explores all sides of cinema culture — both in print and online.

Some previous and upcoming MUBI Releases include: Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, Akinola Davies Jr’s My Father’s Shadow, Mascha Schilinski’s Sound of Falling, Park Chan-wook’s No Other Choice, Oliver Laxe’s Sirat, Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, Coralie Fargeat’s The Substance, Lynne Ramsay’s Die My Love, Paolo Sorrentino’s La Grazia, Luca Guadagnino’s Queer, Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla, Molly Manning Walker’s How to Have Sex, Aki Kaurismäki’s Fallen Leaves, Charlotte Wells’ Aftersun, Park Chan-wook’s Decision to Leave, and Lukas Dhont’s Close.

MUBI Productions include Kelly Reichardt’s The Mastermind, starring Josh O’Connor; Andrew Haigh’s A Long Winter; Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother; Paweł Pawlikowski’s Fatherland, starring Sandra Hüller; Felix van Groeningen’s Let Love In; and Jane Schoenbrun’s Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma.