A Tauranga-born performer is stepping into one of musical theatre’s most iconic roles as the hit production Heathers The Musical heads to New Zealand.

Calista Nelmes will don the famous red scrunchie as queen bee Heather Chandler in the Australasian tour of Heathers The Musical, a dark comedy based on the cult 1988 film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.

The production is in Christchurch from May 15-24, Wellington from May 28-June 7, and Auckland from June 10-14, following a successful Australian season.

For Nelmes, landing the role was the result of a competitive, months-long audition process.

“My agent sent me the brief while I was on the train to rehearsal for Rent,” she said. “I love this musical – it’s one of my favourites – and I thought, ‘I think I could get this if I went for it’.”

After submitting singing and acting tapes, Nelmes progressed through multiple callbacks, including in-person auditions with UK creatives, before receiving the life-changing call while holidaying back home in New Zealand.

“I was at Hot Water Beach with my partner when I found out,” she said. “It was pretty special.”

The role marks another milestone in a growing career that has already seen the 27-year-old perform in major productions including Rent, Jesus Christ Superstar and Jersey Boys across Australia, as well as a season at the Sydney Opera House.

But her journey began much closer to home. Raised in Tauranga, Nelmes attended Bethlehem School, Greenpark School, Tauranga Intermediate, Tauranga Girls’ College and Ōtūmoetai College, where her passion for performing was cemented.

“I genuinely don’t remember a time when I didn’t want to do this,” she said. “I think I came out of the womb singing and dancing.”

She credits local vocal coach Scott Braid as a key influence from the age of 10 through to the end of secondary school and fondly recalls performing in community productions around the city, including shows at Baycourt and Tauranga Musical Theatre.

Calista Nelmes, in red, as queen bee Heather Chandler in Heathers The Musical which is being performed in Christchurch, Wellington and Auckland. Photo / Supplied

After graduating, Nelmes took a gap year before moving to Sydney to study musical theatre at NIDA, quickly launching into professional work.

Now based in Australia, she said the pace of touring life is intense – with up to eight shows a week - but rewarding.

Rehearsals for Heathers lasted three weeks before the cast went straight into technical rehearsals and opening night.

“It seems crazy, but everyone comes in prepared,” Nelmes said. “You already know your lines – it’s about putting it all together.”

In Heathers, Nelmes plays the ruthless and commanding Heather Chandler.

“She’s kind of the worst,” Nelmes laughs. “She’s the queen bee, the evil bully of the school – but she’s also very powerful and intelligent, just a bit misguided.”

While she is thriving on stage, Nelmes said her ambitions extend beyond performing.

“I want to keep doing this as long as it brings me joy,” she said. “But I’d also love to get into writing and directing - and one day, have a family.”

Though the production won’t make it to Tauranga, Bay of Plenty audiences keen to support one of their own can catch Nelmes on stage when the tour reaches its New Zealand dates this month.