With a fellow Bronco in her corner, 2025 grad makes off-Broadway debut in ‘Heathers’
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Aniya Thompson had six days to find out whether her life was about to change.
It was June 8, and Thompson, a 2025 graduate of Western Michigan University’s B.F.A. musical theatre program, had just walked out of a New York callback for the role of Martha Dunnstock in the off-Broadway revival of “Heathers: The Musical.” There was just one complication: She was booked on a flight back to her next cruise ship contract, leaving June 14 at 6 a.m.
“That meant I needed to hear back within the week or I was heading home to Illinois to repack,” Thompson says. “I received a call from my agent the afternoon of June 12, and he asked the exact question I imagined him asking: ‘Is your flight refundable?’ I knew as those words left his mouth, I’d booked the role!”
Landing the role
Thompson began performances as Martha on July 8, marking her off-Broadway debut and just her second contract since graduating. Before that, her stage had been a cruise ship, and before that, Kalamazoo.
Thompson had moved to New York in late March on a kind of trial run between contracts, with an official move planned for early 2027. Landing “Heathers” changed the timeline.
“I began bouncing between sublets and had to figure out what life in New York looked like for me,” Thompson says. “This was certainly a learning curve, as I prefer to have everything laid out in advance, but it forced me to step back and allow life to show me what was next. I’m so grateful to be learning how to let go!”
She didn’t walk into the “Heathers” rehearsal room alone. Fellow Bronco Brian Martin—a WMU musical theatre graduate whose Broadway résumé includes the original companies of “Some Like It Hot” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” plus a national tour of Disney’s “Frozen” as Pabbie—had been with the “Heathers” company since it reopened at New World Stages in July 2025, first as an understudy and dance captain and now as associate choreographer. He was already rooting for Thompson before she’d even auditioned.
Martin was in the audience at Thompson’s senior showcase in New York, and what he saw stuck with him.
“After Aniya’s senior showcase in NYC, I whispered to my friend and casting director Jimmy Larkin, ‘She should audition for that role in “Heathers”!’ There’s always an instant connection when you meet another Bronco in New York,” Martin says. “Western has such a special program, and I think there’s a shared work ethic and sense of community that comes with it. I immediately felt proud that another WMU artist was joining the company, and I wanted to make sure Aniya felt supported from day 1.”
Thompson had already made up her mind about working with Martin before she ever set foot in the rehearsal room.
“I immediately texted Brian once I finished my callback, and later to let him know we’d be working together,” Thompson says. “We first began growing our friendship after my senior showcase, and I knew he was someone I wanted to work with. His support in the room was absolutely invaluable, and I appreciated the time and care he gave me throughout every rehearsal. He would consistently reassure me, as he knew this was my first contract being put into an already established cast. He is an amazing resource and friend to have. I hope we can work together again in the future!”
Finding her footing
Once Thompson arrived at Westerberg High—the fictional setting “Heathers” never leaves—she found in Martin someone who already understood exactly what she needed.
“I remember how overwhelming it can feel walking into a new company, especially one that’s already up and running, so I’ve tried to create an environment where she feels comfortable asking questions and making the space her own,” Martin says. “Watching her confidence grow each day has been one of the best parts of this experience.
“She’s incredibly prepared, curious and eager to learn, which makes the process so rewarding.”
For Thompson, stepping into an established, celebrated off-Broadway run—one that’s broken the New World Stages house record four times over—carries its own weight.
“Making my debut in a show like ‘Heathers’ means the world to me,” she says. “This is my second contract post-grad, and … it feels so rewarding to have the fruits of my efforts pay off. To also provide representation as a plus-size Black woman in the role is all I could have ever asked for. Opening night, I was surrounded by family, friends, and so much love and support. It is a high I will chase forever.”
The Bronco network
It’s a small moment playing out on a New York stage, but it’s one that WMU’s School of Theatre and Dance sees again and again: graduates scattered across national tours, regional houses, and Broadway and off-Broadway stages, showing up for each other long after they’ve left the Gilmore Theatre Complex behind.
Both Thompson and Martin have advice for the Broncos who will one day follow the same path from Kalamazoo to New York.
“My advice for current WMU students is to stay open and proactive,” Thompson says. “These types of opportunities don’t just fall into your lap. … Lots of hard work and training goes into it. Put yourself out there and be seen! Audition for things you’re good for, things you’re not right for, things you want to do, things you don’t, because if not now, when? Put yourself out there with kind confidence and good energy, and with time, the world will return the favor!”
“Trust that your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s,” Martin says. “There isn’t one right timeline or one definition of success. Some opportunities come quickly, others take years, and sometimes the moments that feel like setbacks end up opening doors you never expected.
“Western gave me an incredible foundation, but what has mattered just as much is staying curious, continuing to grow and treating people well. This industry is built on relationships. Work hard, be someone people enjoy being around, and don’t lose sight of why you fell in love with performing in the first place. If you keep showing up with kindness and persistence, amazing things can and will happen.”
For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.