Evil Dead: The Musical

Evil Dead the Musical
Teaser for the Evil Dead Musical
Music	Christopher Bond Frank Cipolla Melissa Morris George Reinblatt
Lyrics	George Reinblatt
Book	George Reinblatt
Basis	1981 film The Evil Dead and related franchise
Productions	2009 Ground Zero Theatre with Hit&Myth Productions,Calgary 2007 Diesel Playhouse, Toronto 2006-2007 New World Stages, New York 2004 Just for Laughs, Montreal 2003, Tranzac Toronto

Evil Dead: The Musical is a musical stage play based on the cult classic film series.

Contents 1 Synopsis 2 Production 2.1 New York production closing 2.2 Toronto production 2.3 Seoul production 2.4 Louisville, KY production 2.5 Michigan production 2.6 Norfolk production 2.7 Cleveland production 2.8 Tokyo Production 2.9 Austin Production 2.10 Kalamazoo Production 2.11 Wilmington, DE Production 2.12 Vancouver Production 2.13 Movie Rumors 3 Creative Team 4 Cast 5 Band 5.1 2006 Off-Broadway Band 5.2 Original 2003 Band 6 Musical numbers 7 Cast recording 8 External links 9 References

Synopsis

Several college students spend the weekend in an abandoned cabin in the woods, accidentally unleashing an evil terror. In this comedic take on the 80s horror franchise, characters and demons sing and dance to songs written specifically for the musical. And, as in the films, Ash is there to dish out his various one liners and fight the never ending Army of Darkness. Audiences are typically warned that the first few rows may get wet as the play calls for large amounts of stage blood to be splattered . (Ponchos are provided during the 15 minute intermission before Act Two). Some spectators in those front ranks bring or wear white clothing, for example, a T-Shirt, intending for the performance to soak the clothing with blood, thus turning it into a souvenir of the event.

The musical takes creative liberty with the plot line of the movies, mixing together the characters and concepts of all three, as well as changing sequences for the sake of the stage and comedic intent.

Production

With the approval of both Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, a musical version of the film was staged, enjoying a successful workshop in Toronto and performances at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal in 2004. The New York off-Broadway production started previews on October 2, 2006. The Official Opening Night performance was November 1, 2006 and it ran, performing 8 times per week at the New World Stages, until February 17, 2007. Evil Dead: The Musical has recently started production in Toronto starting from May 1, 2007 with the run extended from June 23, 2007 to August 4, 2007. A successful return from Feb 14, 2008 to May has been extended until September 6, 2008.

During the Northeast Blackout of 2003, the intransigent cast and crew performed the show on the front lawn of the Tranzac club in Toronto. The band played acoustic instruments and cast members provided sound effects from backstage. As the evening wore on, flashlights and car headlights were used to illuminate the actors.^{[citation needed]}

Fans enjoy the "splatter zone" -- the first three rows of the theater where patrons can count on a good blood-soaking. Ticket buyers in the Splatter Zone are advised to dress down. In fact, Toronto fans began wearing white t-shirts to take home later as bloody souvenirs which inspired the show's marketing team to start selling "I Survived the Splatter Zone" souvenirs. Ryan Ward, who stars as Ash in the musical, described it as being "unlike any theater show you've ever been to. One word I would describe it as is 'raucous.' It's like a rock concert."

Beginning January 9, 2009, the Willows Cabaret Theatre, in Martinez, California, will revive it's West Coast Premier of Evil Dead: The Musical. No word yet if original cast members will be returning.^[1]

New York production closing

It was announced on January 31, 2007 that Evil Dead: The Musical's New York production at New World Stages would close on February 17, 2007. [1]

Toronto production

Toronto producers have announced a new Toronto production of the show, starring Ryan Ward at the Diesel Playhouse starting May 1, 2007. While the initial run was only to last until the end of June 2007, it was extended to Aug 4, 2007, Sept 8, 2007, June 26, 2008 and finally until Sept 6, 2008. It celebrated its 300th performance on June 26, 2008, which marks it as the longest running Canadian production in Toronto history.

It won the Dora Audience Choice Award and was given four out of four by the Toronto Star.

[2]

Seoul production

Seoul producers have announced a Seoul production of the show, starring Jo jeong suk and Ryu jung han. The show opened March 18, 2008.^[2]

Louisville, KY production

The Alley Theater in Louisville, KY hosted a production, directed by national award winning haunted attraction designer Joey Arena, which opened October, 2009. This production was apparently in discussion to become a touring company and featured Scott Anthony as Ash. The Louisville production played for four weeks, selling out its last nine performances.

Michigan production

Who Wants Cake? Theatre will be putting on a production of Evil Dead: the Musical at the Ringwald Theatre located in Ferndale, Michigan from October 23-November 16, 2009. Starring Mitchell Koory as Ash, Jessalyn Brooks as Shelly/Annie, Jay Mapile as Scott, Leah Darany as Linda, Christa Coulter as Cheryl, Tym Falk as Jake, and Jeff Bobick as Ed/Moose. Who Wants Cake? Evil Dead: The Musical Promo Pix

Norfolk production

The production in Norfolk, VA runs October 16-November 8,2009 at the Generic Theater at Chrysler Hall, and features a special appearance by Oderus Urungus of GWAR. Writer George Reinblatt attended the talk back sessions at the October 17 and 18 performances, and has stated of the production: "I've seen Evil Dead over a hundred times all over the world, and the dance sequences you'll see in the Norfolk show beat them all." This show is produced by Generic Theater and The Foppish Dandies & Co.

Cleveland production

Beck Center for the Arts in Lakewood, OH, is currently staging Evil Dead: The Musical from May 8 - July 26, 2009 in their Studio Theater. The production is directed by Beck Center Artistic Director Scott Spence, with Musical Direction by Larry Goodpaster and Choreography by Martin Cespedes. Dan Folino (aea) stars as Ash.

Tokyo Production

Running from June 25th to July 5th Evil Dead: The Musical has been staged at Sunshine Theatre in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, produced by Broadway Asia Company.

Austin Production

Running from October 9th-31st 2009 at the Salvage Vanguard Theater in Austin, TX [3]. The show will be directed by award-winning director Michael McKelvey, with Assistant Director Elle Mahoney, [4]and choreographed by Ginger Morris, and will feature David Gallagher as Ash.

Kalamazoo Production

Running from Sept. 18 - Oct. 31, 2009, at The Whole Art Theater in Kalamazoo, MI. Listen to an interview with actor Adam Carter staring as Ash Williams on local radio talk show the Nonchalant Cafe Hour.

Wilmington, DE Production

The musical ran October 30th-November 7th, 2009 at the Arden Gild Hall in Wilmington, DE to sold-out houses. The production was presented by Bootless Artworks, was directed by James Gaspero, and featured Dane Farrell as Ash, Melissa Castillo as Linda, Colleen Conlon as Cheryl, Justin Walsh as Scott, Melissa Baker and Shelly, Cristina Perachio as Annie, Brooks Banker as Ed, and Jason Webb as Jake.

Vancouver Production

Running from Oct. 20 - Nov 21, 2009, at The Vogue Theatre in Vancouver, BC, Canada. The Vancouver sub-section of the Official "Evil Dead: The Musical" Website outlines the details.

Movie Rumors

In the fall of 2008, it had been reported through various sources that Sam Raimi, director of the original series of movies, had given his okay to producer Don Carmody for the production of a 3D movie version of Evil Dead: The Musical, to be helmed by the theatrical production's director, with the original choreographer, as well as some of the original cast members.

However, George Reinblatt dispelled these rumors on the EDTM Facebook page:

"hey guys... George Reinblatt here ... hate to break your heart on this, but this whole internet buzz thing about this 3D movie is completely untrue. Sam Raimi hasn't agreed to do anything like this with the musical... and until that happens, it doesn't matter what any other producer says... We are lucky Mr. Raimi lets us do the stage musical all of you love so much. He has been more than generous to let us keep the Evil Dead thing alive. Would we like to do a movie someday? Sure. But I'd also like to do Evil Dead as an ice show. But neither is agreed to at the time. And until it is, all of these "news" organizations printing this stuff should really check their sources.

Right now - we have the stage rights all over the world. And big things will be happening at a playhouse near you soon.

Until then, don't believe what you read on the internet!!!!

george"

Creative Team

Created by the Canadian team of George Reinblatt, Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla and Melissa Morris, the show is co-directed by Bond and Tony winner and "Buffy" alum, Hinton Battle.

Make-up and Special FX are created by Louis Zakarian, whose film credits include Requiem for a Dream, Dogma and Romeo + Juliet.

Cast members of the New York production included Jennifer Byrne, Jenna Coker, Renee Klapmeyer, Tom Walker, Ryan Ward, Brandon Wardell, and Darryl Winslow.

Cast

Role	Toronto 2003 Cast	New York 2006-07 Cast	Toronto 2007 Cast	Toronto 2008 Cast	Martinez 2008 Cast	Martinez 2009 Cast	Tokyo 2009 Cast	Calgary 2009 Cast	Austin 2009 Cast	Louisville 2009 Cast	Michigan 2009 Cast	Vancouver 2009 Cast	Vancouver 2009 Cast	Wilmington 2009 Cast
Ash	Ryan Ward	Ryan Ward	Ryan Ward	Ryan Ward	Michael Scott Wells	Michael Scott Wells	Kazumi Morohoshi	Tyler Rive	David M. Gallagher	Scott Anthony	Mitchell Koory	Tyler Rive	Scott Walters	Dane Farrell
Cheryl	Danielle Meierhenry	Jenna Coker	Rachel Fischer	Alison Smyth	Jenny Angell	Jenny Angell	Miho Ohwada	Jamie Tognazzini	Corley Pillsbury	Rebecca Chaney	Christa Coulter	Jamie Tognazzini	Jennifer Neumann	Colleen Conlon
Linda	Victoria Nestorowicz	Jennifer Byrne	Tara Macri / Carly Jones (joined 6/26/07)	Dena Chiarcossi	Meghan Ihle	Meghan Ihle	Yumiko Takahashi	Lynley Hall	Kelly Bales	Keri Baggs	Leah Darany	Lynley Hall	Meghan Anderssen	Melissa Castillo
Shelly	Mackenzie Lush	Renée Klapmeyer / Christy McIntosh (joined 2/10/07)	Sarah Cornell	Tenja Hagenburg	Ji Kim	Ji Kim	Catherine Seto	Rebecca Northan	Macey Mayfield	Felicia Corbett	Jessalyn Brooks	Cailin Stadnyk	Meghan Gardiner	Melissa Baker
Scott	Matt Olmstead	Brandon Wardell	Matt Olmstead	Kristian Bruun	Christopher Mantione	Christopher Mantione	Ryuji Kamiyama	Christian Goutsis	Chris Skillern	Jason Potts	Jay Mapile	Kevin Corey	Ian Rozylo	Justin Walsh
Ed	Pat Brown	Tom Walker	Christian Bellsmith	Trevor Martin	Lowell Abellon	Lowell Abellon	Ryoji Morimoto	Guilly Urra	David Ponton	Herschel Zahnd III	Jeff Bobick	Guilly Urra	Matthew Graham	Brooks Banker
Annie	Ashley Callaghan	Renée Klapmeyer / Christy McIntosh (joined 2/10/07)	Sarah Cornell	Tenja Hagenburg	Alexandra Creighton	Casi Maggio	Catherine Seto	Rebecca Northan	Maggie Wilhite	Valerie Hopkins	Jessalyn Brooks	Cailin Stadnyk	Meghan Gardiner	Cristina Perachio
Moose	Tim Evans	Tom Walker	Trevor Martin	Trevor Martin	Paul Plain	Paul Plain		Daniel Mallett	Jason Vines	Herschel Zahnd III	Jeff Bobick	Daniel Mallett	Erik Gow	Jim Fuerst
Jake	Daniel Krolik	Darryl Winslow	Mike "Nug" Nahrgang	Mike "Nug" Nahrgang	Corey Lenkner/Todd Carver (joined 7/10/08)	Corey Lenkner	Kenichi Ukon	Bruce Horak	Matt Connely	Shawn Slone	Tym Falk	Bruce Horak	Mat Baker	Jason Webb
Fake shemp	Tim Evans	Ryan Williams	Trevor Martin	Tim Porter	Greg Asdourian	Greg Asdourian		Daniel Mallett	Jason Vines	Neil Brewer		Daniel Mallett	Erik Gow
Spirit of Knowby	Tim Evans	Brandon Wardell	Trevor Martin	Tim Porter	Paul Plain	Paul Plain	Kenichi Ukon	Daniel Mallett	Jason Vines	Neil Brewer		Daniel Mallett	Erik Gow

Band

2006 Off-Broadway Band

Instrument	Band Member
Conductor/Keyboards	Daniel Feyer
Guitar/Banjo	Jake Schwartz
Bass (but only on the CD)	Matt Scharfglass
Drums/Percussion	Brad "Gorilla" Carbone

Original 2003 Band

Instrument	Band Member
Conductor/Drums/Percussion	Frank Cipolla
Piano/Keyboards	A.K. Dionne
Guitar	Sal Guzzo
Bass	Dan "Banger" MacKay
Trumpet	Adam Sneyd
Trombone/"Necro"-Melodica	Ian Tate

Musical numbers

2003

Act One

• "Cabin in the Woods" (Ash, Linda, Scott, Shelly, Cheryl)
• "Housewares Employee" (Ash, Linda)
• "It Won't Let Us Leave" (Cheryl)
• "Look Who's Evil Now" (Cheryl, Shelly)
• "What the fuck was that?" (Ash, Scott)
• "Join Us" (Cheryl, Moose)
• "Good Old Reliable Jake" (Jake)
• "I'm Not a Killer" (Ash)

Act Two

• "I'm Not a Killer" reprise (Ash)
• "Bit-Part Demon" (Ed)
• "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons" (Annie)
• "Do the Necronomicon" (Candarian Demons)
• "It's Time" (Full Company)
• "Hail to the King" (Full Company)

2006 - Current

Act One

• "Cabin in the Woods" (Ash, Linda, Scott, Shelly, Cheryl)
• "Housewares Employee" (Ash, Linda)
• "It Won't Let Us Leave" (Cheryl)
• "Look Who's Evil Now" (Cheryl, Shelly)
• "What the...?" (Ash, Scott)
• "Join Us" (Cheryl, Moose, House Spirits)
• "Good Old Reliable Jake" (Jake, Annie, Ed)
• "Housewares Employee" reprise (Ash, Linda)
• "I'm Not a Killer" (Ash)

Act Two

• "I'm Not a Killer" reprise (Ash)
• "Bit-Part Demon" (Ed)
• "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons" (Annie, Ash, Jake)
• "Ode to an Accidental Stabbing" (Jake, Annie, Cheryl)
• "Do the Necronomicon" (Candarian Demons)
• "It's Time" (Full Company)
• "We Will Never Die" (Candarian Demons)
• "Blew That Bitch Away" (Full Company)

Cast recording

An original cast recording was made in December 2006 and was released on April 2, 2007 on Time Life Records.

External links

• Evil Dead the Musical the official website.
• myspace.com/evildeadthemusical The official Fanpage on Myspace.
• myspace.com/evildeadthemusicalsoundtrack The official show Music page on Myspace.
• Performance rights now available through Samuel French.
• willowstheatre.com/evildead.htm Official site for the Martinez production.
• [5] Official site for the Theatre on the Square production in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• LouEvilDead.com Official site for the Alley Theater production in Lousville, KY.

References

v • d • e Sam Raimi's Evil Dead series Films The Evil Dead (1981) · Evil Dead II (1987) · Army of Darkness (1993) Video games The Evil Dead · Evil Dead: Hail to the King · Evil Dead: A Fistful of Boomstick · Evil Dead: Regeneration Comic books Ashes 2 Ashes · Shop till You Drop Dead · Marvel Zombies vs. The Army of Darkness · Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash · The Nightmare Warriors Related films Within the Woods · La Casa 3 · La Casa 4 · La Casa 5 Other topics Ash Williams · Necronomicon Ex-Mortis · Characters and locations · Evil Dead: The Musical