COLUMBUS, Ohio — Opening this week in Columbus is "Evil Dead: The Musical," a goofy, campy and comically gory musical based on the beloved cult classic "Evil Dead" film series.
This version of the "Evil Dead" stories has taken out much of the genuine horror elements of the tale, but upped the amount of campy, raunchy humor.
"It's fun, it's exciting and, of course, there's blood and zombies," said director, producer and choreographer Ivory Mazur. "Dancing zombies."
Mazur, who is producing the musical at MadLab in downtown Columbus alongside JB3Entertainment, assured the audience that there will be blood.
The closer audience members sit to the stage, the more likely they will be splattered with faux gore as the hero Ash hacks and slashes his way through the horde of dancing undead.
This production will mark the third time Mazur has staged the musical adaptation.
"This show means a lot to me. I just love it," explained Mazur of why he keeps returning to the cabin in the woods and reopening the Necronomicon Ex-Mortis. "It's not Sondheim; it's not 'Waiting for Godot' or something; it's fun. That's all it is. It's fun. And, to have it be about zombies during the Halloween season, it just heightens that excitement, and it heightens the fun for everyone. I mean, what's better on Halloween than going to see some dancing zombies, you know?"
"Evil Dead: The Musical" runs Oct. 25 through Nov. 2 at MadLab in downtown Columbus, including a special midnight showing on Oct. 26. For more information, click here.