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 deadites. Audiences are typically warned that the first few rows are in the "Splatter Zone"; the section that in closest range of the blood effects.
The musical takes creative liberty by merging the characters and concepts of the three movies into one story (main focus is on the first two in the trilogy), as well as changing sequences for the sake of 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 was extended to August 2, 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 June 13, 2008, the Willows Cabaret Theatre, in Martinez, California, will begin the West Coast Premier of Evil Dead: The Musical.
Plot[]
Act One
The show opens to Professor Knowby's recording explaining the history of the Necronomicon, accompanied by the image of the book itself, which soon fades. The lights come upon Ash, Linda, Cheryl, Scott & Shelly driving in the Oldsmobile. They gleefully sing about what they will do during their spring break vacation in the cabin ("Cabin in the Woods"). Ash stops the car, explaining that the only way to get to the cabin is by a footbridge. He helps his friends over one by one, shortly swapping words with each person. As they are walking, the boys reveal that they are not renting the cabin, but rather breaking in, much to the dismay of the girls. Shelly voices her concerns, but Scott (ironically) points that there is no danger in being secluded in the woods.
When the group arrives at the cabin, a voice calls out "Join us", but Cheryl is the only one to hear it. She asks the others if they heard it too, but they dismiss her. They briefly look around the cabin, with Linda and Shelly especially admiring it. The boys pull out drinks to celebrate, but just as Scott declares for them to "party down" the cellar door opens on its own. After the girls express their concerns, Ash and Scott go down into the cellar to investigate. After Scott scares the girls, the group hauls out an axe, a gun, a Candarian dagger, a tape recorder and the Necronomicon. Cheryl once again expresses her concerns, but is mocked by Scott before he turns on the tape recorder. Everyone eagerly listens to Professor Knowby's recording explaining the book and it's contents, but when he begins reading the pronunciations, Cheryl begs for Scott to turn it off. He does not, and a tree breaks in through the window, causing Cheryl to run out of the room. Linda and Ash shame Scott but he claims he was messing around before going off into his bedroom with Shelly to "make the windows rattle in Cheryl's bedroom".
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.
Songs[]
Original 2003 Version[]
Act One
- "Cabin in the Woods" - Ash, Linda, Cheryl, Scott & Shelly
- "Housewares Employee" - Ash & Linda
- "It Won't Let Us Leave" - Cheryl
- "Look Who's Evil Now" - Cheryl & Shelly
- "What the F*ck Was That?" - Ash & Scott
- "Join Us" - Cheryl, Moose Head & others
- "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, Ash & Jake
- "Do the Necronomicon" - Scott, Linda, Cheryl, Shelly, Jake & Ed
- "It's Time" - full company except Annie
- "Hail to the King" - full company
2006 - Current[]
Act One
- "Cabin in the Woods" - Ash, Linda, Cheryl, Scott & Shelly
- "Housewares Employee" - Ash & Linda
- "It Won't Let Us Leave" - Cheryl
- "Look Who's Evil Now" - Cheryl & Shelly
- "What the F*ck Was That?" - Ash & Scott
- "Join Us" - Cheryl, Moose Head, & others
- "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, Ash & Jake
- "Ode to an Accidental Stabbing" - Jake, Annie & Cheryl
- "Do the Necronomicon" - Scott, Linda, Cheryl, Shelly, Jake & Ed
- "It's Time" - full company except Annie
- "We Will Never Die" - full company
- "Blew That Bitch Away" - full company
Website[]
The website evildeadthemusical.com is dedicated to giving information on the musical and when the newest productions will be (note that most productions listed are in the U.S.).
Other Productions[]
- New York production
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 announced that a new Toronto production of the show, starring Ryan Ward at the Diesel Playhouse would start May 1, 2007. While the initial run was only to last until the end of June 2007, it was extended to Aug 4, 2007 and then later extended again to Sept 8 2007. It won the Dora Audience Choice Award and was given four out of four by the Toronto Star. Another extension of the show was continued until June 26, 2008. The show that runs on June 26, 2008 marked the 300th performance of Evil Dead: The Musical, which makes it the longest running Canadian production in Toronto history.
- Seoul
Seoul producers announced a Seoul production of the show, starring Jo Jeong Suk and Ryu Jung Han. The premier was March 18, 2008.