Speaking as a fan of musical theatre, I am regularly unimpressed by the lack of horror-driven plotlines. Several of the classical Universal monster movies began onstage, for example Bela Lugosi starred as Dracula long before the film was produced. Since the move from stage plays to the silver screen, horror became less popular as a sub-genre within theater as mainstream horror movies gained popularity. There have been a few notable exceptions: Sweeney Todd, a Stephen Sondheim creation based on previous adaptations of the Victorian penny dreadful of the same name. Also, in more recent history The Addams Family does incorporate elements of horror and Gothic melodrama but the overall effect is more campy and palatable for theatergoing regulars for sure. Thankfully, horror has found a place to stay with the aid of the tradition of midnight movies, like Rocky Horror Picture Show and others, here you see shows like Evil Dead: The Musical which somehow manage to combine the conventions of the stage play with horror front and center.
Enter the Night of the Living Dead: The Musical, Kickstarter project. According to their site page: “Nictophobia Films is bringing this cinematic masterpiece to the stage in spring 2013 like you have never seen before. Just like the film, the stage production will be presented entirely in black and white, from the set design right to the actors. The performance will be audience interactive as live zombies walk through the aisles, making their way to the to the stage keeping spectators on the edge of their seats…NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD LIVE will captivate audiences as they experience this classic told in the intimate setting of a live theater.” They are looking to raise $50,000 in 70 days in order to produce a live stage production of the classic movie. Go to their Indiegogo page (https://www.indiegogo.com/notldl) now and place a donation to help them out…if you dare.
