Whether you’re a die-hard fan of all things creepy, or you’re just looking to get in a spooky mood, many of us like to scare ourselves silly around Halloween. Some of us visit haunted mazes and trails, some attend or throw parties, some read ghost stories, but one of the most common (and one of my favorite) Halloween festivities is the increased consumption of horror films. Even those who might not normally like scary movies tend to indulge in the spirit of the season. Whether you prefer to be scared in person, or from the comfort of your couch, the Tiger Theatre Company is bringing the best of both worlds to Texarkana this weekend, as they open their production of Night of the Living Dead, LIVE! 

Night of the Living Dead, LIVE! is a theatrical stage production based on George A. Romero’s classic 1968 film.The original plot follows a group of strangers who barricade themselves in a house in hopes of surviving a zombie outbreak. This film was significant in that it began a total reinvention of the horror genre. It also served as the birth of the modern zombie film, which continues to be wildly popular today, even five decades later. It was also significant in that it was highly controversial, since it featured an African-American hero and realistic sequences of gore and violence. Going into this, it is extremely important to understand that this is not a strict, line-for-line, shot-for-shot adaptation, it is a humorous re-imagining and celebration of the original film.

On their website, Samuel French says that, “The play lovingly examines the movie itself, the period in which it was made, and the film’s undying influence on the horror genre.” Although it keeps most of the basic plot elements, there are differences. According to director Melissa Newton, rather than sticking to the film’s original ending, this version has multiple endings in which each character faces different difficulties while trying to make it through the night. This allows the audience to examine these various endings from multiple viewpoints, “through the lens of the 1960s”, as Newton put it. As in the film, all of the characters seem to be at odds with one another, which begs the question: will they kill each other before the zombies get the chance? Plot differences aside, Newton assures that the spirit of the original film is still very much intact. “People keep asking me if the play is scary,” she said, “It depends – if the original film scares you, then this will be very scary.” For those who are looking for a fright, do not fret! Newton says that there are definitely moments that will make audiences jump.

When asked why she chose this production, Newton began by explaining that the first production she directed at Texas High was Dracula. The THS Theatre Department’s technical director, Trent Hanna, enjoyed that production so much that he came to Newton in the spring and asked if they could do another “scary” show, since Dracula was so much fun. “Between the two of us, we must have read [every] version of Night of the Living Dead and none of them had the right feel,” Newton continued. As she was planning a trip to London, she noticed that a new version, titled Night of the Living Dead, LIVE!, was running on the West End. “Immediately, I ordered the script and read it,” she said, “It was perfect”. They particularly liked this version because it contained deeper social commentary, and it was very humorous. Newton says that this is more than just a “horror show”, and she cannot wait to share it with everyone.

The rehearsal process for this show has been quite intense. The cast consists of 38 actors, all Texas High School students. The production also boasts an impressive crew of seventeen. Both cast and crew went through rigorous training in stage combat, and the actors portraying zombies have put countless hours into perfecting their “zombie identities”. The company began by rehearsing three to four days a week, focusing on blocking and character development. Rehearsals became more frequent (and intense) as opening night drew closer and, by October, the cast and crew had begun running scenes with the zombies and technical elements. Due to the heavy use of technical elements in the show, they have also had several all-day tech rehearsals in order to get things running smoothly.

Although they work extremely hard, the cast and crew have fun as well. THS Junior Darby Robertson (who plays the role of Judy) shared a humorous moment between she and Connor Powell, the actor playing her love interest (Tom). While rehearsing a passionate kiss between the two characters, Powell accidentally collided with Robertson, busting her lip. “It is definitely something I will never forget,” she said, adding that the incident will “haunt Connor for the rest of his time in this theatre company.”

THS Senior Alex Cope, who is the chief of the lighting crew, said that he has greatly enjoyed doing tech for this show. Cope said, “My favorite thing about the show is, of course, the lights.” He particularly loves the way the lighting design makes the play “come to life”. According to Cope, when it comes to the rehearsal process, “seeing everyone grow in their scenes and become so invested is probably one of the best things. I’m definitely going to miss this.” One of the director’s favorite moments is a scene she refers to as the “sacrifice scene”. Newton chose not to elaborate on this moment, saying that she would leave it at that, in order to avoid “giving too much away.”

Although every production of any play is special for multiple reasons, what makes this show unique is that it has a peculiar color scheme… The set, costumes, and even the actors will be in full grayscale, as is the tradition with this play. This is meant to evoke the spirit of the black-and-white 35 millimeter film on which the original movie was shot. Special rehearsals were called in order to train the actors and crew members so their makeup would be just right. It will be interesting to see how they play with this effect. When asked about other special effects used in the show, Newton refused to divulge any further secrets. “You will have to be in the audience to see it,” she said.

Performances of Night of the Living Dead, LIVE! will be:

• Friday, October 25 – 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, October 26 – 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, October 27 – 2:00 p.m.

Tickets will be available both online or at the door.

Admission prices are as follows:

• Adults –  $10 in advance/online, $15 at the door
• Students – $4 in advance/online, $5 at the door.
• TISD employees receive FREE admission with badge.

(Click here for directions: John Thomas Theatre – Sullivan Performing Arts Center)

For questions or more information, contact Melissa Newton, or call 903-794-3891 (ext. 2408). For updates on this show and future shows, you can find the Tiger Theatre Company on Facebook, or follow them on Instagram.

Can YOU survive a night of the living dead?

The Tiger Theatre Company is making a point to stress that this production has a PG-13 rating, as it contains violence that may not be suitable for children. Parents should use caution and plan accordingly.