Trustus Theatre to Present EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL, 6/20-7/26

Trustus Theatre is bringing Evil Dead: The Musical to the Thigpen Main Stage this summer, and it's going to get bloody. This campy adaptation of the cult classic b-horror movie series will have audiences laughing and dodging blood as the grisly events from the films come to life on stage complete with musical numbers. Patrons wishing to become more involved in the action may purchase "Splatter Zone" seats where they will be splashed with blood from the stage. Evil Dead: The Musical opens Friday June 20th at 8:00pm and runs through July 26th, 2014.

Based on Sam Raimi's 80s cult classic films, Evil Dead: The Musical tells the tale of a normal college guy named Ash who takes his girlfriend, sister, best friend, and the best friend's new girl into the woods for a little relaxation. After breaking into an abandoned cabin they settle in until they discover a lot of unusual archeological items down in a cellar. Through a series of missteps they unleash Candarian Demons that begin taking them over one by one. Ash is forced to take control by wielding a sawed-off shotgun and a chainsaw. "Camp" will take on a whole new meaning at Trustus with uproarious numbers like "All the Men in my Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons," "Look Who's Evil Now" and "Do the Necronomicon."

This blood-drenched evening is brought to the Trustus stage under the direction of Chad Henderson (Ragtime, Young Frankenstein) and the music direction of Randy Moore (Avenue Q, See Rock City). The cast includes a refreshing blend of new and familiar faces on the Thigpen Main Stage. Michael Hazin (West Side Story, Hairspray) will be playing the groovy chainsaw-wielding hero, Ash. Jodie Cain Smith (Love, Loss, and What I Wore), Patrick Dodds (Spring Awakening), Elisabeth Baker (Ragtime), and Abigail Ludwig (Ragtime) will be playing Ash's friends who accompany on his trip to an abandoned cabin where it all goes south. Trustus Company member Matthew DeGuire (See Rock City) will be playing Jake, an outsider who leads a Candarian Demon specialist and her boyfriend to the cabin on the evening of the fiasco played by Amy Brower (Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Amazons and Their Men) and Trey Lawson respectively.

The production team has spent a lot of time creating blood effects for this crazy evening in the theatre. Compressed air, on-stage tubing, various viscosities of stage blood made with household products, and even pond fountains are being used to splash, splatter, and saturate the stage with the gory aftermath of this night of the Evil Dead. Needless to say, the after-show clean up may take as long as the show itself.

Fans of Sam Raimi's cult classic films won't want to miss this musical adaptation at Trustus Theatre. Fans of fun and unexpected evenings of entertainment won't want to miss it either - it promises to be the biggest theatre event in Columbia this summer.

Trustus Theatre's Evil Dead, the Musical opens on the Trustus Main Stage on Friday, June 20th at 8:00pm and runs through July 26th, 2014. Thigpen Main Stage shows start at 8:00pm Thursdays through Saturdays, and Sunday matinees are at 3:00pm.There will not be a matinee performance on Sunday June 22nd and no shows the weekend of July 4th. Tickets for musicals are $27.00 for adults, $25.00 for military and seniors, and $20.00 for students. Half-price Student Rush-Tickets are available 15 minutes prior to curtain. Splatter Zone tickets are $36.00 and are available by calling the box office only at (803) 254-9732.

Trustus Theatre is located at 520 Lady Street, behind the Gervais St. Publix. Parking is available on Lady St. and on Pulaski St. The Main Stage entrance is located on the Publix side of the building.

For more information or reservations call the box office Tuesdays through Saturdays 1-6 pm at 803-254-9732. Visit www.trustus.org for all show information and season information.