This Halloween season, the OCU campus is facing an infestation of zombies through the second mainstage musical show of the year, “The Zombies of Penzance.”
Dr. David Herendeen, director of opera and music theater and director of the show, said he would describe the show as a fun and silly operetta, perfect for introducing opera to people who have never experienced it before.
“Zombies are a big thing, and they have been for quite a while, so to ‘zombify’ certain things, that trend evolved in 1978 when George A. Romero created ‘Night of the Living Dead,’” Herendeen said. “So a guy a couple years ago came up with the idea that he could take the basic storyline of ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ and all he was going to do was shift the storyline a little bit to make the pirates become zombies and make the General’s daughters into zombie hunters. It is silly and absurd, and the writing is not nearly as witty as ‘The Pirates of Penzance’ script is, but it’s Halloween, it’s zombies and therefore absurd and fun.”
The show was chosen specifically for the Halloween slot of shows this year as something entertaining and fitting for the holiday, which Herendeen said he would like to incorporate into the show through the audience. Herendeen said he encourages audience members to dress up in costume to attend the Halloween showing.
“I only ask that no one ooze on my seats, because I don’t want to have to clean them, and don’t block the people behind you. Other than that come happy and fun,” Herendeen said.
Lilliana Saffa, opera performance graduate, plays the role of “Mabel” in the show.
“I play Mabel, one of the daughters of the retired zombie hunter, ‘Major-General Stanley,’” Saffa said. “Mabel has the most gentle heart of the bunch and quickly falls in love with ‘Frederic,’ a newly-made zombie, against the better judgement of her family. Throughout the course of the story, she tries to protect her family while also following her heart, which puts them all in a rather sticky situation.”
Saffa also said she thinks this show was a great choice for this time of year.
“This show was chosen to bring a new and exciting twist to an old classic, and what better time for a zombie show than during Halloween,” Saffa said. “The show has provided the cast with opportunities to be larger than life and to really dive into the spirit of the season.”
The show will be performed 10 p.m. Oct. 31, 8 p.m. Nov. 1-2 and 3 p.m. Nov. 3. in the Burg Theatre in Kirkpatrick Fine Arts Center. Tickets can be purchased either at the Box Office located in the Gaylord Center or online at okcu.edu/main/tickets.
Editor’s Note: Community Manager Jessica Vanek is playing Mabel in the production. She did not participate in the writing or editing of this story.
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