Reif Center presents Zombie Prom!
Zombie Prom
He’s daring. He’s dashing. He’s debonair... He’s dead.
But don’t worry, he came back as a zombie to take his girlfriend to the prom. So goes the tale of Jonny Warner (who spells his name without the customary “H”) in the upcoming Reif Center production of “Zombie Prom.” It begins with Jonny, an orphan who finds love in his new high school, Enrico Fermi High. But when this misunderstood youth is dumped by the lovely Toffee, who was pressured by her parents and the school’s fascist principal Miss Strict, to leave the rock & rolling, leather-jacket wearing teen, it’s too much for him to bare. He prematurely takes his life by jumping into the Francis Gary Powers Nuclear Plant. But then he comes back for love, feeling he gave up too quickly the last time. And this time he’s hell-bent on taking his girlfriend to the prom.
The show is directed by and staring Katie Benes and Katie Smith, who play Toffee and Miss Strict, respectively. Long-time fans of the show, Benes and Smith have been working for some time to bring “Zombie Prom” to Grand Rapids, and finally they are getting their opportunity. Unlike other summer productions which the Reif Center has hosted, such as musicals by the Grand Rapids Players, this show is entirely produced by the Reif Center, a first for the theater venue. All the same, Benes and Smith did approach the Players for some assistance, such as with costumes.
“This has been kind of a dream for a long time,” said Smith. “I worked at a summer camp 12 years ago, and one of my campers came in a cabin singing ‘Toffee, Toffee,’ and she kept doing it over and over again. So I finally asked her what she was singing. She told me that her high school had done this play called ‘Zombie Prom,’ and she gave me a copy of the CD. And I listened to it. It’s one of the most cleverly written musicals I’ve ever heard!”
Aside from numerous plays on words, the play is loaded with references to 1950s pop culture. And more over arching, it’s a show that satirizes both the zombie-phenomena as well as the bubble-gum pop teen love story by, well, mashing them together. It also gives a look at a humorous variation of civil rights (remember when the play takes place). Still, the story is a quite tender look at love-at-first-site, and no doubt audiences will find themselves really hoping for the best for the young couple in love. But then of course, there’s still the problem of him being the undead.
“Well, it’s the high school prom, and everyone has their insecurities. And Jonny is a zombie, so he’s kind of insecure about that,” said Elliott Gielen, who plays Jonny. “It’s such a quirky play!”
The show has been a learning experience for Benes, who is playing a duel role in the production as both Toffee and co-director. Of her character, Benes says she’s “just the sweetest little thing,” and that she has a lot of fun music. A big reason she is involved in theater to begin with is her love of singing, so she felt that the role of Toffee was one that she would really enjoy.
In terms of directing, both Benes and Smith remarked how they’ve enjoyed watching the show come together, especially after wanting to put it on for so long. Between having the set erected, the songs come together, and the rest of the cast developing their characters, both directors are looking forward to positive opening night.
So there’s only one question left: What is it with zombies?
When asked what she thinks of the whole zombie thing in general, Benes replied “Zombies are totally vogue right now! There’s no other way to say it.”
And that may just be it. Zombies are just too cool for school.
“Zombie Prom” will be at the Reif Center on Thursday through Saturday, July 26, 27, and 28, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15, and can be purchased at the Reif box office, Reed Drug, by calling 218-327-5780, or online at www.reifcenter.org.
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