Night of the Living Dead at Gladstone high school

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GLADSTONE- A frightfully enjoyable evening awaits those who dare attend the Nov. 12-15 performance of George Romero's "Night of the Living Dead," in the Paul F. Cowen Auditorium at Gladstone Area High School.

Evening perfomances begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday Nov. 12 through Sunday, Nov. 15, with a special matinee performance Saturday, Nov. 14 at 1 p.m.

A stage performance of the classic horror film is being offered by the Gladstone High School Dramatic Art's students under the direction of Kenneth Taylor and Assistant Director Chelsee Euklid. Technical direction is under the direction of Ken Benson.

The play is based upon the 1968 screenplay written by Romero, it was adapted for the stage performance by Lori Allen Ohm.

"Night of the Living Dead, is a play that brings all the fright of the classic film to the stage," said Taylor.

The premise of the stage production is the result of fallout from a satellite probe shot to Venus. Upon the probes return to Earth, it carries with it some mysterious radiation which transforms the unburied dead into flesh-eating zombies.

"In the stage performance, there are seven people who find themselves being held hostage in an isolated farm house," said Taylor. "As the play progresses, these seven individuals begin to turn on each other, even as the ravenous ghouls continue to encroach upon their refuge."

Taylor also added that the spine tingling performance features a blend of black humor which will envelop the audience as the performance unfolds into its shocking theatrical conclusion.

Members of the cast include Emily Whitmer who is playing the part of Barbara, who has just lost her beloved brother to the flesh-eating zombies, and Alex Pickard, who plays Ben, the truck driver who comes to Barbara's aid.

Among others the cast includes; Christopher LaMarche, Caleb Whitmer, Brooke Bingham, Michael Martin, Tamara Pouliot, Andrea Starr, Ethan Monroe, Katie Menard, Karlee Metzger, LeAnne Barstow, Paul Flaminio, Jacob Krycia, Andy Jensen, Alyssa McCloskey, Marissa Nygaard, Raeanna Tardiff, Bailey Kuehl, Rachel Martinson, Hannah Wickman, Halie Marmalick, Emilee Berg, Rochelle Broeders, Hailee Ives, Chris Jandro, Matthew Berg, Katharina Scholer, Emily Strom, Michelle Treganowan, Taylor Seeley, Paul Tomaszewski, Tori Augsbuger, Elizabeth Hulla, Brittany Frost, Samantha Cretens, Marissa LaVigne, BranDee Nuernberg, Garret Hamacher, Dan Strom, Preston Caron, Dani Boucher, Cassandra LaMarche, Cooper Young and Samatha Rosa.

Tickets are available at the door one hour before the peformance begins or at the Gladstone High School Athletic Office.