Zombies on stage at Springhouse Students to perform ‘All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Being a Zombie’
By Susan Bryant
Springhouse Middle School theater students will perform “All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Being a Zombie” Oct. 28, 30, and 31 in the auditorium.
Written by Jason Pizzarello, this play examines the challenges faced on a daily basis and a few of life’s most important lessons.
A parade of zombies engage the audience with musings on life, death, and everything in between.
They show that brains are not everything. You are what you eat and what does not kill you makes you more alive.
Jordan Silver, who plays Steve and the Zombie comedian commented on his role.
“My monologue is about a zombie comedian who is trying to make their audience laugh and his jokes get more and more complex ending with a mic-dropping line,” Silver said.
Silver said he likes how fun doing this show is with funny, sad, and some confusing moments that leave the audience stunned after watching.
Hikari Takahashi, who plays Janie and Zombie No. 7 in the ensemble, and Hannah Tong, who plays Becky and is also part of the zombie ensemble, commented on their roles.
“My character brings her zombie boyfriend to her disapproving (human) parents in the scene ‘Family Matters Mostly,’” Takahashi stated.
She loves being zombie No. 7 in the ensemble because the back and forth of lines is exciting, and a lot more fun than it looks.
“It’s easy to talk like a unified group or a family which we have become one through this show,” Takahashi said. “I am so grateful to be part of this play and that I could spend time with the amazing cast, crew, and director.
“Rehearsals are the best part of my day, and I cannot wait for opening night.”
Tong said in the scene “Brains Aren’t Everything” her character Becky and Shauna, who are both zombie cheerleaders play against stereotypes.
“They’re meant to be genuine in a way that stereotypical cheerleaders are not,” she added.
“Cheryl, a human, also acts against the ‘smart/nerdy girl’ stereotype. She is meant to be sassy and haughty, traits that frustrate Becky and Shauna to no end. In some ways, it’s a role reversal of the cliché cheerleader and smart kid.”
Tong said Becky is a fun character to play, because even though her character is meant to be genuine, there are definitely some spots where the preppy and petty cheerleader side comes out.
“That challenge of acting someone different from myself is what really makes it fun,” Tong stated. “For the ensemble scenes I’m a part of, it’s also very fun because we are meant to act as a traditional Greek-chorus, and essentially be “one-voice.”
Amina Chatouk, who plays Cheryl and zombie No. 3 in the ensemble, also commented on her roles.
“My character is a snobby nerdy girl who thinks she is better just because she’s smarter. And zombie No. 3 is a part of the ensemble, which is like the Greek chorus,” she said. “I like feeling the character as if that were my personality and being part of something (one of the eight parts of something!) is really fun, too.
“The key to an amazing show is how well you get along with the people working with you. If we cannot stand together, we will slowly fall apart.”
This one-act play is directed by Jessica Reitnauer.
Reitnauer explains why she chose this play.
“It is a basically bare stage show comprised of small scenes and monologues,” Reitnauer said. “With the ever-changing COVID regulations and the possibility of needing to stream the show, this allowed us the flexibility of small numbers of students at rehearsals at a time and an ease of presentation that fit our current needs.
“In addition, I am flying solo in terms of production on this show, directing as well as running the stage crew, so simplicity was of the utmost necessity.”
Reitnauer also commented about being back on stage.
“All of us in the arts department are thrilled to be back doing live theater with our students,” she stated. “Our last live performance was March 2020, less than one week before the school was actually closed due to COVID.
“We were fortunate to be able to run a virtually produced and performed show last fall as well as a musical experience workshop last spring, but nothing compares to providing students with the opportunity to experience the thrill of live theatrical performances.”
“All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Being a Zombie” performances are 7 p.m. Oct. 28 and 2 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31.
Tickets, which are $7, can be purchased at the door.
Masks must be worn for all in attendance.