Zombies are not usually known for their singing and dancing. Shambling through the misty woods in search of brains, yes. Belting out peppy songs while doing complex choreography, not so much. But in Love, Death, Brains: A Pete Rydberg Musical Meme, they do all that and more.

Love, Death, Brains is a reimaging of an earlier zombie musical called Z-Town. Both are based on a book by Sarah Mucek (who also wrote the songs’ lyrics) and feature music by Meghan Rose. Director Pete Rydberg also played a key role in transforming the show. But while Z-Town was a fairly dark piece, Love, Death, Brains is much lighter in tone.

At its heart, the show is about a culture-clash of epic proportions. Dr. Scott Crawford (Alex Brick) brings his son James (Stuart Mott) to Z-Town at the behest of his fellow scientist Dr. Rhonda Greenblad (Jamie England). Although Crawford tells his son that Z-Town is merely a leper colony, it is actually a top-secret government facility run where zombies can go about their business in peace under the watchful eye of a government agent who has orders to keep the zombies in, and everyone else out. Meanwhile, bumbling amateur detectives/conspiracy theorists are determined to find out what is going on behind Z-Town’s walls.

Crawford and Greenblad intend to use James as a human guinea pig to study human/zombie interactions firsthand. But their plans swiftly go awry when he falls for one of his classmates, Monica (Corianne Wilson). The arrival of humans also causes problems among the zombie population, as the local teacher, Mr. Olin (Bob Moore), tries to radicalize his pupils for an all-out war with the ‘breathers.’

The entire ensemble is exceptionally talented, and they would not be out of place on Broadway or the West End. Mott does an excellent job of portraying James’ metamorphosis from clueless teen to horrified victim, while Brick manages to make a shoddy parent like Crawford ultimately likeable. Matthew Huston (who plays a gay zombie named Zack) delivers his lines with consummate sassiness, but at the same time he keeps his portrayal from descending to the realm of crude stereotype. And Wilson’s charming performance as Monica makes a dead girl seem just like the girl next door.

The music makes the show a tour de force. Mucek’s lyrics range from the droll to the hilarious, while Rose’s score ensures that the songs remain embedded in your mind for weeks to come. They range from ensemble pieces (“Flesh-Eating Kind of Day,” “Never See Another Day”) to powerful solos (“Somethin’ Ain’t Right,” “Left Behind”), but they are all performed with skill and verve. If you liked the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you will love these songs. Thankfully, fans will be able to listen to their favorite songs whenever they want since the official soundtrack is available on iTunes.

Beneath all the gags, the show has a serious message about tolerance and cooperation. But the creative team behind it is savvy enough to convey that message subtly, without beating the audience over the head with a bunch of preachy moralizing.

Love, Death, Brains will play at Madison’s Bartell Theater until August 4. Then it heads to New York City where it will play at the Fringe Festival on August 12, 14, 16, 17, and 18. Check out their Facebook page for more information.

Stay tuned for an exclusive backstage look at the show!

The article Night of the Singing Dead: Love, Death, Brains appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.

Thousands of talented performers and excited spectators gathered in Edinburgh, Scotland for the annual Fringe Festival.

The three week long festival took place in August and celebrated a multitude of performing arts. Everything from dance shows, concerts, comedic acts, musicals, and exhibits were performed during the Fringe Festival, making it one of the most popular creative arts festivals in the world.

The festival started in 1947, the Fringe Festival has grown tremendously since its original showcasing of just eight theater groups. The festival now welcomes thousands of acts who want to share a message with their audience.

Concerts are one of the main attractions at Fringe. Throughout the duration of the festival, hundreds of musicians lit up venues across Edinburgh with catchy tunes and had crowds singing and dancing.

Singer Adriana Spina performed at the Acoustic Music Centre at St. Brides, singing songs from her latest album entitled “Never Coming Home.” Spina performed at Fringe in the past, but 2011’s festival was the biggest so far.

The Cast, a Scottish band also took the stage at Fringe. They have received positive acclaim from UK’s popular band, Oasis. The Cast performed at The Edge Festival at HMV Picture House and was a crowd pleaser. Coming together with Fringe and the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, The Edge Festival brought over 40 musical performers to the stage, including Panic! At The Disco, Wiz Khalifa, and Jimmy Eat World.

Comedy shows throughout the three week run of Fringe were constantly bringing laughter and a light hearted atmosphere to the city. The Seven Deadly Sings  told jokes through musical comedy on topics including classical musician Beethoven and contemporary artist Elton John.

Comedian Juliet Meyers brought her stand up comedy routine entitled “Juliet Meyers: I’m Not Sparticus!” to the stage. She has received positive reviews by BBC and was one of the highlights in comedy during Fringe.

The Fringe Festival had shows for everyone, no matter what age. Children’s events were widely available throughout the festival. Children were able to watch a show called “Through the Looking Glass (And What Alice Found There),” a playful revamped performance of the classic “Alice in Wonderland.”

In an interactive dance lesson, children and parents were able to attend Flamenco for Kids, where they were able to learn and dance the flamenco. Children were encouraged to put on costumes and play instruments; a fun activity for the whole family. Dance performances were not limited for children. There was a variety of exceptional dance acts showcasing their talents at Fringe.

Migrations Cirque was one such act who danced across the stage at Gryphons Venues at The Point Hotel. Migrations Cirque is a collaboration of international dancers from places such as Germany, New York, and Hawaii. The show offered spectacular dances, movements, and sounds through an inspirational piece of work.

Swimming With My Mother was another dance performance that told the story of a mother and son relationship. Danced to the soundtrack of music from Nat King Cole, the duet piece was a favorite at Fringe.

The capital city of Scotland was bursting at the seams with creative talent during the month of August. The volume of performances made for one of the largest performing arts festivals in the world. The festival was easily accessible to the public as many performances were free. The annual Fringe Festival did not disappoint and was an exciting experience for people of all ages.

Stephen Finn / Shutterstock.com

The article Fringe Festival Takes Over Edinburgh appeared first on The Toonari Post - News, Powered by the People!.