How to survive MAUL OF THE DEAD

The first Young Company show of the 2013-2014 season is MAUL OF THE DEAD by Mitch Brian, Directed by Jennifer Adams.

MAUL OF THE DEAD is an action-packed comedy about a group of teens who are trapped in a mall during the holiday season and have to use their collective wits to try and survive against the undead; a holiday classic, right?

 Here are a few important things to know if you are going to survive the impending invasion:

1. Know your enemy… knowledge is power…

First Stage’s Young Company is a pre-professional training program for high school students. Students work throughout the year on a variety of theater skills including Acting Theory, Shakespeare, Voice & Speech, and Movement. They also have the opportunity to audition for Young Company productions such as this season’s shows: Maul of the Dead, Songs for a New World, and Romeo and Juliet. These productions further the theater training of our young people by providing them with an opportunity to put what they are learning in the classroom to work on the stage. Students who participate in Young Company shows are essentially taking an additional class!

2. Never go off alone…

Bring lots of friends when you come; you’ll need someone to grab onto when you’re scared, and someone to team up with if you need to make a run for it. Our students appreciate the opportunity to perform for an audience. The give and take between the actor and the audience is an experience that can’t really be explained, but once an actor figures out how to feed off the audience’s energy and use it in his or her work, they have attained a new level of acting expertise. Plus, the more of us who are prepared for a Zombie takeover, the better off we’ll be, right?

3. Blend in with the crowds at night….

One of the best ways to avoid a zombie attack is to blend in with the zombies! At the Saturday 10 p.m. performance, come dressed in your best zombie outfit for the chance to win the Zombie Costume Contest. Prizes will be given to the top three zombies. Wardrobe and make-up is the quickest way to change your appearance and helps actors really get into their characters.

4. Don’t get bitten…

There are a lot of ways you can defend yourself during a zombie attack and you might pick up a few at the performance. The show is full of action including the use of weapons such as guns and chainsaws. You may also pick up some hand-to-hand stage combat to defend yourself if they end up taking over! The opportunity to learn and rehearse stage combat is a great training opportunity for the actors in the production. Stage combat is a highly valued skill among actors and these students will improve their balance, hand eye coordination, body control, and self-awareness.

5. Don’t be late… zombies always go after the stragglers…

Performances of Maul of the Dead will be in Youth Arts Hall at the Milwaukee Youth Arts Center.

• -       Friday December 6th at 7:00 p.m.
• -       Saturday December 7th at 3:30, 7:00 & 10:00 p.m.
• -       Sunday December 8th at 3:30 & 7:00 p.m.

All tickets are $12 (or $10 for First Stage Family Package holders) and can be purchased online at www.FirstStage.org or through the First Stage Box Office at (414) 267-2961.