The Marshalltown Community Theate’s production of “Evil Dead: The Musical” opens at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Martha-Ellen Tye Playhouse, 109 S. Center St. An R-rated show, the play is based on the cult classic 1980s “Evil Dead Trilogy” of films.

“We’ve (the board) always pitched plays like ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ or ‘Spamalot’ and so when we found out there was ‘Evil Dead: The Musical’ we thought we can do this,” director Scott Lindborg said. “It’s perfect to do around Halloween and we wanted a play for younger adults.”

About half of the cast of 10 actors will be making their MCT debut. Around 16 folks are working behind the scenes. It stars Tabbi Thompson, Lindsey Heinrichs, Ryan Grabau, Gabe Duden, Carter Richerodt, Vanessa Engel, Stacy Heil, Emily Stone, Nathan Bloomquist and John Gill.

“We were deliberately trying to seek out people with very little or no experience with theater because we wanted to bring in more people from the community,” he said.

With the tag line: “We’re five college kids breaking into an old, abandoned, cabin in the woods where no one knows where we are. What could possibly go wrong?” the play is classified as a horror comedy.

“The ‘Evil Dead’ movies were so cheesy they were funny. When the second and third films were made, they just spun off that making them campy and funny,” Lindborg said.

He noted it is the first time in MCT history that fake blood has been utilized as a prop. It is also the first R-rated production. Anyone under the age of 17 needs to be accompanied by an adult to attend.

“Depending on how well it’s received by the community, it might be the last R-rated play, or the first of many. We’re experimenting,” he said.

While Lindborg has experience serving as an assistant director, this is the first time he has assumed the role as director. He is aided by assistant director Nicole Lynch.

“There’s a lot more work than I anticipated with a musical,” he said. “You have to figure out choreography and not just blocking.”

Showtimes are Oct. 26 and 27 and Nov. 2 and 3 at 7:30 p.m., and matinees Oct. 28 and Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. The box office is open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays and one hour before showtimes. Adult tickets cost $15 and student tickets cost $10.

To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/MarshalltownCommunityTheatre

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at

641-753-6611 or

sjordan@timesrepublican.com