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Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

‘Zombie Prom’ presented this weekend in Ely

Keith Vandervort
Posted 11/8/18

ELY— The annual high school musical has become infected with the recent Halloween spirit. “This year’s production is “Zombie Prom,” but before anyone thinks of brain-eating monsters, think …

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‘Zombie Prom’ presented this weekend in Ely

Posted

ELY— The annual high school musical has become infected with the recent Halloween spirit. “This year’s production is “Zombie Prom,” but before anyone thinks of brain-eating monsters, think again,” said Director James Lah. “This play has only one mutant character and is more on the “Mutant Ninja” side of weird.”

The story takes place in the beginning of the Nuclear Age, when the promise of better living through nuclear energy thinly veneered the threats of nuclear disasters, Lah said. “The students in the play attend Enrico Fermi High School in what seems to be an innocuous time. The seniors are ready to graduate, boys and girls wait for the prom, and our two main characters fall in love,” Lah said.

Jonny, our male lead played by Jonny Hakala, is the school rebel. The height of his rebellion is spelling his name without an “H.” He falls in love with Toffee, played by Erika Mattson, during a fallout drill. Because of his wily name spelling, Toffee is forced by her parents and the principal, Miss Strict (Cora Olson) to break up with Jonny.

In his doldrums, Jonny falls into a nuclear waste treatment site, changing him into a nuclear mutant that returns from the dead. His un-dead status challenges the preconceived notions of the school, leading to a classic fight for rights and freedom of speech.

Enter in the local magazine editor. “Jasiah Wigdahl, our only senior this year, plays this comic role to the hilt,” Lah said. The magazine EXPOSÉ wants to promote Jonny’s rights to return to school and go to the prom—while selling more copies. “Jasiah’s role has to fight with Principal Strict, but to his advantage, he realizes that Miss Strict is his long-lost, high school sweetheart,” he added.

As all musicals seem to do, this one brings everyone together into one, big, nuclear family.

The play promises to be an evening of light comedy and lilting songs. It plays Friday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, Nov. 11, at 4 p.m. “The students of Ely invite the entire community to join them in the Washington Auditorium,” Lah said.