The Beachwood Bison drama club proudly presented Night of the Living Dead on the weekend of Nov. 10-12. 

The stage production is adapted from the classic 1968 American horror film produced by George Romero and John Russo. The plot follows a group of individuals who find shelter in an abandoned house from mass-murdering zombies. As chaos escalates within the group, the zombies pick them off one by one until no survivors remain. 

Night of the Living Dead is the first drama club production directed by Johnathan Luster and Topher Helm. 

Johnathan Luster, a Hilltop teacher, has significant experience acting and directing. He ran a theater program at Fairport Harbor for five years as well as many other summer camp theater programs. 

Luster enjoys working with cast members immensely and holds high hopes for their future in theater. 

“The students here are wonderful to work with and have so much untapped talent that we got to see in this fall play,” he said. 

Gallery • 12 Photos

Avery Lonzer

The decision-making behind the selections for the two productions this year was not random. 

As new directors, Luster and Helm were not sure what the Beachwood community would best respond to.

“The two shows we chose for the year are chosen specifically,” Luster said. “[We want] to have flexibility and unbiased gender casting so we can cast any student in any role solely based on talent.” 

While the directing process proved challenging at times, it was an enjoyable experience for all. 

“You have to be open and collaborative, there are certain expectations that must be in place,” Luster said. “When it comes to the show, it is important for us to collaborate with the actors. 

Senior Emma Haag made her debut performance as Dr. Grimes. She commented on the professionalism of the directors.

“[The directors] … simulated how things are in the real world,” Haag said.

Haag also enjoyed working with the rest of the cast. 

Something remarkable about this production is the involvement of BMS students. The middle school students were able to step up to their high school counterparts to deliver an  unforgettable performance. 

Barbara, one of the lead characters in the show, was played by seventh grader Giovana Ribeiro Duraes. Ribeiro Duraes stood out for her energy as well as the distinctive inflections in her voice and facial expressions. 

“I’ve been doing theater for two years… I like working with theater members and I just like coming to rehearsals every day to go through blocking,” she said.

Eighth grader Romi Balkan played the character of Judy. She also participated in Bison theater last year with Clue. 

“[The involvement of more BMS students in recent years] means more participation and a lot more of a younger audience coming to future shows,” Balkan wrote in an email.

She also appreciates the benefits of getting involved at a younger age.

“This is great because people will find their talents and what they may  even want to do for the rest of their lives at a younger age,” she said. “I think it is pretty amazing that we had such a young but amazing cast.” 

The teamwork between cast members, stage crew and others was seamlessly coordinated by the directors. 

Ribeiro Duraes explained that this is a great time to get involved in BHS theater. 

“You get a fresh start,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what your experiences were [with theater] in the past, you can just show up.”

“The new directors definitely bring a different yet fun and interesting way of directing theater,” Balkan wrote. “There are definitely similarities between them and the past directors, but there are also a lot of awesome differences that made it a really cool experience in this past show.”

The production of the play was also noteworthy. The atmosphere was established very effectively by the set and lighting. As the lights dimmed and the fog slowly billowed in from under the large door, the audience could already feel the dark and ominous atmosphere of the show. 

The haunted house appearance, all draped with gray and cobwebs, was perfectly built to match the atmosphere of the show. 

There were basically three layers of the set: the main level (the stage), the stairs leading to the top and the cellar at the bottom. 

These layers were essential in adding movement and fluidity to the play, filling in all of the important details for the viewers and bringing the audience further into the world of haunted zombies and distressed people. 

Luster was also pleased with the setup of the stage. 

“The space is beautiful,” he said. “…the fact that we are able to perform at such a level is awesome for high school, especially with the beautiful sets and sound designs.”

One of the exceptional setpieces for me were the large door and window. These were placed in the center of the stage to make it seem as though the audience was also enclosed in the haunted house, creating a real connection with the actors. 

The short 40-minute play was never boring, as each moment was filled with witty humor, jumpscares and plot development. Despite the horror prevalent through the show, there were also many comedic moments incorporated as well, bringing a refreshing tone. 

The frequent laughter, heavy moments of silence and gasps from the audience are a telltale sign of the talent of everyone involved in the play. 

As the play drew to a close and the cast and crew took their bows, echoes of applause filled the auditorium. I believe that this show is just the beginning of a new chapter in BHS theater.