About the Play:

Zombies from the Beyond is a full-length musical comedy with book, music and lyrics by James Valcq. A small group of scientists have to save earth from a pack of singing, dancing zombies from outer space. Songs, dances, and laughs abound as the Cold War and space race paranoia threaten mankind's very existence. This campy, hilarious musical is a wonderful spoof of old sci-fi/rock-n-roll B-movies.

Zombies from the Beyond is a tribute to the cheap, 1950s sci-fi movies that littered television screens for decades after. With tongue-in-cheek lines, zippy song and dance numbers, and enough laughs to send you into orbit, this is a musical comedy celebration of American ideals and foibles in the Eisenhower era. Songs, dances, and laughs abound in the unlikeliest of settings as the Cold War and space race paranoia threaten the good folks at the fictional Milwaukee Space Center in 1955, where the staff is all abuzz at the arrival of rocket scientist Trenton Corbett. The budding romance of Trenton and Mary – the daughter of Space Center commander Major Malone – is jeopardized when a flying saucer lands in Milwaukee. The craft is piloted by Zombina, an Amazon-like she-creature bent on procuring he-specimens to re-populate her planet. Can Mary uphold her lady-like demeanour while using her facile intelligence to save Milwaukee from a Red Menace and a flying saucer invasion? Can plucky delivery boy Billy ever get secretary Charlene to notice his tap-dancing charms?? Can the stalwart men of Milwaukee survive brainwashing by a musical menace from another world who gives new meaning to "stratospheric" soprano??? Taking its cue from pulp movies popular at the time, Zombies from the Beyond brings the 1950s nostalgically and hilariously to life with a tuneful, toe-tapping score.

Zombies from the Beyond premiered in 1986 at the Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee. It opened Off-Broadway in 1995 at the Players Theatre to virtually unanimous critical acclaim. The play is regularly performed in regional repertory, college, and community theatre productions.

Cast: 3 women, 4 men

What people say:

"Dead aim, deadpan, dead-on new musical with keen-eyed skill to spare." — New York Times

"A splendid surprise. This crazy satire is absolutely enchanting. By all means see it — it's 24-carat fun." — New York Post

"Hilarious! Superb! Marvelous! Out of this world! A droll, tongue-in-cheek book and a zippy score. A dizzy musical above and beyond the call of hilarity." — New York Daily News

"James Valcq's book and songs are ten times cleverer than anything on Broadway right now. This is a scream, hoot and holler from A to Z and will probably turn up on many small theatres' rosters thanks to its small set and cast." — BackStage

About the Playwright:

James Valcq is an American musical theatre composer, lyricist, and librettist, best known as co-writer of The Spitfire Grill and writer of Zombies from The Beyond, which have both become staples in regional and communty theatres. He holds an MFA from NYU's Musical Theatre Program and a BFA from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In addition to musicals, he has composed song cycles and choral pieces which have been performed in the U.S. and Europe.