By word of mouth, I was invited to attend the (free!) DC premier of Z-Spot: The Zombie Musical. I confess: I was expecting a painful John Waters-Meets Rocky Horror-Meets Star Search Rejects type of performance—I was only partially correct. Amazingly, I was blown away at the cleverness of the script, charmed by the amateur actors and rent-a-stage production, and laughed much too loudly for the comfort of my hipster neighbors (perhaps, I was supposed to snap in approval?) I even merrily participated in the “Consider Yourself Sing-a-long” at the end of the play.

Perhaps I should give you some background. This hour-long, campy, musical comedy is the gleefully cynical brain-fart of Cynthia Davis (a patent attorney by day and lesbian zombie by night), and her good friend, Sam Freund (a transplanted San Franciscan IT guru and aspiring writer), which when encouraged by the members of the local DC Burner Choir, collectively engineered this fine little play with little to no resources. There is no budget, all costumes and props have been procured and contributed by the 16+ cast members and crew, and a few of the cast have some real talent…we must invite Guffman next time!

Z-Spot is a potpourri parody of low budget horror films, Broadway musicals and Disney animations (sprinkled with a little disco), tweaking just about everyone’s political and ideological nipples, but with the twisted humor of a Mentos commercial on acid. As the title suggests, the premise is, amidst a zombie attack on an all girls’ Catholic High School during Homecoming, an adolescent school-girl falls in love with a female zombie. The drama lies in that the school-girl’s father, the Jewish school coach, does not approve of his daughter’s attraction to a zombie…”On no, she (his daughter) is one of those thespians!”

I noted skillful references to Braveheart, Carrie, and the small tribute to the Three Stooges. For an idea that was conceived in January of this year, maintained via Wednesday night rehearsals at various homes and possibly alley ways, if this troupe were to procure some real funds and a slightly better venue, they could make this a cult sensation. For more information about this play and this group, please visit the website at www.zspotthemusical.com.

I am hoping someone who reads this little review will contact Cynthia Davis or Sam Freund (aka, “Dallas”) via the website (or at ), and offer some community theatre financial support, donate or suggest a bigger venue (than the lovely Wonderland Ballroom), or offer this group some solid advice as to where to seek funds for another production. And please note, no animals or corpses were harmed in the making of this play. Remember, like Tinkerbell, if you clap enough, you can save Z-Spot’s life!

Originally from Washington DC, Kelly has worked as a writer, editor, and international development specialist on four continents so far. Most recently, she worked four years in rural South Africa setting up community-based healthcare and rural development systems, and yes, she lived in a hut. And just to spice it up a bit, she starred in two regular (horribe) TV shows in South Korea. Kelly’s only child is her 8 year old, pet rescue dog named Oscar Wilde.