"Look Who's Evil Now!"
A Visit with Ryan Ward of EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL
When the audience enters Stage One at the New World Stages complex to attend EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL, they are greeted with an unusual sight: the first three rows of seats are carefully covered with plastic sheeting. This is the "splatter zone", where patrons are issued disposable ponchos to shield them from the stage blood and body parts that spew from the stage during each performance. Most people in the crowd seem to relish the experience, but there are a few who divert their eyes each time more blood flows. However, people from as far as Boston have made the trip to New York City just to see this production and specifically requested seats in the splatter zone.
Presiding over this musical mayhem is the handsome Canadian actor named Ryan Ward who sings, dances, acts and dismembers with great talent and abundant charm. It is Ward's performance in this well-crafted musical that holds the show together while chains rattle, doors slam and chainsaws buzz. To say that he stands out amid such cacophony is putting it mildly. The actor literally glows when he's on stage. He manfully executes the choreography of three-time Tony Award winner Hinton Battle and his blue eyes actually sparkle under the stage lighting. Simply put: he is a bona fide musical comedy star.--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL is playing at New World Stages. ( 340 W 50th Street) .. Performances are Mon-Thurs at 8 PM. Fri 7:30 PM and 11 PM. Sat 7 PM and 11 PM.
Ticket prices $25-$65. (212) 239-6200.
Evil Dead photos by Carol Rosegg: 1) Ward as Ash; 2) Ward and Brandon Wardell; 3) Darryl Winslow, Renee Klapmeyer and Ward
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