David Sajewich, Julie Baird & More to Lead EVIL DEAD at Broadway Playhouse; Cast & Creative Team Announced

Broadway In Chicago has announced the cast and creative team for Evil Dead - The Musical, winner of the 2007 Dora Audience Choice Award as Toronto's favorite show, which will bring mayhem and fun to the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E Chestnut) for a limited three-week engagement Sept. 23 through Oct. 12, 2014.

"We're excited to showcase a cast full of Chicagoans at the Broadway Playhouse," said Corey Ross, president of Starvox Entertainment. "Don't miss this show to see an unforgettable, hilarious transformation splattered with evil fun."

Evil Dead - The Musical will feature a cast full of Chicagoans including Julie Baird, Callie Johnson, Ryan McBride, David Sajewich, Creg Sclavi, Demi Zaino and Toronto native Andrew Di Rosa.

Evil Dead - The Musical, the hilarious, record-breaking Canadian musical, George Reinblatt (Book & Lyrics), Frank Cipolla (Music), Melissa Morris (Music) and Christopher Bond (Direction & Music), tells the outrageous story of five college friends spending the weekend in an abandoned cabin in the woods after accidentally unleashing an evil force that turns them all into demons.

The production is choreographed by Stacey Renee Maroske with music direction by Aaron Eyre, and features scenic design by Lindsay Anne Black, costume design by Claudia Kada, lighting design by Gareth Crew and sound design by Michael Laird. Evil Dead - The Musical is produced by Starvox Entertainment in association with Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment.

Those familiar with Evil Dead - The Musical will remember that audience members sitting in the designated "Splatter Zone" (the first four rows) get covered in fake blood as the production incorporates some fun 'real-life' effects during certain scenes. In addition to some dismembered limbs, demons telling bad jokes, and catchy tunes ("Look Who's Evil Now", "All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons"), the show features a saucy combination of wit and sexual innuendo that keeps audiences laughing out loud.

Tickets to Evil Dead - The Musical are on-sale now with additional seating in the Splatter Zone. Tickets are available now for groups of 10 or more by calling Broadway In Chicago Group Sales at (312) 977-1710. Tickets are available at all Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (24 W. Randolph St., 151 W. Randolph St., 18 W. Monroe St. and 175 E. Chestnut), the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000, all Ticketmaster retail locations and online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.

For more information, please visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.evildeadthemusical.com.

This musical first glimpsed the light of day in Toronto, where early workshop engagements played to capacity and beyond. While local mainstream theatre audiences flocked to the show, diehard fans of the Evil Dead film series made pilgrimages from across North America to witness the birth of a new cult hit. The popular workshop production enjoyed two sold-out runs at Toronto's Tranzac Club in 2003 before heading off to Montreal in 2004 as part of the 22nd Just For Laughs Festival. It opened off-Broadway at New World Stages in November 2006 and was produced by Jenkay LLC, Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment and Just for Laughs Live. Evil Dead - The Musical returned to Toronto in 2007 for a record-breaking run of more than 300 performances at the now defunct Diesel Playhouse. The production enjoyed a hugely successful remount at Toronto's Randolph Theatre in the fall of 2013. This production is now on its latest American tour.

JULIE BAIRD (Linda) is from the suburbs of Chicago and is thrilled to be a part of this bloody production! Recent credits include Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (Kalamazoo Civic Theatre, Riverside Center, and Cape Fear Regional Theatre), Elly May in The World Premiere of the Beverly Hillbillies: The Musical! (Theatre at the Center) and Amber in Hairspray (Summer Repertory Theatre). She also has spent several summers at Six Flags Great America as a singer in their main stage shows. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre Performance from Western Michigan.

RYAN CZERWONKO (Swing/Fake Shemp) is so excited to be on his first national tour! Based in Chicago, recent credits there include Broken Fences (16th Street Theater), Cymbeline (First Folio Theatre) and Dozens of Cousins (Trap Door Theatre). Regionally, he has worked with Livermore Shakespeare, Orlando Shakespeare, and the Monomoy Theatre. Independent films: The Glass House, Wiggah. Ryan holds a BFA in Theatre Performance from Ohio University.

ANDREW DI ROSA (Jake) is thrilled to join the company of Evil Dead - The Musical! Andrew hails from Toronto, Ontario, where he graduated from the University of Toronto and Sheridan College Specialized Bachelor of Arts Joint Program. Andrew's past performances include Danny Zuko in Grease, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Laurie in Little Women, the Scarecrow in Wizard of Oz and most recently the title role in Shrek: The Musical. He also stars in the feature film "Fragile Minds" which is slated for release next summer.

CALLIE JOHNSON (Annie/Shelly) is a Chicago-based actress and is thrilled to be a part of Evil Dead - The Musical! Recent Chicago credits include Pal Joey (Porchlight Music Theatre, Jeff Award: Cameo Performance); Next to Normal (Drury Lane Oakbrook, Broadway World Award: Best Musical Revival). Callie recently finished playing Carrie White in the Chicago premiere of Carrie the Musical. She is a 2012 BFA graduate of Columbia College Chicago's musical theatre program, a proud player of the Peninsula Players in Door County, and is originally from Genoa, IL.

JESSICA KINGSDALE (Swing) Jessica Kingsdale is thrilled to be part of the Evil Dead team! A Chicago-based actor, she has worked at such theatres as Chicago Shakespeare, BoHo, Paramount Theatre, Lookingglass, Griffin Theatre, and The Music Theatre Company. Some favorite roles include Rizzo in Grease (Paramount), Marta in Kiss of the Spider Woman (BoHo), and her recent cover of Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream (Chicago Shakespeare).

RYAN McBRIDE (Ed/Moose) is so excited to be touring with Evil Dead - The Musical! Chicago credits include: the national touring production of Letters Home (Griffin Theatre); Damn Yankees, Annie Get Your Gun (Light Opera Works); Fair Maid of the West (Chicago Shakespeare Project); Julius Caesar (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Sita Ram (Lookingglass Theatre); Fallow (Steep Theatre). Regional Theaters include Bucks County Playhouse, Pocono Playhouse, and Open Air Theatre. Proud graduate from the Chicago College of Performing Arts.

DAVID SAJEWICH (Ash) is excited to be going on this ass kicking adventure! Based out of Chicago, he's performed in Les Miserables (Drury Lane Oakbrook); The Pajama Game, The Baker's Wife, and Do I Hear a Waltz? (The Music Theatre Company); Fiddler on the Roof (Paramount Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (First Folio Theatre); The Baker's Wife (Circle Theatre); Man of La Mancha (Light Opera Works), and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs (Lifeline Theatre). Regionally, he's performed in Once Upon a Mattress and Legally Blonde (Fireside Theatre); Little Women (Hope Summer Repertory Theatre) and Evita with St. Louis' New Line Theatre.

CREG SCLAVI (Scott) is absolutely thrilled to be playing the role of Scott in the US National Tour of Evil Dead - The Musical! He enjoys spending his time playing guitar, hanging out with friends, and doing his best to NOT be dismembered or possessed by demons (particularly of the Candarian persuasion). Based in Chicago, Creg was most recently seen on the 2014 National Tour of HAIR as well as in the Bleecker Company's production of A Streetcar Named Desire in Wellsboro, PA. Chicago area credits include Bobby Strong (Jeff Nominated) in Urinetown:The Musical (Circle Theatre), Sonny LaTierri in

Grease (Paramount Theatre), Ensemble in Miss Saigon (Paramount Theatre), Sir Robin in Spamalot! (NightBlue), Gabe Green in Breaking Up is Hard to Do (Fox Valley Rep.) and Charlie in The Pajama Game (TMTC).

DEMI ZAINO (Cheryl) is overjoyed to be joining the cast of Evil Dead the Musical! Theatre Credits include: Seussical (Chicago Shakespeare), Hairspray (Marriott Lincolnshire). Educational Credits include: Emma Goldman (Ragtime), Radio (Caroline or Change), Dr. Scott (Rocky Horror Picture Show), Tracy Turnblad (Hairspray), Mrs. Lovette (Sweeney Todd), Lorna Moon (Golden Boy) and Bee-Bee (Suburbia).

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