Zombies meet Shakespeare in DePauw Theatre's 'Living Dead in Denmark' March 12-15

DePauw University Theatre will continue its 2014-15 season with an invitation for audiences to visit a zombie-infested Shakespearean world in "Living Dead in Denmark."

The play, written by Qui Nguyen and directed by Andrew Hayes, professor of communication and theatre, opens at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12 in Moore Theatre of DePauw's Green Center for the Performing Arts.

Rehearsing a scene from the DePauw University Theatre production of "Living Dead in Denmark" set to open Thursday night are student actors (from left) Kate Grimm, Greencastle High School product Alison Howard and Laura Loy.

Subsequent performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, March 13 and 14 with a final production set for 1 p.m. Sunday, March 15.

Audiences will enter Shakespeare's world that features characters from "Hamlet," "Romeo and Juliet," "Macbeth "and other plays.

However, "Living Dead in Denmark" is far from any typical Shakespeare production. Nguyen combines Shakespeare with comic-book fantasy, pitting Ophelia, Juliet and Lady Macbeth against an evil Zombie Lord.

The production is not recommended for children under the age of 13.

"Living Dead" was produced by Vampire Cowboys Theatre in New York. Premiering in May 2006, it received two nominations from New York Innovative Theatre Awards, winning for best choreography and movement. The show remains Vampire Cowboys Theatre's most popular production to date.

DePauw audience members are invited to join the cast and crew for an opening-night reception in the Great Hall of the Green Center following the March 12 performance, and for a talkback session following the March 13 show.

Tickets for "Living Dead in Denmark" are $3 for students and $6 for adults.