Broadway Licensing, part of Concord Theatricals, is adapting two of fellow Concord imprint Playscripts' widely produced Don Zolidis-penned plays, 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse and The Audition, into one-act stage musicals. Both will have a book by Zolidis, with music for the former by Billy Recce (Little Black Book) and the latter by Rick Hip-Flores (Peace, Love, and Cupcakes).
10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse expands Zolidis' original play, which tracks a ragtag group of survivors facing a zombie apocalypse, to become a musical survival guide, complete with a cheeky score, sarcastic narrators, and more.
“When Playscripts approached me about transforming some of my plays into musicals, I leapt at the chance,� says Zolidis in a statement. “I am thrilled with the work we've done and can't wait to see theatres bring these shows to life—or 'unlife,' in the case of the zombies.�
The Audition brings a high school musical's casting call to the stage, as hopefuls put themselves through a grueling experience of 16-bar cuts, cold reads, and callbacks.
“These two shows have been beloved by schools for years, and turning them into musicals feels like a natural next step,� adds Concord Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Artistic Development Amy Rose Marsh. “Don’s work is unmatched in its ability to energize young performers and build community through theatre. Adding music by these talented composers expands the impact of these already iconic titles.�
With a repertoire of more than 125 works aimed at young performers in educational settings, Zolidis has become one of the country's most-produced playwrights. His other titles include The Brothers Grimm Spectaculathon and How to Get Away With a Murder Mystery.
Zolidis' non-musical plays are licensed via . These musical adaptations will be licensed via .
