That was the announcement at the school board meeting Monday night by Liz Bealko.
“Zombie Prom,” described as a musical where “Grease” meets “Rocky Horror Picture Show” will be presented by the Performing Arts Students Association (PASA).
The off Broadway musical was first produced in Florida in 1993. It is based on John Dempsey's fictional story of a teenage boy that is brought back to life by the love of his high-school sweetheart.
Bealko was asking the school board to pay $6,000 for her efforts to produce and direct the musical. “I work 10 to 15 hours a day 30 days straight,” she said, talking about the two previous musicals that were presented by the students. “I dedicate a lot of my time to come here and help these students.”
A performer in New York, Bealko said she also would like to have the school pay for the rights to produce the show. That is expected to cost around $1,700. PASA members held a series of fundraising events to pay the $2,500 for “24th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” and $2,100 for the “Wizard of Oz.”
The HHS graduate said participating in high school musicals here, “changed my life. It has taught me life lessons and helped me become who I am.”
PASA was organized three years ago with 10 students. This year Bealko said there are over 80 who have signed up to be in the program. “They want to do all parts of the performances.”
Along with the musical, Bealko said she wants to hold a theatre camp for the younger children. They would be giving a performance during the intermission of “Zombie Prom.”
She said she is also planning a benefit concert with people she knows from New York. Funds from that concert would be donated back to PASA.
Earlier this year, she said PASA received a grant from RISE and also had a donation from television and stage star Kristin Chenoweth. “That was because she believed in us.”
