Zombie Apocalypse: Not your average fall play

Zombie+Apocalypse%3A+Not+your+average+fall+play

This year, Valley Middle’s fall play is Not Your Average Zombie Apocalypse. It takes place in Sunnydale High School. A student named Marty makes a growth serum to accelerate plant growth; however, Brad, the “dumb jock,” drinks the serum and turns into a zombie, triggering a zombie apocalypse. Marty is portrayed by Hayden Johnson, a 7th grader.

Hayden describes his character as “really smart, like over-the-top smart, but he can be dumb sometimes. He’s an odd character.” Hayden has been acting since 6th grade because his brother, Jonah, influenced him to join. When asked about how the directors are, he describes them as playful, fun, and hardworking. The directors this year are Mrs. Laursen and Ms. Gunn. The play isn’t only about lead characters though. There are many people who are contributing to the play, one in particular being Olivia Nowlin.

Olivia plays Beth, who is one of the friends of the character Macy in the play. Olivia is a 6th grader this year at Valley. Olivia says that being part of her first middle school play feels really cool, as she didn’t expect this big of a role. Olivia looks up to Katie Jovonavic, who plays Macy, for inspiration. “I look up to many people, but I look up to Katie because she is fun to be around, and she’s got that nice, bubbly personality.” Other than Beth, she would have liked to get Macy or the 911 operator.  “I find that part really funny.”

I look up to many people, but I look up to Katie because she is fun to be around, and she’s got that nice, bubbly personality.

— Olivia Nowlin

Plays have enjoyable and entertaining things happening on stage, but what happens backstage? Victoria Kurilov is a crew member. She chose the costume and makeup crew because she “likes designing,” and “the play has a more modern style.” She has had some prior experience. In her elementary school, Glacier Hills, she made sashes for a birthday party play.

Not Your Average Zombie Apocalypse previews were shown to students on Wednesday, November 20, during school hours. Catch the full show on Thursday, November 21st at 7pm (doors open at 6:15pm), Friday, November 22nd at 7pm (doors open at 6:15pm), and at 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 23rd (doors open at 1:15pm)! Make sure to catch Hayden and Olivia on stage as well as many other talented actors while you watch and support your fellow classmates at the shows!