Evil Dead the Musical — A Bloody Good Time at Musical Theatre Southwest

The cast of Evil Dead the Musical at Musical Theatre Southwest.

Needless to say, what landed me at this production is my best friend, M. The woman loves her some horror. I’m slowly introducing myself more to the genre, but I’m familiar with the Evil Dead series—and when I found out there was a musical, I knew I had to see it! So, before our screening of Friday the 13th at The Guild Cinema the same night, we decided to check out Evil Dead the Musical, presented by Musical Theatre Southwest.

The moment you walk into the theatre, you’re transported straight into the woods. Evil Dead is spelled out in twigs, surrounded by greenery that seems to shift and move as if the forest was alive. Scenic Designer Kari R. Reese deserves major applause for setting the tone before the first line is even sung.

From the opening number, it’s clear you’re in for something wild. Even the shrubbery gets in on the action! The energy was infectious, and by the time the cast was mid-song, the audience was already hooked. Director Laura Cummins Wright deserves high praise for putting together an outstanding ensemble that not only works seamlessly together but clearly has a fun time doing it.

Lando Ruiz as Scotty absolutely steals scenes with his sharp comedic timing—he’s hilarious from start to finish. Alma Klövenäs, making her MTS debut, is a delight to watch, fitting perfectly into the chaos of the show. Jamie Thorpe as Shelly is adorably dense in all the best ways, nailing every over-the-top moment.

And then there’s Jesse Miller as Ash—what a performance! He’s fully committed to every moment, from the slapstick gore to the heartfelt bits (yes, Evil Dead has a love song, and yes, it’s surprisingly charming). The duet between Ash and Linda had me smiling the entire time, thanks to the perfect balance of enthusiasm and absurdity.

L to R: Lando Ruiz (Scott), Jamie Thorpe (Shelly), Alma Klövenäs (Linda), Jesse Miller (Ash), and Rachel Mixon (Cheryl) of "Evil Dead the Musical" at Musical Theatre Southwest.

Rachel Mixon as Cheryl brought total Family Guy “Meg” energy—constantly picked on, but absolutely refusing to be upstaged. She’s comic gold throughout the production. Russell Rietmann as Reliable Jake brought great energy and humor, while Tiana Youtzy as Annie had me cracking up every time she interrupted—love her or hate her, you can’t ignore her! And Patrick W. Hale as Ed gave a big, bold performance that made his “bit part” anything but small. Shoot! Even Brian Clifton provided his theatrical talent to play triple duty in the show!

The musical numbers? Top-notch. The choreography by Annmarie Garcia Sheahan fits each performer perfectly, working with their strenghts, which enhances the comedy and energy of every song. My personal favorite has to be “WTF!”—it’s been stuck in my head for three straight days. Oh, and did I mention there’s a tap number? Because there’s a TAP NUMBER!

Every technical element of the show shines: lighting by RayRey Griego, sound design by Justin Salada, costumes and hair/makeup by Khristah Garcia, properties by Jordan R. Claghorn, and the behind-the-scenes magic from Stage Manager Em Voss-Clawson and Music Director Cameron Illidge-Welch all come together for one cohesive, hilarious, and delightfully gory production.

Oh—and if you look closely, you might even catch a certain Bruce Campbell cameo!

Musical Theatre Southwest’s Evil Dead the Musical is everything you could want from a cult horror parody: outrageous, bloody, and bursting with laughter. If you’re looking for a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously and delivers pure entertainment from start to finish, grab your tickets now.

Trust me—it’s a bloody good time!

"Evil Dead the Musical" runs from October 3-26 at Musical Theatre Southwest. For tickets, visit mtsabq.org.