Watch out! The Center Theatre is about to be taken over by comic book villains and zombies

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Foxcroft Academy’s Drama Ponies are proud to announce their spring production of the full-length play “Villains and Zombies” by Bradley Walton. The production is directed by Bobby Keniston, Foxcroft Academy drama teacher. 
    “This is a unique script by Bradley Walton, who is a friend of mine,” Keniston said. “You see a lot of movies dealing with comic book super villains, and, obviously, a lot of movies and television shows about zombies, but you rarely get to see something like this on the stage. It’s been a true pleasure bringing this graphic novel kind of story to life.”

    This is the first full-length non-musical spring production that Foxcroft Academy has done in years, and Keniston wanted to make sure it would be a play that had drama students excited. Before officially choosing the script for production, he had several students read the play to gauge whether they would be interested in it. 
    “Their response was overwhelming,” he said. “I have never seen students this excited about being part of a play before.”
    The story revolves around a group of former super villains who have been in hiding for nine years returning to their old stronghold after a zombie apocalypse has taken over the world. Together again, they fight, mourn their lost friends and try to figure out how to survive against the zombies. “It’s like ‘The Walking Dead’ meets the Legion of Doom,” Keniston said. “It’s every comic book geeks’ dream come true, but also with challenging themes of loss, loyalty, redemption, and love.”
    This production features the talents of almost 20 students onstage and behind the scenes, as well as local theater professionals Rhonda Kirkpatrick, designing the costumes and the ghastly zombie make-up, and Ed Hills, who is putting together a post-apocalyptic set. 
    Keniston, who will be leaving Foxcroft Academy at the end of this school year, said he is “proud to have this play as my swansong.  It’s the perfect way to say goodbye to this wonderful school and to my students who I have cared so deeply about. What better send-off than to do a play that no one has ever seen the likes of before in Dover-Foxcroft?”
    “Villains and Zombies” will be performed at the Center Theatre Friday, May 16 and Saturday, May 17 at 7 p.m. There will also be a 2 p.m. matinee performance on Sunday, May 18. On opening night, audience members who dress up as their favorite super hero, super villain or zombie will be admitted for half-price.