Sam Raimi cult film classics + song and dance = Evil Dead: The Musical, a new musical comedy that officially opens Off-Broadway Nov. 1 at New World Stages. Jenkay LLC, Jeffrey Latimer Entertainment and Just For Laughs Live present the “killer musical” which began previews Oct. 2. Tickets are currently on sale through Jan. 21, 2007. 

“Evil Dead: The Musical unearths the old familiar story,” reveals a press release, “[where] boy and friends take a weekend getaway at abandoned cabin, boy expects to get lucky, boy unleashes ancient evil spirit, friends turn into Candarian Demons, boy fights until dawn to survive.” Christopher Bond and Tony Award winner Hinton Battle (“Dreamgirls,” “Idlewild”) directed the work, which features a book and lyrics by George Reinblatt, music by Frank Cipolla, Bond, Melissa Morris and Reinblatt with music supervision by Cipolla. 

The cast of the musical — filled with songs like “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Candarian Demons,” “Hail to the King,” “Look Who’s Evil Now” and “Do the Necronomicon” — includes Ryan Ward (as Ash), Jennifer Byrne (Linda), Jenna Coker (Cheryl), Renee Klapmeyer (Annie/ Shelly), Amy Shute (female understudy), Tom Walker (Ed/ Moose), Brandon Wardell (Scott), Ryan Williams (Fake Shemp/ male understudy) and Darryl Winslow (Jake). The “tale of lust, love and dismemberment” began its life in workshop engagements, which “played to capacity and beyond” at Toronto’s Transac Club before the work moved to Montreal’s Cabaret du Plateau to play as part of the 2004 Just For Laughs Festival. 

“Turning it into a musical was the next logical step,” explains co-creator and director Bond about the Raimi-made story (which includes 1981’s “Evil Dead,” 1987’s “Evil Dead II” and 1992’s “Army of Darkness”). “With each installment, the trilogy delves further and further into farce and camp.” Lending a hand to the design of the New York run are David Gallo (sets), Cynthia Nordstrom (costumes), Jason Lyons (lighting), Peter Fitzgerald and Kevin Lacy (sound) with Louis Zakarian (makeup and special effects). 

Following the Nov. 2 performance of the musical comedy, the film’s star Bruce Campbell will participate in a special Q&A with the audience.  Tickets to Evil Dead: The Musical at New World Stages’ Stage 1, 340 West 50th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or at the box office. “Splatter Zone” tickets – in the front rows of the theater – will be available for $25. (Patrons in that area “should be prepared for a bloody good time and dress accordingly”). For more information, visit EvilDeadTheMusical.com.