Getting antsy for the spooky season? Kick off those calendars with the premiere of "The Brain That Wouldn’t Die!," a new musical written by Ypsilanti-area vocalist and stage director, Carla Margolis.
Inspired by the 1960s cult classic of the same name, the musical is a reimagining that takes audiences through the infamous, campy storyline with an all-new original soundtrack. When a brilliant yet, reckless scientist’s fiancé is decapitated in a car accident, he uses a magical serum to keep her head alive. The head, while completely immobile, keeps its ability to sing and talk.
Having been a fan of horror from a young age, Margolis said her version of “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die!” oozes with individuality, similar to the likes of "Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Little Shop of Horrors."
Fans of the movie can expect a more serious look at the same themes found in the original.
“It focuses on bodily autonomy for women; now that it’s more perilous than ever, I don’t really address it specifically, but there was definitely an inspiration. There's a lot of misogyny baked into this story,” Margolis said.
Margolis' unique take is rooted in a time period when feminist themes were less accepted in media, and that elevates the script to new levels, they said.
“I didn’t want to take the approach of banging people on the head with jokes about it," Margolis said. "I wanted to ask: What would it be like if only your head could survive? Or more so, what would it be like to have all the plans for your life suddenly smashed?”
Part of Margolis’ inspiration came from personal experience, investigating the idea of our bodies betraying us in the real world, through fiction.
“I originally wanted to write it because my mom was diagnosed with ALS, she was losing her own bodily autonomy," Margolis said.
While the original screenplay did not include musical moments, this new angle on the classic uses catchy lyrics to convey an important and otherwise significant philosophical question to audiences. This production is also far from being Margolis’ first step into the field.
“I’m a singer, actress, and composer, and I’ve got a lot of experience doing musicals," Margolis said. "I’ve written a lot of them for children, but this is the first full-length show I’ve made for adults.”
While not intended for younger audiences, adult fans of the horror genre, or those who have a soft spot for the wacky side of movies are sure to enjoy themselves.
Anyone in the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti area interested in showing support for the upcoming show, can contact Margolis directly, or by donating to their Indiegogo campaign (found at Brainmuscial.com). The production is also currently looking for more stagehands and ushers. For more information, contact Carla Margolis at brainmusical2024@yahoo.com.
Catch “The Brain That Wouldn’t Die!” by the Star Jelly Performance company at the Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St. in Ypsilanti. Show times are 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and 26, Halloween night, and Nov. 1-2. Matinees are scheduled for 2 p.m. Oct. 26 and 27, and Nov. 2.
