An evening at Zombie Joe’s invariably starts the same way every time. If you are like me you run over to Idle Hour for a stiff Old Fashioned before show time. Then you make your way across the daunting intersection of Lankershim and what seems to be 30 other streets on your way to the hallowed grounds of Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre.

Standing under the yellow sodium-vapor street lamps along Lankershim we join the long line of haunt goers waiting to get into one of the most important haunts of the Halloween season. Produced by Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre, the Urban Death Tour of Terror is this little punk rock theatre’s answer to the swell of Halloween walkthroughs.  Z.J.U. has taken their signature show, Urban Death, and adapted it as an immersive experience. Part walkthrough, part performance piece, the Urban Death Tour of Terror exemplifies what this fearless theatre troupe does and gives haunt fans a deeper sense of foreboding and fear compared to other experiences. Did I mention it is one of the least expensive experiences too?

Tour of Terror begins as the entire audience of 50 people per show arrive at the theatre and line up outside of the small storefront entrance into Z.J.U.  Upon “curtain”, very small groups of two to three people are handed a comically dim flashlight and sent into the inky darkness just inside the storefront. Sheets of black plastic hanging from the ceiling, forming a winding, intimate maze wherein you encounter disturbing terrors at nearly every turn. The insidious trick is that with the dim flashlight being little help, the monsters in the dark can see you coming since their eyes have already adapted to the dark.

Yes, the walkthrough portion of the experience comes to a merciful close and we enter a performance space. Yellow caution tape lines the floor, marking where the imaginary thrust stage barrier ends and audience seating begins. A word of advice; sit as close to the performance space as possible and engage the performance.

Greeting us to this space is a lace-covered Satanist which is typical for Urban Death, much less Zombie Joe’s. The red-hued lights paint the scene blood red as the actor before us performs a rite. The lights go out, and then the show portion of Tour of Terror begins.

A word on the format of Urban Death; Based on the Grand Guignol, Theatre of Cruelty, and Butoh Theatre techniques, Urban Death generally does not contain dialogue or a plot. This is a collection of disturbing vignettes pulled from the darkest recesses of the imagination. Lights rise, a small thing happens, lights go out. Our first scene if both sexually graphic and wildly humorous in a way that only Zombie Joe’s can pull off. In fact, to explain what you see everytime the lights rise would be a disservice to the craft of the surprise. There are things here that you cannot unsee.

What I can tell you is that the usual stand out performers brign it for the audience as newcomers to the ensemble rise to the occasion. Of course Tina Preston, Elif Savas, and Michelle Danyn all bring it with full-on bloodlust for the reaction of the audience. Yet, Kevin Van Cott and the show’s co producer, Abel Horwitz also give their absloute all to the show as well.

Of course, the show ends and we are tasked with making our way back through the Tour of Terror in order to get out alive.

In short, if you have NOT been to Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre you must go right away. This is easily one of the most important things to see this Halloween season so, GET TIX NOW!!!

“URBAN DEATH TOUR OF TERROR: Haunted Theatre Attraction!”
ZJU Theatre Group, 4850 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.

(5) Performances Nightly:  FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS @ 8:00pm / 9:00pm / 10:00pm / 10:45pm / 11:30pm, OCTOBER 5 – NOVEMBER 3 + WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 31 (Halloween).

Directed and Created by Zombie Joe and Jana Wimer
Produced by Zombie Joe
Original Musical Score by Christopher Reiner

The Amazing URBAN DEATH TOUR OF TERROR 2018 Ensemble:  Steve Alloway, Michelle Danyn, Zack Dillinger, Warren Hall, Anes Hasi, Abel Horwitz, Katie Lee, Jonica Patella, Tina Preston, Elif Savas, Alex Schetter, Brandon Slezak, Kevin Van Cott and Laura Van Yck.