Synopsis & Technical Overview
A procession of cemetery elements enters from a backstage gate and begins to set the stage for the upcoming show. Small components like iron cemetery gates anchored by deteriorating plaster columns and unearthed graves with tombstones atop are pushed by performers in hooded cloaks and others in work uniforms appearing to be grave diggers and cemetery groundskeepers. A stone mausoleum and a large parade float which depicts a grassy hill with tombstones emerging from the ground are powered by internal vehicles and park on stage.
A convertible car with its top drawn down carries four high school seniors Jack, Katie, Taylor, and Jazmin, through the cemetery scene when smoke begins to emerge from under the hood. Their dialogue explains that this area is a dead zone for cell service – Jack and Katie leave the car to look for help. Taylor, still sitting in the car next to Jazmin, begins to blast the music of his own rock band on the stereo. Jazmin attempts to turn the volume down, however the music awakens the spirits buried deep within the Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
Suddenly the lights in the car go haywire and cut to black, the ground around the graves begins to move, and loud strums of an electric guitar are heard throughout the cemetery. The lighting in the area shifts from the typical darkness of a moonlit cemetery to that of a wild rock concert. In this moment of transformation, performers dressed as skeletons emerge from the dirt sections of the large set pieces and are illuminated by blacklights.
The tops of the rolling graves open on hinges to reveal instruments inside like sets of drums and keyboards. A skeleton with an electric guitar, which appears to be made of bones, walks out of the mausoleum. After their opening mash-up of songs, the skeletal guitarist locates Taylor hiding beside the car and invites him to play with them for eternity.
Jazmin tugs on his arm as they hide behind the car, but the offer is too much for Taylor to resist, and he joins the undead band. As he plays along, he begins to transform into a skeleton in front of Jazmin’s eyes.
This skeleton band performs an entrancing 12-minute set of metal covers of popular songs from artists like Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Post Malone, Abba, Destiny’s Child, Taylor Swift, and Michael Jackson just to name a few. Jazmin attempts to run away, but she is charmed by the music and is unable to escape, ultimately joining the band as a singer. Following the show is a 15-minute street party to music from The Deadbeats with opportunities for guest interactions, photos, and dancing.
A convertible car with its top drawn down carries four high school seniors Jack, Katie, Taylor, and Jazmin, through the cemetery scene when smoke begins to emerge from under the hood. Their dialogue explains that this area is a dead zone for cell service – Jack and Katie leave the car to look for help. Taylor, still sitting in the car next to Jazmin, begins to blast the music of his own rock band on the stereo. Jazmin attempts to turn the volume down, however the music awakens the spirits buried deep within the Hollywood Hills Cemetery.
Suddenly the lights in the car go haywire and cut to black, the ground around the graves begins to move, and loud strums of an electric guitar are heard throughout the cemetery. The lighting in the area shifts from the typical darkness of a moonlit cemetery to that of a wild rock concert. In this moment of transformation, performers dressed as skeletons emerge from the dirt sections of the large set pieces and are illuminated by blacklights.
The tops of the rolling graves open on hinges to reveal instruments inside like sets of drums and keyboards. A skeleton with an electric guitar, which appears to be made of bones, walks out of the mausoleum. After their opening mash-up of songs, the skeletal guitarist locates Taylor hiding beside the car and invites him to play with them for eternity.
Jazmin tugs on his arm as they hide behind the car, but the offer is too much for Taylor to resist, and he joins the undead band. As he plays along, he begins to transform into a skeleton in front of Jazmin’s eyes.
This skeleton band performs an entrancing 12-minute set of metal covers of popular songs from artists like Billie Eilish, The Weeknd, Post Malone, Abba, Destiny’s Child, Taylor Swift, and Michael Jackson just to name a few. Jazmin attempts to run away, but she is charmed by the music and is unable to escape, ultimately joining the band as a singer. Following the show is a 15-minute street party to music from The Deadbeats with opportunities for guest interactions, photos, and dancing.