Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
'Rotting Corpses' Strike The Valley Again, Only At Zombie Joe's
North Hollywood's bizarro institution Zombie Joe's Underground is at it again with its third run of the highly charged, 50-minute blast of horror "Attack of the Rotting Corpses!"—an homage not only to the whole zombie movie genre, but also to the culture of the Valley itself.
Unlike ZJU's "Urban Death" franchise, which presents an annual revue of über-creepy quick vignettes, "Rotting Corpses" is a fully composed play written by Zombie Joe himself and directed this time by Sebastian Muñoz. The action takes place in the lobby of an ersatz-luxury condo somewhere not too far from the Studio City Du-Pars right as one uniformed front desk attendant's shift is ending and another one comes in to take his place.
Every few minutes, we meet the residents of different condo units, all of whom are weird enough to begin with, even before their behavior starts to devolve out of control. It's the building plumber who finally explains to us that the whole complex's water supply has been contaminated with a mysterious, deadly microbe that turns whoever consumes or touches it into a raging, cannibalistic zombie—dogs no less than people. So it's up to our two lobby staffers to try and save whoever still can be saved. Including themselves.
The whole show's a riot, both very funny and, in a couple of key moments, truly scary as well. (Gross, too, of course, so be forewarned.) Just about everyone in the cast makes the most of their turns in the spotlight, and the overall effect is appropriately over the top right through the final curtain call. If you've got a taste for this kind of thing (and you presumably know if you don't), the room with the risers on Lankershim near Vineland is still the place to go for a unique late-night jolt of creepy live performance entertainment.
Support for LAist comes from
"Attack of the Rotting Corpses" plays every Friday night at 11 through July 12 at Zombie Joe's Underground. $15 tickets through the ZJU reservation line at (818) 202-4120.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity. -
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?
Best of LAist