AWARD-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT DAVID SIMPATICO BRINGS TIMELY ZOMBIE POLITICAL EPIC TO WOODSTOCK FOR HIGH-TENSION PRE-ELECTION CATHARSIS
WOODSTOCK, NY — Just weeks before one of the most highly anticipated and fraught elections in modern history, Round the Bend Theater will present a special, immersive staged reading of The Last Supper: A Zombie Political Epic. Written by award-winning playwright David Simpatico (High School Musical stage version, The Screams of Kitty Genovese) and directed by Sydnie Grosberg Ronga, this dark comedy grand guignol love story will take the stage at the historic Byrdcliffe Theater on Saturday, October 24, 2026.
The event serves as a critical fundraiser to propel the play into a full, upcoming production. To match the explosive energy of the piece and the high-tension spirit of the season, the organizers are transforming the evening into an interactive, Halloween-themed community event.
Members of the audience are highly encouraged to arrive dressed in their best zombie attire. For attendees looking to elevate their look, professional makeup artists will be stationed in the theater lobby before the show to “zombify” guests. Following the performance, the evening will culminate in a lively Zombie Dress Parade judged live by the cast, with special prizes awarded to the most terrifyingly creative looks.
While The Last Supper delivers a massive dose of immersive Halloween fun, its narrative strikes a deep chord for this exact moment in American culture. Utilizing the beloved horror framework of a zombie apocalypse, Simpatico’s play explores a grand guignol love story at the end of the world, asking a vital question: When everything falls apart, what do we owe one another?
“With the upcoming elections, national tensions are incredibly high and fraught,” says Simpatico. “This moment is absolutely perfect for this kind of explosive catharsis, where we can experience laughter and screaming all at once in a shared theater. To be completely honest, I think this piece is just what the country needs right now—says me, and you can quote me!”
Round the Bend Theater invites the local community to step out of the pre-election anxiety and into the theater for a night of brilliant storytelling, dark humor, and collective relief. Cast announcements will follow in the coming weeks.
EVENT DETAILS:
- What: Immersive Staged Reading of The Last Supper: A Zombie Political Epic
- Who: Written by David Simpatico; Directed by Sydnie Grosberg Ronga; Presented by Round the Bend Theater
- When: Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Where: The Byrdcliffe Theater, 380 Theater Ln, Woodstock, NY 12498
- Special Instructions: Audience members are invited to arrive dressed as zombies. Professional makeup artists will be available in the lobby prior to showtime. A post-show Zombie Dress Parade will be judged by the cast.
- Ticketing & Information: [Insert Ticket Link or RSVP Email Here]
Reading 1: Byrdcliffe Theater, Sat, Oct 24, 4pm. $25, fundraiser, party
AND DUE TO POPULAR DEMAND, AN EXTRA DATE HAS BEEN ADDED!
Reading 2: Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck, Sat, Nov 7, 7pm; fundraiser
THE LAST SUPPER: A GRAND GUIGNOL LOVE STORY
by David Simpatico
Saturday, November 7, 2026 · 7:30 PM
Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck — Main Stage
$15 Fundraiser
Proceeds support efforts to mount The Last Supper as a full production in the Hudson Valley.
Presented by Round The Bend Theater, with the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck.
