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"A bloody mess that paints a work of art"

- CBC News

About the BRIAN TRILOGY

What is the Brian Trilogy?

It's an epic about the humanity of a zombie.

It's a unique blend of physical theatre and radio drama.

It's the Twilight Zone of the zombie era.

It's puppets, robots, philosophy, fights, blood, guts, sex, and dark laughs.

A Zombie Odyssey (episode one):

A fatality.  A wakening. A hunger.

So begins newly undead Brian Smith's epic journey to reunite with his wife.  As he battles through an all-too-familiar landscape, getting shot, stripped, strangled, chewed, drugged, and electrocuted, the line between man and monster begins to blur...

Writer/performer Ricky Coates blends movement, voice, and music to create an unforgettable voyage that pits zombie vs. society to see who is the real monster.

Ides of Undead March (episode two):

The zombie uprising meets Julius Caesar.

Brian Smith reappears as the Prophet of the Pheonix, spreading the "Word of the Host" along the help of his hearse-driving herald, Eli.  Unfortunately, this pilgrimage is proving dangerously infectious...

Ides of Undead March takes the story to the next level with all new theatrical inventions, action, and surprises, as Brian and Eli learn that true natures cannot be denied.

Daughter of the Dead (episode three):

In a world where robot drones war with zombie hordes, Penny Smith smuggles herself across a torn land, searching for the man who started it all, her husband.  In her arms, she carries the fate of zombies and humans alike.

The final act brings audiences to the bottom of the rabbit hole, as Sadie Bowman joins Ricky Coates for the most ambitious play of the trilogy.

Critics' Reviews

"Ricky Coates is a bit of genius in a slick and muscled body" - Edmonton Journal

"A bloody mess that paints a work of art" - CBC News

"[Coates and Neel] find a way to make zombies new again" - Winnipeg Free Press

"Coates gives a gut-munching master class in physical commitment" - Orlando Weekly
"An exceptionally well-performed, entertaining and grisly story" - seattleactor.com
"Coates prowls the stage like a cross between a Balanchine dancer and a feral animal" - l'etoile Magazine

"Crazily physical, one-man gorefest epics" - Edmonton Journal

"It's not just good horror, it's good theater." - Minnesota Theater Love

"Poignant zombie stories" - Minnesota Playlist

"Compelling!” - Orlando Sentinel

WINNER 2013 Orlando Fringe Tech Award

"Fantastic" - Michael Barrymore, The Hills Have Eyes

"All I can say is, 'Wow!'" - Linnea Quigley, Return of the Living Dead

Cast and Crew

A Zombie Odyssey

Written and Performed by Ricky Coates

Directed by K. Brian Neel

Audio Direction/Design by Dan Yost

Fight Choreography by Chris Martinez

Featuring the voices of Carmel Baird, LaChrista Borgers, Dan Elder, Keiko Green, Ricky Herrin, Llysa Holland, Ian Lindsay, K. Brian Neel, Helen Roundhill, Ashley Yakey, and Dan Yost

Ides of Undead March

Written and Performed by Ricky Coates

Directed by K. Brian Neel

Audio Direction/Design by Erik Seigling

Fight Choreography by Chris Martinez

Featuring the voices of Dayo Anderson, Ty Bonneville, Ben Burris, Ivey Bronwen, Llysa Holland, Andrew Litsky, Sarah Lockard, Tim Moore, Helen Roundhill, and Erik Seigling

Daughter of the Dead

Written and Performed by Ricky Coates

Starring Sadie Bowman

Directed by K. Brian Neel

Audio Direction/Design by Ricky Coates

Fight Choreography by Chris Martinez

Featuring the voices of Kathy Hsieh, José Amador, Brace Evans, L. Nicol Cabe, Chris Martinez, Sadie Bowman, and K. Brian Neel

The Creators

Dan Yost

Audio Designer/Director

a zombie odyssey

The founder of Just Records, Dan Yost has been in the recording arts since the 90s when all he had was a tape deck and karaoke machine.

His theatre sound designs for Ghostlight Theatricals have been nominated for several awards, and he also produces albums for musicians such as Grace Baker, Abies procera, Phosphenes, and Blake Hartigan.

Eric Seigling

Audio Designer

ides of Undead March

Erik is a composer, sound designer, and actor based in Seattle. Growing up in a family of singers, pianists, and actors: Erik has explored music and theatre from numerous perspectives and styles, both classical and contemporary.  You can hear more of his work at Soundcloud.com/eriksiegling 

theater simple

theater simple has a solid international rep for creating original theatrical experiences, built from the imagination up.  An award-winning, internationally acclaimed company, theater simple was founded in 1990 with the aim of stripping the theatrical experience down to: the imagination of the actor and audience, the playwright's words and the director's vision.

Visit theatersimple.org for more information about the latest projects.

Ricky Coates

writer/performer

Creator Ricky Coates has been a dead man touring the world with his original brand of theatre. A graduate of University of Arizona, Ricky has been a simpleton since he played Kilroy in CAMINO REAL, and has toured with the company to Canada, Australia, and Orlando (site of the East Coast debut of The Death Of Brian, for which he received the Tech Award from the Orlando Fringe).

K. Brian Neel

Director

From his dynamic, highly physical performance style to his award-winning directing and published writing, K. Brian Neel has been amazing audiences around the globe for twenty years.
Brian has a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Washington with a minor in Theater Arts from the University of New Mexico. These days, Brian lives the dream as a professional theater artist - performing, writing, directing, and teaching.

Contact/Booking

Ricky Coates

theater simpleton/artistic associate

rickycoates@gmail.com

Llysa Holland

co-founder/artistic instigator

thsimple@gmail.com

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