“A family that slays together, stays together,” joked Julie Lawrence, as she readied for a recent rehearsal of Olympic Theatre Arts’ latest iteration of “Night of the Living Dead.”

She and her family are some of the many newcomers to OTA as the nonprofit theater company prepares for its third year adapting George Romero and John A. Russo’s classic horror film.

Shows run two weekends from Oct. 18-27 at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays on the Main Stage at 414 N. Sequim Ave. Find tickets online at olympictheatrearts.org or by calling 360-683-7326 from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

Lawrence said she and her husband Marc were inspired to join their 12-year-old, Avonlea, who plays a zombie lunch lady.

“Avonlea is a natural at being a zombie,” Lawrence said.

While makeup artist Lisa Patureau readied Avonlea’s zombie look for the first time at rehearsal, Avonlea said she did some acting when she was younger but was drawn to try out for “Dead” because of an actress she really likes (Jenna Ortega).

“It’s really fun (acting),” she said.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Lisa Patureau amplifies the gross out factor for Avonlea Lawrence’s zombie makeup at Olympic Theatre Arts’ for its upcoming “Night of the Living Dead” production. Lawrence plays a lunch lady who becomes a zombie after she’s pushed into an oven by a zombie.

Lawrence said she hasn’t acted since a play in sixth grade, but at auditions learned OTA executive director David Herbelin would tailor the characters to best fit the actors. She and husband Marc play bed-and-breakfast owners.

“I’m proud to be the first one to ‘get it,’” Lawrence said.

Like the Lawrences, Rose Halverson, another OTA newcomer, joins her daughter on stage, too.

“I thought it’d be fun to do something with her,” Rose said.

Alivia Halverson plays one of the leads, Judy, who must fend off zombies throughout the play, like her mom, who plays a zombie veterinarian technician.

For those unfamiliar with “Night of the Living Dead,” a group of strangers are trapped at a farm house as they must evade the undead outside and each other inside.

Last year’s show was adapted to be set during the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 while this year’s show is set to current day, Herbelin said.

As mentioned, he wrote roles to better fit the ages of cast members, including younger principal actors, and the dynamics between them.

Sequim Gazette photo by Matthew Nash/ Christopher Woods, a first time actor at Olympic Theatre Arts, smiles as Cheri Martin places a wig to complete his zombie look for “Night of the Living Dead.” Shows run in Sequim Oct. 18-27.

“It’s the same plot,” Herbelin said. “People may die a little differently, though.”

They’ve also amplified the fights to be more realistic.

“These are common people not trained in martial arts, so there’s a lot of struggling to keep zombies from biting them,” he said.

Fight scenes are choreographed by co-directors Matt Forrest and Nikki Miscke.

Rebecca Orozco once again leads lighting and sound that Herbelin said brings a whole other element to the show’s environment.

He said Orozco’s skills are like “paradise” and things will change nightly.

After this year’s string of shows, OTA leaders plan to put a pause on “Night of the Living Dead” to offer the adaptation of Agatha Christie’s “A Murder is Announced” next October and November.

Herbelin said attendance grew in year two for “Night of the Living Dead,” but organizers want to put a pause on the show to see if it does have a following and people still clamor for it.

“We’ll pivot accordingly,” he said.

For more about OTA and future shows, visit olympictheatrearts.org.

“Night of the Living Dead”

Olympic Theatre Arts production, sponsored by Anime Kat

Showtimes: Oct. 18-27; 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays

Location: 414 N. Sequim Ave.

Tickets: $20, students $15; available online or by calling 360-683-7326 from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.

More info: olympictheatrearts.org