The Dexter Community Players are now preparing to present the campy gore fest "Evil Dead: The Musical" to audiences. Shows run Oct. 19-21 and 26-28 at Copeland Auditorium, located at 7714 Ann Arbor St. in Dexter.

Based on Sam Raimi's '80s cult-classic films, "Evil Dead: The Musical" tells the tale of five college students who travel to "an old, abandoned cabin in the woods" where they accidentally unleash an evil force: zombies! Needless to say, "camp" takes on a whole new meaning during this uproarious sleepover, complete with double entendres, rock 'n' roll mayhem, and chainsaws run amok.

University of Michigan music, theater, and dance alumni working on the show include director Jason Smith, choreographer Stacey Smith, and musical director Jonathan Sills. The trio reunited in 2012 after a successful 2011 run of the show.

Effects coordinator Dave Hettmer brings Hollywood expertise from his stint with Raimi's crew for "Army of Darkness," the third film in the original trilogy. Hettmer's custom zombie prosthetics and high-powered "blood cannons" bring unique, interactive flair to the production. Fans who buy tickets in the "splatter zone" tend to leave the show a bloody mess. And they love it. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 7 p.m., October 19-28. Tickets ($20 for limited Splatter Zone seats, $15 general admission) are on sale now at www.dextercommunityplayers.com.