Zombies: Lead Sheet

DISNEY’S “ZOMBIES”

Multi-talented young actors Milo Manheim and Meg Donnelly (ABC’s “American Housewife”), a pop and hip-hop music soundtrack, eye-popping choreography and acrobatic cheer moves are all on display in Disney’s “ZOMBIES,” a Disney Channel Original Movie for kids and tweens.

A wink at the monster movie genre with zombies as the heroes, the story is set in the fictitious world of Seabrook, a cookie-cutter community brimming with perky conformity 50 years after a zombie apocalypse. Today, though the zombies pose no threat, they are still required to live in Zombietown – an isolated, rundown community that has been infused with their unique creative spirit. When it is announced that zombies will finally be allowed to enroll in Seabrook High School, life will be forever changed.

Addison (Donnelly) is a freshman who dreams of being a cheerleader – the ultimate form of status in image-conscious Seabrook. When she makes the squad, it’s a dream come true, until she meets zombie Zed (Manheim) – charming, charismatic and determined to play football for the Mighty Shrimp, a team that desperately needs a win. Addison takes a lot of flak for befriending a zombie until, to the town’s amazement, Zed actually starts winning games.
In getting to know Zed and his zombie friends Addison comes to learn that zombies and cheerleaders aren’t so different after all and that Seabrook needs to value all of its citizens, not just the ones who rack up touchdowns. She’s determined to take a stand and show her friends and family that things need to change. Zed and Addison work together to show Seabrook what they can achieve when they embrace their differences and celebrate what makes them a community.
The “ZOMBIES” soundtrack, from Walt Disney Records, features five original songs and four reprises performed by the cast. Driving the story forward, the featured songs include the high-energy, dance single “BAMM,” the ’90s style hip-hop opening number “My Year,” the cheer anthem “Fired Up,” a mid-tempo R&B/Pop duet “Someday” performed by Manheim and Donnelly, and the contemporary power ballad “Stand.”

Starring are Meg Donnelly (ABC’s “American Housewife”) as Addison; Milo Manheim as Zed; Trevor Tordjman (“The Next Step”) as Addison’s cousin and Seabrook cheer captain Bucky; Kylee Russell (Disney Channel’s “Jump In!”) as tech-savvy zombie Eliza; Carla Jeffery (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”) as Addison’s bubbly best friend Bree; James Godfrey (“The Swap”) as Zed’s hulking zombie friend Bonzo; and Kingston Foster as Zed’s little sister Zoey.

The story and teleplay were written by David Light and Joseph Raso, who are also co-producers. The movie was directed by Paul Hoen (director of over a dozen Disney Channel Original Movies including “Camp Rock 2” and “Jump In!” for which he won a Directors Guild of America Award) and executive-produced by Effie Brown (Producers Guild of America Award-winner for “Real Women Have Curves” and “Stranger Inside”) and Paul Hoen. The choreography is by Christopher Scott (“So You Think You Can Dance,” “Teen Beach Movie”) and Jeffrey Hornaday (“Teen Beach Movie”). Mark Hofeling (“Descendants 2,” “High School Musical”) is the production designer, and Rita McGhee (“The New Edition Story,” “Empire”) is the costume designer.

The movie’s score is by George S. Clinton, and songwriters and music producers include Jack Kugell, Hanna Jones, Matt Wong, Mitch Allan, Nikki Leonti Edgar, Dustin Burnett, Paula Winger, Ali Dee Theodore, Sergio Cabral, Julian Davis, Sarai Howard, Anthony Mirabella and Matthew Tishler.