[NoHo Arts District, CA] – A NoHo Arts theatre review of the developmental reading of Bucket of Blood: The Horror Comedy Cabaret starring ALEX LEWIS of Slam Frank and comedy band Lewberger, running through July 5 at the NiteCap.
This phenomenal musical (review to follow shortly) has been a part of the Stidham family for years, brewing away. Ari Stidham decided it needed to be seen to take the necessary steps to a fully realized production and so he, Alex Lewis and Ethan Furman took the plunge and put their dreams in motion!
We love hearing how shows happen, so we asked Ari all about this incredible show! Only two more nights at the Nitecap in Burbank!!
Hi Ari, thank you so much for this! What inspired you to adapt Roger Corman’s classic film?
Adapting Nick Flyn and Dustin Lehr’s musical of Bucket of Blood has been a dream of mine since 2007, when I first heard the musical’s concept album. I know their adaptation of the film came from their love of the original screenplay and music of the time.
Was the idea always to turn the film into a musical?
My goal is to make a tight, funny, gory toe tapper for audiences that love darker musicals. Of course, we are following in the well-trodden footsteps of Corman adaptations, but there’s something really connective as this is a show about art & desperation. All art starts as an act of dream or delusion, and I think modern audiences are just as likely to create art as watch it.
How did your collaboration with Ethan Furman and Alex Lewis come about?
Alex Lewis (star, producer, and bona fide social media master) is a powerhouse of creative energy. I’ve been working with him on and off for over a decade. We first did a reading of the 2004 Flyn and Lehr Bucket of Blood in Hollywood in 2017. Alex was a wonderful Walter Paisley, and he has been my first choice for this adaptation since I began my work on it. Alex does more than lend his vocal and acting services to us, he is a keen developer of musical comedy.
Ethan Furman is a new addition! We collaborated on Radio Rogues, which is a Bar Shakespeare show I did a few performances of in 2025. He’s a multi-instrumentalist jazz whiz and brings an authenticity to the score with the live band he’s put together for our show. We’ve been able to hone in on something unique and indicative of the music you might hear at a club like “The Yellow Door” in that era.
Casting is always vitally important. What was the casting process like for Bucket of Blood?
It’s been a blast. We’ve got talent from all over L.A. comedy and musical theater. Alex and I put together the cast, and everyone is gelling in a really nice way.
Any moments of regret? Or were you all in immediately?
No way, I’m honored for the opportunity to work with material of this quality!
Any other horror classics on the horizon from you?
Nothing as of yet, but I serve on the board of 5 Star Theatricals at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center in Thousand Oaks, and there are some really great shows on the horizon over there that folks should check out.
Or maybe a festival of horror musicals!!
Count me in.
What advice would you give aspiring theatre creators?
Never give out free advice. 🙂
Thank you, Ari!!!
Please go and support this incredible show. I saw it opening night and it really is one of the best things I have seen this year! Not kidding!!! So be a cool cat and mosey over to the Nitecap in Burbank and be ready to click your fingers hard man!!!
Where:
The Nitecap
2200 W Burbank Blvd, Burbank
When:
June 26 and 27, and July 3 and 5
Fridays at 8pm and Saturdays at 2pm