Full Circle Players’ Lazarus Rising, written by Matthew Johnson and directed by Wendi Johnson, opens tonight at The Box in Riverside, launching a limited run on September 25, 27, October 3, and October 5, 2025. What begins as a gory zombie siege quickly turns into an uneasy meditation on love, regret, and the fragile social contracts we cling to when civilization splinters. The production traps a group of neighbors and family members inside a house as “Lazarians” pound at the doors, mixing sharp humor with sudden violence and moments of quiet confession.

Jason Crews delivers a magnetic turn as Dan, the play’s most maddening survivor. Each reckless decision he makes invites fresh frustration, yet Crews infuses the role with enough vulnerability to keep the audience oddly invested in his fate. His performance captures the messy contradictions of someone both exasperating and impossible to abandon.

Celina Rong commands the stage as the Woman Chased by Zombies, a figure who begins in terror and settles into a chorus-like presence on the sidelines. Her reflective monologues cut through the chaos with moral clarity and emotional depth, giving the story a conscience and a haunting lyricism that lingers well after the lights fade.

The ensemble of zombie performers deserves its own ovation. Their silent, deliberate movements around the set provide a constant, unnerving reminder of danger. They create a creeping tension that heightens every scene without ever distracting from the central drama.

Lazarus Rising runs approximately two hours with one intermission at The Box, 3635 Market Street, Riverside, California. Tickets for tonight’s opening and the remaining dates, September 27, October 3, and October 5, are available at www.fullcircleplayers.com.