Photographer: Lacey Rae
An unforgettable journey into the darkest pits of Hell, there’s still time to brave Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre’s Dark Dark Ride Ride. Located in North Hollywood, California, this incredible production consists of a hand-pushed excursion through creepy characters, disturbing imagery, and, of course, plenty of jump scares!
After experiencing the Dark Dark Ride Ride for myself (spoiler alert: I LOVED IT!), I was so thrilled to sit down with group leader Zombie Joe to discuss the theatre’s history, his past productions, and of course, more details about the Dark Dark Ride Ride‘s current run. Thank you, Zombie Joe, for chatting with us!
Now, let’s hop aboard and discuss all things Dark Dark Ride Ride by Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre:
*Don’t worry! There are no spoilers for the Dark Dark Ride Ride in this article.*
About Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre
Photographer: Lacey Rae
Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre is a collaborative, movement-based, West Coast-style theatre group that specializes in impactful stage shows as well as powerful experiential performances. Focused on creating captivating new worlds and transporting audience members into a story, Zombie Joe’s productions explore the bittersweet realities of the human experience.
About Zombie Joe’s “Dark Dark Ride Ride”
Photographer: Lacey Rae
Now in its third iteration, the Dark Dark Ride Ride is a one-of-a-kind experiential theater production. Audience members are invited to board a foreboding ride vehicle for a hand-pushed journey through neon, blacklit, horror-filled scenes. Lasting approximately 10-15 minutes, riders will encounter periods of total darkness, frightening scenery, adult language, sexual content (including nudity), and interactive performers.
Because of the nature of this production, Dark Dark Ride Ride is an extremely personalized experience. The ride vehicles can only hold one or two audience members at a time, allowing the actors to create individual and focused interactions for each participant. During my ride, actors often spoke directly to me or made eye contact during their scene. This greatly enhanced my experience of the performance and my involvement in the overall story.
Photographer: Lacey Rae
*One Quick Note: Because Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre’s Dark Dark Ride Ride is such an intense and interactive experience, guests will be required to sign a waiver prior to entry. Audience members will also be given a “safe word” to ensure everyone’s comfort and enjoyment of the performance.*
Freaky Thoughts: Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre’s “Dark Dark Ride Ride”
Photographer: Lacey Rae
An incredible blend of theme park references, horrifying visuals, and spooky theater; there really is nothing else like this groundbreaking show! I ADORED my trip to Hell and back, and I truly hope the Dark Dark Ride Ride returns for future runs.
I am simply amazed by the ability of these actors to, not only create engaging and creepy scenarios, but to do so COMPLETELY IN THE DARK. These performers moved seamlessly through the track, creating the illusion of a real theme park attraction, while interacting with me in an extremely personalized manner. I felt like I was an integral part of the experience, and it was amazing!
Horror fans, haunted house enthusiasts, theme park aficionados, and former theater kids – DO NOT MISS this unforgettable experiential theatre performance. I have never seen ANYTHING like the Dark Dark Ride Ride, and I am so thrilled to share my experience with you.
Getting Tickets to “Dark Dark Ride Ride”
Photographer: Lacey Rae
There’s only ONE MORE WEEKEND (February 16-17) to experience the Dark Dark Ride Ride in its traditional format. Shows start at 7pm each evening and run every 15 minutes until 11:30. Tickets are $35 for up to two riders. Because this production features such limited seating, advance reservations are highly recommended. Buy your tickets at zombiejoes.tix.com.
COMING SOON: “Dark Dark Ride Ride Xtreme!”
For ONE WEEKEND ONLY (February 23-25), experience the Dark Dark Ride Ride Xtreme! Featuring even more scares, fears, and terror; the Zombie Joe crew cannot wait to horrify you and your friends. Get your tickets at zombiejoes.tix.com.
Keep In Touch With Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre
Photographer: Lacey Rae
While the Dark Dark Ride Ride will only run for a few more February dates, Zombie Joe’s Underground Theatre is always designing new shows and experiential productions for its audience. Check out zombiejoes.com for more information, or follow them on Instagram and Facebook for their latest updates.
