Should the undead be allowed to go to school dances?

That’s the tongue-in-cheek question at the center of the musical “Zombie Prom,” which Youngstown State University Theatre will stage for a two-weekend run starting Friday at Bliss Hall’s Ford Theater.

“We decided we really wanted to do a Halloween musical and, more than any other, this one was suited to the skills of the students we have,” said Director Adam Howard. “It had the right kind of cast — physical actors, comedy, singers. It’s not really a dance-heavy show, although we do have students who dance well. We wanted something a little slapstick and funny and that we could do with a lot of style.”

The musical by Dana P. Rowe and John Dempsey is set in the early 1960s at Enrico Fermi High School. When his girlfriend breaks up with him, Jonny tries to commit suicide by throwing himself into a nearby nuclear power plant. Instead he comes back to life glowing, and his ex wants him to take her to prom, but Principal Miss Strict wants him banned from the school.

Howard said the show is an underdog story, a love story and an allegory about the dangers of prejudice and group thinking.

The musical, which ran off-Broadway in 1996, features a score inspired by early rock ‘n’ roll and songs with titles such as “Rules, Regulations and Respect,” “It’s Alive,” “Blast from the Past,” “Forbidden Love” and “Zombie Prom.”

“I used to think ‘Blast from the Past’ was my favorite,” Howard said. “It encapsulates that style of music most. But now I think ‘Easy to Say’ in Act II is the real standout. After I learned it in context, it occurred to me it felt like a Karen Carpenter song. It’s absolute schmaltz, but there’s a reason people like that stuff — it touches a nerve. And in the context of the show, it really hits.”

The cast features Nicholas Atwood, Ryan Thomas Bedi, Emalee Chappa, Chloe Nicole Downey, Mallory Ehrhart, K.J. Hudson, Sam Law, Brooke Marie May, Samuel Edwin Nabring, Laynee Nichole Sanger and Elise Ann Vargo.

The performers will be accompanied by the Musical Theatre Ensemble, conducted by Kent Engelhardt and featuring Jan Cox, Shane Hogle, Wilhelmine Loe, Blake Maurice and Santino Testa.

In addition to Howard, the creative team includes Joe Spiro, music director; Katelyn Cassidy, choreographer; Lisa Howard, movement director; Todd Dicken, scenic designer; Katherine N. Garlick, costume, wig and makeup designer; and Ellen Licitra, lighting designer.

Student crew members include Cy’renity Star Marie Bowman, Crystal Fisher, Kit Harper, Keyshawn D Mitchell, Helena Belle Snyder, Zakary R Snyder, Camryn Alexis Tighe and Ilse Zijlstra.

“We’re going to go for broke on style and high energy,” Howard said. “It’s absolutely goofy … with a ridiculous message we’ve heard before but needs to be repeated.”

If you go …

WHAT: “Zombie Prom”

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 15

WHERE: Ford Theater, Bliss Hall, Youngstown State University

HOW MUCH: Tickets are $16 for adults, $12 for senior citizens and YSU alums, $9 YSU faculty and staff and free for YSU students and are available online at www.ysu.tix.com and by calling 330-941-3105.