Safety Show's 'undead' cast delivers creative accident prevention message

FORT LEE, Va. (Dec. 5, 2013) -- About 2,000 junior Soldiers and many other community members attended the opening performances of the 2013 Fort Lee Safety Show Tuesday and Wednesday evening at the Post Theater.

"Awesome," "funny" and "creative" were among the common adjectives used to describe the production. "It exceeded my expectations," said Capt. Burke Norris, commander of Papa Company, 266th Quartermaster Battalion. "The music is really creative and the production overall is very professional. I think everyone was impressed by the level of talent here. Anyone in the community who hasn't seen it yet should plan to attend one of the remaining performances. It's great entertainment, and it's free."

Additional shows are set for 2:30, 6:30 and 8 p.m. today. All performances are open to the entire Fort Lee community.

This year's production features a cast of zombie characters who were all killed by preventable accidents. The show is centered on "Kenny the Klutz" (David Janosik) who is very accident-prone and doesn't realize how his unsafe actions could harm himself and others. Through creative musical numbers, like "Get Down on Safety Rules and Regs," and dramatic skits, the cast addresses important issues like drinking or texting while driving, the importance of wearing seatbelts and speeding. There is a scene also that touches on the subjects of suicide prevention and sexual assault.

"The elements of entertainment and laughter make it easier to discuss these serious topics," said Jimmie Faye Lundie, director of the CASCOM Safety Office, which organizes the annual performance. "Of course, we want the audience to walk away thinking about the importance of safety at work and off duty, and we especially want the military folks to realize that they have to look out for their buddies and be there for them if they need someone to lean on. This is a subtle way to accomplish that mindset … it isn't preachy; it's performance with a message. And, just like a Hallmark movie, it always has a happy ending."

Reflecting on its 27-year history, Lundie said the Safety Show has endured because of its entertainment value and its novelty as a teaching tool. Year-after-year, the production has been based on popular movies and television shows to which audience members, especially young Soldiers, can easily relate. Most of the innovative scripts were provided by Barbara Lamberson-Allen, director of the Plans, Analysis and Integration Office.

"The fact that most of the cast and production crew are advanced individual training Soldiers is another element that makes it popular," Lundie said. "They're the heart of the show because they invest many hours into learning the lines, songs and dance routines. They're dedicated to putting on the best performance possible, and I think the audience appreciates that determination."

Most of the junior Soldiers also like it, Lundie added, because their peers and battle buddies are providing them their safety briefing before the start of Holiday Block Leave two weeks from now.

"It's way better than having a single person standing in front of you for 30 minutes talking about safety," said Pvt. Rebbeckah Reagan, a cast member from the Ordnance School. "This is the sort of thing that won't put you to sleep."

Staff Sgt. Lakeshia Whitmore from the Quartermaster School's, Golf Company, 244 QM Battalion, 23d QM Brigade, is performing in the Safety Show for the fourth time this year. She said she views it as an opportunity to give something back to the community.

"I'm sure the military folks and DOD Civilians here view this as a welcome departure from the long, and sometimes (tedious), safety briefings that become repetitive over time," Whitmore said. "(This show) delivers that same information with a touch of festive holiday cheer and, hopefully, some giggles along the way. It makes it memorable, and that's what prevents accidents in the long run."

Fellow cast member Pvt. Roje Zamora, a QM AIT Soldier, agreed. "It's really a smart idea if you think about it," she said. "The music and songs are catchy. It takes (the show) out of the realm of a regular safety briefing and turns it into entertainment with a message. The attention level is higher, and that will make it more easily remembered."