By RHEA-FRANCES TETLEY
Staff Writer
In celebration of Halloween, Dracula will be performed this year on the Tudor House stage by the Heisler Theater Company in Arrowhead Villas, using the Orson Wells’ Mercury Theater radio script from 1938 of Bram Stoker’s classic horror story of Count Dracula.
This version sticks mostly to the original story. It’s being recreated as a staged production by Heisler Theater, as they have done in previous years, with the actors acting out the script of the radio play.
“Dracula is one of the best stories of its kind ever written,” said Director Jeff Heisler. “You’ll find Dracula in every representative library of classic English narratives. This year’s production is looking to be one of our best shows yet.”
The Heisler Theater Company will transform the beautiful and classically English styled Tudor House with its high ceiling arches into gothic Transylvania in 1893. Experience the infamous Prince of Darkness during this show where they will uncover the mystery of a man who can live forever, by snatching his victims in the darkness of the night.
The show is already in rehearsals with Jeff Heisler is the director and producer and Gaye Gamble-Heisler as the assistant to the director. Working tech and engineering will be Matthew Merola, Sam Star, Alex May, Shari Spencer and Alan McNeil.
The cast includes David Heisler as Dracula; Jeff Heisler as Seward; Brian Follis as Johnathan Harker; Gaye Gamble-Heisler as Lucy Westenra; Marcel Machler as Van Helsing; Renges Fabres as Mina Harker; Steve Sandlin with the triple roles of Driver, Mate and Hildesheim; and Michael Farris as the Captain of the Demeter.
“We’re taking this radio play to new staging to fit our return to the Tudor House,” Heisler said, “where I think most of us can imagine people sitting in the Tudor House listening to Mercury Theater’s live radio production of Dracula in 1938.”
Performances will be on Oct. 27, 28 and 29. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Dinner, if you order it, is at 6 p.m., with the show beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Sunday showtime is 4 p.m. Although not recommended due to its tense Gothic horror content, children under 12 are free. The regular ticket price for teens is $15 and seniors are $20 and adults are $25 for each show. The show lasts one hour.
There is also a special two-fer deal for two nights of theater for only $30. Combine the stage play Dracula with the radio play of Frankenstein, which is being performed at the San Marzano Wine & Ale Lounge at 23575 Lake Drive at the corner of Fern Drive in Crestline. It will be performed the nights of October 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. and on October 29 at 3 p.m.
This Frankenstein radio show production is written by Philip Grecian and based on Mary Shelley’s original story of Frankenstein. The show has been in rehearsals for over a month.
The creative director is Bullie Bryant and the cast consists of Hanna Whiteoak as Victor Frankenstein; Adrian Lopez, Foley and additional characters; Henry Clerval, Jess Stark; Travis Paternosteo, the Creature; Robert Walton, the Captain; Brenda Bakke, DeLacey; Catherine Frankenstein, Alice (Rosie) Williams; Nicole Staples, Baroness Frankenstein; Justine Moritz, Lucia Ball; Brandi Douglas, Elizabeth Frankenstein; Philip John Garno, the Announcer and additional characters; and Abhishek Goel, Professor Waldman and additional characters.
The radio show will be performed inside the tent at San Marzano, which has heaters and video screens. Tickets are $15 each at the Facebook page “Frankenstein the Radio Play.”
Take advantage of this Creepy Combo offer at www. HeislerTheaer.com for $30 for both shows. Select your night for Dracula and then choose the “Frankenstein Package.”
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