This year’s drama is going to be bloodier than ever. Once again, this fall, Theatre 308 is opening its curtains to an unexpected genre. After 308’s successful and cheerful performance of Beauty and the Beast in the Spring, students will be performing Dracula this November, which is of a genre completely new to Darien High School. Dracula is making its way to our stage with a scary cast and buckets of blood—which is sure to frighten every audience member.
This year, Special Ed teacher Mr. Gabriel Morrow will be the new director for the Fall drama, following Middlesex teacher Ms. Abby Warren, who directed the play last fall. Although Ms. Nancy Herman retired from her position as fall director, she is the producer for Dracula (to read more on last year’s play and why Ms. Herman retired as fall director, click here).
Regarding the unexpected genre, Mr. Morrow said, “I understand that the genre—a horror story—is new to what the student body is used to.”
The basis of the show, as explained by senior Hannah Caldwell, who will be starring as one of the vampire brides, is “about girls who are falling ill with an unidentifiable ailment. Van Helsing, the specialist, realizes that Dracula is the reason that people are getting sick, and the story develops further when he discovers that Dracula is a vampire.”
Although there have been many theatrical adaptations of this novel written by Bram Stoker in 1897, Mr. Morrow will be using a version of Dracula that he saw performed 12 years ago by the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville in Kentucky. “I thought that it would be exciting to bring [Dracula] to life on our very own stage,” said Mr. Morrow.
A production as engaging as Dracula is sure to take a lot of work not only by the cast but also by the dedicated set crew that will be building the eerie set for the show. Ms. Jen Chirles, the new Theatre 308 Business Manager replacing Mr. O’Brien, who retired this year, said, “We’re really working on giving an illusion of a theatre in the round, keeping the setting minimal and eerie and as engaging with the audience as possible.”
"There will be fake blood...
lots of it."
Mr. Morrow is hoping to keep the set as “functional and accessible to the actors as possible, with an intimate feel that’s not on as grand of a scale as previous shows.”
For the set pieces for the show, 308 is working in conjunction with the Art Department, which is helping to build part of the set as a part of their Monster Invasion Show. The Art Department is specifically specializing on making a mask for the monster in Dracula, who is being played by senior Mary Elliot. The monster is essentially another form of Dracula himself, and as described by Elliott, the monster is “very scary—raw and animalistic.”
Since the show is set in England during the Victorian Era, there might be accents added to the play by the talented actors. Senior Abby Leinroth, who will be playing the doctor’s assistant Margaret Sullivan, may need to use an Irish accent for her character. “The accents are definitely a challenge for us, although we haven’t decided whether we want to do them in the show yet,” Leinroth said. Leinroth has had experience with using British and Southern accents in the past.
What is definite about the show, however, is that there will be fake blood—and lots of it. “There will need to be someone in charge of the blood alone,” joked Mr. Morrow. The costumes will be made by the actors themselves, with special effects such as red contacts and fangs for the Monster and Dracula.
This experience will not only be new for the audience (which is sure to be pleased by this spectacle), but also for the production’s actors. Senior Nicole Gutierrez, who will be playing Mina Grant, said, “In the beginning of the show, I have to turn into a vampire, and I get to scream a lot.” Gutierrez, who has been involved in many 308 shows in the past, says, “It’s definitely different from anything we’ve done before—particularly because it is such a technical show, in terms of intricacy beyond acting.” This means that although her character does not require many lines, she needs to add a great deal of physical aspects to bring her character to life. “I have to convey a lot without saying much,” Gutierrez added.
Ultimately, Mr. Morrow wants to create a multi-sensory experience for the audience, meaning they will be on the edge of their seats—and, of course, scared. “If you go to see a show and don’t leave the audience feeling a strong reaction, whether it is like or dislike, then your goal as a director has failed,” Mr. Morrow said.
If anything, Dracula will not disappoint in leaving the audience thrilled and chilled.
Dracula will be staring Emily Elliott as Lucy Westphal, Kevin Koenitzer as Dr. Thomas Seward, E.J Couloucoundis as Count Dracula, Reed Morgan as Abram Van Helsing, Addison Thalhamer as Jonathan Harker, Nicole Gutierrez as Mina Grant, Dylan Gabriel as Robert Kenfield, Mary Elliott as the Monster, Abby Leinroth as Margaret Sullivan, Max Kenyon as Robert Briggs, and Hannah Caldwell, Katy Murphy, Lily Saffa, and Morgan Peters as the Vampire Brides.
Theatre 308’s production of Dracula will premiere on November 17th, 18th, and 19th at DHS’s auditorium. If you are interested in ushering or selling water, snacks, and flowers during the performances, please contact Ms. Chirles.
Tickets will be for sale online starting Thursday, November 3rd at http://www.seatyourself.biz/theatre308.
Tickets for students will also be on sale during school lunch starting Thursday, November 11th and tickets will also be available each night of the play at the door.
Warning: Some scenes may be frightful for children (and some adults!)
