Geva Theatre Center Presents DRACULA 10/11-11/13

Geva Theatre Center's 2011-2012 Season continues with Dracula by Steven Dietz, which begins performances on October 11 and runs in the Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage through November 13.

Dracula. Bloodthirsty, lustful and evil incarnate - but above all - a gentleman. The Count journeys from his gloomy Transylvanian castle to the bustling streets of London, leaving death and destruction in his seductive wake.

Rochester audiences will remember Steven Dietz's Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure, which was produced during Geva's 2007-2008 Season. Mr Dietz is one of the country's most widely-produced and published contemporary playwrights, with more than 30 plays produced at over 100 regional theatres as well as off-Broadway and around the world. His faithful adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel Dracula premiered in 1996 and since then has been enthralling audiences at theatres around the country.

Bram Stoker was a man of the theatre. At the time of the publication of Dracula in 1897, he was the business manager for Henry Irving, the greatest actor of his generation, and Irving's company based at the Lyceum Theatre in London. He supplemented his income by writing novels and as a member of the literary staff of the London Daily Telegraph. In preparation for this novel, Stoker spent years researching European folk tales and vampire lore. Stoker idolized Henry Irving who, with his elegant mannerism and charisma, was the inspiration for the character of the Count. Over the past 114 years, the novel has influenced the popularity of vampires in nearly every literary and entertainment genre.

Geva Theatre Center's production of Dracula is a co-production with Indiana Repertory Theatre where it has been playing to enthusiastic critics and audiences since September 7. Dracula features an exceptional ensemble cast: DieteRich Gray as Renfield, Lee Stark as Mina, Jennifer Joan Thompson as Lucy, Jason Bradley as Harker, Erik Hellman as Seward and Tom McElroy as Van Helsing. Returning to Geva Theatre Center where he won rave reviews for his appearance as the Emcee in Geva's sell-out production of Cabaret (2007-2008 Season), is Wade McCollum in the title role of Dracula. Local actors Andrew Antao, Chester Brassie, Katy Kepler, and Bianca Rogers complete the ensemble.
Dracula is directed by Peter Amster, and the design team includes Robert Mark Morgan (scenic design), Tracy Dorman (costume design), Christine Binder (lighting design) and Todd Mack Reischman (sound design). Incidental music has been composed especially for this production by Gregg Coffin. Mr. Coffin is the composer of Convenience and Five Course Love, both of which had their world premiere at Geva; and the creator of the music and lyrics for the theatre's newest production of Rochester's holiday tradition - A Christmas Carol.

Dracula is produced with support from Time Warner Cable; with additional support from Fickle 93.3 and Madeleine's Catering.

Dracula begins performances October 11 and runs in the Mainstage
through November 13.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Previews: October 11, 12, 13 @ 7:30pm
October 14 @ 8pm
October 15 @ 2pm
Opening: Saturday, October 15 @ 8pm

Performances: Sunday, October 16 @ 2pm and 7pm
Tuesday, October 18 @ 6pm
Wednesday, October 19 @ 7:30pm
Thursday, October 20 @ 7:30pm
Friday, October 21 @ 8pm
Saturday, October 22 @ 4pm and 8:30pm
Sunday, October 23 @ 2pm and 7pm
Tuesday, October 25 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday, October 26 @ 2pm and 7:30pm
Thursday, October 27 @ 7:30pm
Friday, October 28 @ 8pm
Saturday, October 29 @ 4pm and 8:30pm
Sunday, October 30 @ 2pm (Audio-described) and 7pm
Tuesday, November 1 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday, November 2 @ 7:30pm
Thursday, November 3 @ 7:30pm (Sign Interpreted)
Friday, November 4 @ 8pm
Saturday, November 5 @ 4pm and 8:30pm
Sunday, November 6 @ 2pm (Sunday Salon) and 7pm
Tuesday, November 8 @ 7:30pm
Wednesday, November 9 @ 2pm
Thursday, November 10 @ 7:30pm
Friday, November 11 @ 8pm
Saturday, November 12 @ 4pm and 8:30pm
Sunday, November 13 @ 2pm and 7pm

TICKET PRICES: Tickets start at $25.

RESERVATIONS: (585) 232-GEVA (4382), Website: www.gevatheatre.org

LOCATION: Geva Theatre Center, 75 Woodbury Blvd, Rochester, NY 14607

Geva Theatre CENTER

Founded in 1972, Geva Theatre Center is a not-for-profit, professional theatre company dedicated to creating and producing professional theatre productions, programs and services of a national standard. As Rochester's leading professional theatre, Geva Theatre Center is the most attended regional theatre in New York State, and one of the 25 most attended in the country, attracting over 170,000 patrons annually, including more than 16,000 students.

The 552-seat Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage offers a wide variety of shows, from musicals to American and world classics. The 180-seat Ron & Donna Fielding Nextstage is home to Geva's own series of cutting-edge drama, comedy and musical theatre; Geva Comedy Improv; Geva's New Play Reading Series and the Hornet's Nest - an innovative play-reading series facilitating community-wide discussion on controversial topics. The Nextstage also hosts visiting companies of both local and international renown.

Geva Theatre Center offers a wide variety of educational, outreach and literary programs, nurturing audiences and artists alike. Since 1995 the organization has been led by Artistic Director Mark Cuddy.