Bay Street Players Presents DRACULA Thru 10/9

Bay Street Players opens its 37th Season on September 16th with the production of the mystery Dracula. The play runs through October 9th. Written by Hamilton Deane and John Balderston, this play is based on the classic novel by Bram Stoker. One of the great mystery thrillers of all time, this is the play that began the vampire genre. This is the play that influenced so many subsequent plays and movies.

Artistic Director, David W. Clevinger has designed the perfect setting for this romantic gothic thriller. The haunting Edwardian estate that now houses a sanatorium is home to Lucy Seward, played by Ayla Parsons, and her father, portrayed by Ken Peterson. Lucy, whose father is the doctor in charge of the sanatorium, has been attacked by some mysterious illness. BrenDon Rogers fills the role of Dr. Van Helsing, a specialist, who believes that the girl is the victim of a vampire. Veteran Bay Street actor Ashley Richards is cast as the inmate Renfield, who dines on flies and becomes the possessed tool of the strange new neighbor, Count Dracula, played by David Coalter.

Other residents whose lives are affected by the mysterious Count Dracula are Jonathan Harker (Erich Michael Dahne) Lucy Seward's fiancé; Miss Wells, the maid (Shelby Frasier); and Butterworth, a sanatorium attendant (James Simpson). The winner of a Tony Award for Best Revival, Dracula promises an evening of pure escape and nostalgic entertainment.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday evening performances begin at 8:00 p.m. Sunday matinee performances begin at 2:00 p.m. Also, there is one Wednesday performance on September 28, at 8:00p.m., and one Saturday matinee performance on October 8, at 2:00 p.m.

Tickets are $20.00 except on Wednesday or Thursday when they are $17.00. For reservations, call the Box Office at 352.357.7777 or visit www.baystreetplayers.org to purchase tickets online. Season tickets, group discounts, gift certificates, student rates, and multi-pass tickets are available. Located at 109 N. Bay Street, Eustis, the box office hours are: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. on Saturday performance days.