The Hunt Is On! DRACULA to Open Next Month at Actors Theatre of Louisville

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are excited to announce Fifth Third Bank's Dracula, playing in the Bingham Theatre at Actors Theatre of Louisville, September 9 - October 31, 2016.

His fangs are bared. His eyes glow crimson. Louisville's favorite vampire is back! Based on Bram Stoker's gothic tale of the immortal Transylvanian count and his unexpectedly feisty human prey, this fast-paced, fright-filled adaptation is a Halloween treat that drips with suspense - and even more blood.

For 21 consecutive years, Actors Theatre has brought this exhilarating, high-stakes vampire adventure to Louisville audiences. WilLiam McNulty returns with his adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous novel, gracing the stage as both director and in his established role as Dracula's nemesis, Van Helsing. Returning to the Dracula company is former Acting Apprentice Nick Vannoy in the role of Mr. Briggs. Benjamin Pelteson, most recently seen at Actors Theatre in last season's Peter and the Starcatcher, will play the role of the notorious Renfield. Joining the company for the first time this season will be Emily Bennett in the role of Lucy and Ryan Didato in the role of Dr. Seward. Howard Kaye also joins the company this year in the title role as Dracula himself! Brylee Deuser and Patterson Larkins, local child actors, will dually take on the role of the undead girl. Additionally, several members of the 2016-2017 Professional Training Company make up the remaining ensemble: Jacob Sabinsky in the role of Jonathan Harker, Grace Palmer in the role of Ms. Sullivan, and Carter Caldwell, Abby Leigh Huffstetler, Regan Moro and Sam Wisenden will take on the roles of the Undead Women and the Monster. This timeless cult favorite promises to be Louisville's most thrilling fright fest, leaving audiences with a thirst for more!

The creative team features scenic design by Paul Owen, lighting design by Tony Penna, costume design by Lorraine Venberg, sound design by Benjamin Marcum, and media design by Philip Allgeier.

In addition, Actors Theatre will host its annual Dracula Blood Drive in partnership with Fifth Third Bank and the American Red Cross on September 7th, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at Fifth Third Bank's location in 4th Street Live! The event, which has become an annual tradition during the run of Dracula aims to collect 50 pints! All blood donors will receive a complimentary pizza lunch provided by Birricibo and will be entered into a drawing for two free tickets to Dracula. If you donate between 12 - 1 p.m. that day you will be able to Dine with Dracula, as the count himself will stop by for a slice and photo opportunities.

Performances will run from September 9 - October 31, with an official opening set for September 9. Actors Theatre is committed to providing an accessible theatre-going experience and offers an audio described performance on September 25 and an open captioned performance on October 8 during the run of Dracula. For more information on our facilities and all services offered, visit ActorsTheatre.org. Tickets are now on sale to the public and are priced from $25. Tickets can be purchased by calling The Actors Theatre Box Office at 502.584.1205 or online at ActorsTheatre.org. Special ticket rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling 502.585.1210.

Dracula is made possible in part by support from Fifth Third Bank. Additionally, Actors Theatre's educational outreach for Dracula is made possible by Yum! Brands Foundation and their sponsorship of Actors Theatre's Student Matinee Series.

Entering its 53rd Season, Actors Theatre of Louisville, the State Theatre of Kentucky, is the flagship arts organization in the Louisville community. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore, Actors Theatre serves to unlock human potential, build community, and enrich quality of life by engaging people in theatre that reflects the wonder and complexity of our time.

Actors Theatre presents almost 350 performances annually and delivers a broad range of programming, including classics and contemporary work through the Brown-Forman Series, holiday plays, a series of free theatrical events produced by the Apprentice/Intern Company, and the Humana Festival of New American Plays-the premier new play festival in the nation, which has introduced nearly 450 plays into the American theatre repertoire over the past 40 years. In addition, Actors Theatre provides more than 15,000 arts experiences each year to students across the region through its Education Department, and boasts one of the nation's most prestigious continuing pre-professional resident training companies, now in its 45th year.

Over the past half-century, Actors Theatre has also emerged as one of America's most consistently innovative professional theatre companies, with an annual attendance of 140,000. Actors Theatre has been the recipient of some of the most prestigious awards bestowed on a regional theatre, including a Tony Award for Distinguished Achievement, the James N. Vaughan Memorial Award for Exceptional Achievement and Contribution to the Development of Professional Theatre, and the Margo Jones Award for the Encouragement of New Plays. Actors Theatre has toured to 29 cities and 15 countries worldwide, totaling more than 1,400 appearances internationally. Currently, there are more than 50 published books of plays and criticism from Actors Theatre in circulation-including anthologies of Humana Festival plays, volumes of ten-minute plays and monologues, and essays, scripts and lectures from the Brown-Forman Classics in Context Festival. Numerous plays first produced at Actors Theatre have also been published as individual acting editions, and have been printed in many other anthologies, magazines and journals-making an enduring contribution to American dramatic literature.

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