CofC Stages at the College of Charleston’s Department of Theatre and Dance will continue its 2024-25 season in November with Dracula. This new adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, by Kate Hamill, will turn the Victorian-era horror-filled drama into a striking feminist revenge fantasy. Both terrifying and riotous, Hamill’s signature style and postmodern wit upends this familiar tale of Victorian vampires and drives a stake through the heart of toxic masculinity.
Director Evan Parry notes that “Bram Stoker’s original novel (and most popular culture versions) of Dracula renders almost all female characters as victims in need of protection by male characters, such as Dr. Van Helsing. These female characters aren’t enabled to protect themselves or fight back against Dracula.”
Parry adds that in Kate Hamill’s version, the women are given more depth. Mina Harker learns to fight face to face with Dracula and his brides, victims of his who are given backstories in this version. Hamill also has turned the character of Dr. Van Helsing into a woman who has experience fighting against vampires and will be able to lead this band of women to triumph. “Hamill’s frequently contemporary language in this version of the story evokes contemporary misogyny, referencing elements of sexual predation and the absence of consent. Hamill’s female characters have no choice when attacked; they are either assaulted or find a way to fight back,” states Parry.
This production will also feature exciting technical elements and stage direction.
“Directing this production has presented unique opportunities, since it requires a number of effects,” Parry says.
One of the unique opportunities Dracula will have is to show off its sound design, created by Theatre minor Amelia Hawke Tebalt, which features a mix of pre-recorded sounds with sounds occurring live on the stage. The production also will take place in the Simons Center Black Box Theatre, allowing audiences to have access to three different sides of the stage.
“This means we’ve had to be creative to find ways of staging scenes,” Parry mentions, “especially moments of violence in a way which helps the audience see what we want them to and not what we want unseen.”
The production also features scenic design by professor Jonathan Wentz, costume design by theatre major Lily Lombardi, and lighting design by theatre major Alex Jones. The cast includes theatre major LG Wylie in the role of Dr. Van Helsing and theatre major Chris Warzynski in the role of Dracula.
DETAILS: Performances of Dracula will take place at the Black Box Theatre in the Simons Center for the Arts (54 Saint Philip St.) from November 13-17 and Nov. 19-20. Performances will take place at 7:30 pm, with exceptions for the Sunday matinee, which takes place at 2:00 p.m., and the Friday show, which takes place at 9:00 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults. Discounts are available for seniors (60+), military/veteran, and youth under 18, as well as CofC students, faculty, and staff. Info and ticket links are at go.charleston.edu/nowplaying
