BRAINERD — What happens when you mix the storytelling stylings of Mel Brooks, Monty Python and The 39 Steps and throw in a big tablespoon of Dracula?
It may end up being a treat like Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.
Director Amy Borash told Area Voices on the KAXE Morning Show she knew about this off-Broadway comedic take on Dracula for a while. She came across it on theater TikTok.
“The clips were hysterical, and I just thought, 'Oh my gosh, someday this will be so much fun to do,'" Borash said.
Because it never went on Broadway, the show’s rights became quickly available after it closed. She knew she wanted to pitch it immediately to Producer Joey Yow, who is also the director of the Central Lakes College Performing Arts Center.
Yow agreed, and while planning the next theater season, he and Borash asked the community and their usual actors for their thoughts. They received a positive response.
Yow said Brainerd Community Theater often chooses shows to correspond with the season. A Dracula-themed show is perfect for the spooky season, and they plan to do something similar around Christmas with a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer show.
“It's a super fun way for cast members to also get in the holiday spirit and celebrate with not just their regular real family, but like their chosen family [as well]," Borash said. "We're having a ball with this one.”
Even though there are a lot of characters, the entire cast is made up of just five actors. This brings both benefits and challenges for directing.
For Borash, the biggest hurdles for a large cast with limited actors is costume changes and blocking.
“That, and helping them define each character and make each one noticeably different so that the audience isn't confused, like, 'Why are they in a different costume now, but using a weird voice?'” Borash said.
But Borash said she believes actors playing multiple roles elevates the humor and is a challenge for the actors involved.
“It's fun for them to try to play different people and keep all that straight without getting confused," she said.
Yow added, “And we have some moments where actors are playing multiple characters at the same time on stage. ... That specificity of performance really comes into view when you see them having to instantly change into one person in front of the audience.”
Only having five spots available for actors made the audition process a little tricky for Borash. She said it was one of the hardest shows she's had to cast, because many talented people showed up.
“I almost pitched the idea to Joey of like, 'Hey, what if we do eight shows and everybody gets four performances?” Borash said.
Yow said it's a good problem to have.
“We've been very fortunate that we have grown the number of people who are consistently coming out to be a part of our shows," he said. "So, having just the good fortune to need to be specific about who we're casting and to need to be precise about who's going to be the best fit, that's a really great place for us to be in.”
Dracula is an iconic character in pop culture, and everyone has an idea of who they think the character should be.
Borash said, “I think Matt [Hill], our Dracula, has kind of embodied parts of that character, that kind of real aggressive confidence. But also there are portrayals of Dracula as kind of a smoldering kind of object of attraction. ... He's done a really good job of combining all of those in addition to the silliness of the show.”
“We've been very fortunate that we have grown the number of people who are consistently coming out to be a part of our shows."Joey Yow, director of Central Lakes College Performing Arts Center
Yow compares it to watching an ‘80s glam rock version of Dracula.
Borash said her favorite part in the theater process is helping actors bring characters to life. She loves to see them grow as performers.
Yow said his favorite part is being part of creating memories.
“I want audience members to come to this and have shared moments of, ‘Wasn't that hysterical?’ or ‘That was really cool how they did that,’ and have things to talk about with each other after the show," he said.
Tickets are available for each show on the CLC Performing Arts Center website, or the box office at 218-855-8199. The shows are at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, through Nov 1. There is a special 9 p.m. performance on Halloween night.
Tell us about upcoming arts events where you live in Northern Minnesota by emailing psa@kaxe.org.
Area Voices is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
