Actors Theatre Education DepartmentSteven Rahe, Education DirectorJacob Stoebel, Education CoordinatorJeffrey Mosser, Education FellowSarah Lunnie, Literary/Education AssociateRebecca Davis, Education InternCaitlin Puckett, Education Intern

Fund for the ArtsMembers Agency

The Hearst Foundation, Inc.

About thE DRACuLA

PLAY GuideThis play guide is a standards-based resource designed to enhance your theatre experience. Its goal is twofold: to nurture the teach-ing and learning of theatre arts and to encourage essential questions that lead to enduring understandings of the play’s meaning and relevance. Inside you will find history/contextual information, vocabulary and worksheets that lay the groundwork of the story and build anticipation for the performance. Oral discussion and writing prompts encourage your students to reflect upon their impressions and to analyze and relate key ideas to their personal experiences and the world around them. These can easily be adapted to fit most writing objectives. The Bridgework connects theatre elements with ideas for drama activities in the classroom as well as integrated cur-riculum. We encourage you to adapt and extend the material in any way to best fit the needs of your community of learners. Please feel free to make copies of this guide, or you may download it from our website: www.actorstheatre.org. We hope this material, combined with our pre-show workshops, will give you the tools to make your time at Actors Theatre a valuable learning experience.

TAbLe of ConTenTsSynopsis .........................................2Cast of Characters ...........................2Vlad the Impaler ..............................3bram Stoker ....................................4Vampire Survival Kit .........................5bloodlines: Vampire history ..............6bridgework .....................................8-9theatre-in-the-Round ........................10Discussion & themes ........................11Writing Portfolio ..............................12

n Students will identify the elements of drama

n Students will analyze how time, place and ideas are reflected in drama/theatre

n Students will explain how drama/theatre fulfills a variety of purposes

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding our play guides, please contact Steven Rahe, Director of Education, at (502) 584-1265 ext. 3045

Play Guide compiled by Aurelia Clunie, Sarah Lunnie, Jeffrey Mosser, Rosie Chevalier, Steven Rahe, Jacob Stoebel, Jess Jung and Katie Blackerby Weible.

Dracula

sYnoPsistrouble is brewing when the curtain rises on William McNulty’s new adaptation of Dracula. Dr. Abram Van helsing has arrived at the estate of his old friend, Dr. Seward, who is desperate for help. Seward’s beloved Mina has recently died of a sudden and mysterious illness. her horrific symptoms have proved baffling to the bereaved doctor: sudden loss of blood; bouts of sleepwalking in the cemetery; and strange puncture wounds on the neck. to make matters worse, Mina’s friend, Lucy, has begun to display the same symptoms! Seward hopes that Van helsing, a noted expert in exotic medicine, will be able to uncover the cause of Lucy’s illness, and save her before it’s too late.

Meanwhile, Count Dracula, a strange and imposing man from transylvania, has taken up residence in nearby Carfax Abbey. And Lucy’s fiancé, Jonathan harker, has mysteriously vanished. A solicitor who helped arrange the sale of the Abbey, harker traveled to transylvania a few months ago to finalize business matters with the Count… and never returned home.

At Seward’s estate, Renfield, a mental patient, is becoming more wild and unruly by the day, almost as though he were possessed. Lucy’s symptoms continue to grow worse. And how to account for the sudden onslaught of howls, coming by night from up the hill?

Van helsing believes the problem they face is a grave one: “My diagnosis is there is no disease! the symptoms are real. but the cause is not internal.” he believes that Mina, and now Lucy, have suffered at the hands of a vampire. to save Lucy’s life, they will have to uncover the identity of the life-sucking demon, and destroy him. but the endeavor is a dangerous one. A vampire is a fearsome enemy, and the risks are greater than death. Should the doctors perish in their pursuit, they too will become vampires, spending an eternity preying upon the bodies and souls of those whom once they dearly loved. Will Seward and Van helsing find the vampire and save Lucy’s life? or is the monster about to claim yet another victim?

CAsT of ChArACTers

Dr. SEwArD head Doctor at the asylum

CounT DrACulA Seward’s new neighbor; recently moved from transylvania

ProfESSor AbrAm VAn HElSingold friend of Seward; comes to help Lucy

minA: loVE of SEwArD recently died of a mysterious illness

luCy: minA’S friEnDdisplaying same symptoms

JonATHAn HArkErLucy’s fiancé; missing after trip to transylvania

rEnfiElDmental patient; receiving treatment from Seward

miSS SulliVAn the maid

mr. briggSSeward’s employee

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Vlad Dracula, later named Vlad the Impaler after his favorite form of torture, was a 15th century prince who ruled with an iron fist. this infamous ruler controlled his subjects with such violence that he is now referred to as the bloodiest ruler in history. Vlad was born in transylvania in 1430 or 1431. his father, the warrior Vlad Dracul, was a member of a secret society of knights called the order of the Dragon. this society was formed to fight and defeat the turks, as well as secure the throne of Wallachia (a town located in present-day Romania). the order brothers dressed in long green capes except on special occasions in which they would wear long black capes and drape gold dragon medallions around their necks. Young Vlad was nicknamed Dracula after his father. In Romanian, Dracul translates to ‘dragon’ or ‘devil,’ and the ‘a’ stands for ‘son of.’ So Dracula literally translates to ‘son of the dragon’ or ‘son of the devil.’ In 1444 Dracul was traveling with Dracula and his youngest son across the Danube River when they were captured by the turks. Dracula was imprisoned for four years. these years are thought to be the beginning of Vlad Dracula’s violent nature. It wasn’t long before Dracul was assassinated and Dracula’s brother was buried alive by the ruler of hungary, Jamos hunyadi. Fearful for his life, Dracula joined hunyadi who taught him cunning and severe military tactics that would soon secure Dracula the throne of Wallachia. As Prince, Vlad Dracula continued to battle the turks. those taken hostage were impaled (a large pole was driven through their body). but it was not only Dracula’s enemies who suffered. Many townspeople were also subject to his wrath. one story tells of Dracula noticing a peasant man who was wearing a shirt that was too short. When Dracula asked the man’s wife why the man was improperly dressed, she said she was too busy cooking and cleaning to sew. She

was immediately impaled. Graciously, Dracula chose a new wife for the man. he made sure to show the new wife what had happened to the old so that she would not make the same mistake. Dracula died in battle in 1476. he was promptly decapitated by order of the turkish sultan. his head was then sent

to the sultan who displayed it, fittingly, on a stake for all to see. Although gone, rumors of Vlad Dracula and his relentless temper spread throughout Europe. Stories of his villainy were published, read, and reread, and it was these stories that led bram Stoker in creating the infamous Count Dracula we know today.

The ReAl DRAculA: VLAd The imPALer

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bram Stoker always liked scary stories. he was born near Dublin, Ireland on November 8, 1847, but was sick during most of his childhood. he read in bed a lot and liked to listen to the stories his mother Charlotte told. her stories were sometimes creepy, like the ones about victims of the 1832 Irish cholera epidemic who were buried before they were entirely dead. As he grew up, Stoker got stronger and even played sports and joined clubs when he went to trinity College. he still liked to read strange stories like the influential 1871 vampire novel Carmilla by Le Fanu. Stoker tried writing his own horror story, “the Chain of Destiny,” which appeared in a magazine in 1875. Stoker’s first book was pretty boring. The Duties of Clerks of Petty Sessions in Ireland didn’t raise hairs on the backs of readers’ necks, but was a really useful resource for other clerks. Stoker first worked for the Irish government, but loved putting his imagination to use and loved the theatre. In college he saw The Rivals, starring henry Irving, and was blown away. the show inspired Stoker to write a theatre review column for the newspaper the Dublin Mail. Years later, he wrote a good review about henry Irving’s performance in Hamlet, and the actor invited him backstage. the two began a close friendship and Stoker moved to London with his young wife to become the business Manager of Irving’s Lyceum theatre. Stoker continued writing fiction while working at the Lyceum. he published a collection of scary children’s stories called Under the Sunset in 1881. In the 1890’s, he wrote some romantic novels, but was working on his vampire thriller. Stoker painstakingly researched places, superstitions, and myths while writing Dracula. he visited many of the locations he wrote about in the book, including the Regent’s Park Zoo where he observed animals that would appear in Dracula. Stoker stayed up nights discussing dark

matters with his friends. Diary entries, letters, newspaper articles, verbal testimonies and other first hand accounts form Stoker’s frightening narrative. he creatively used many fictional sources to make the story seem more authentic. When Dracula finally reached readers in 1897, reviewers generally praised it. they

enjoyed its “ingenious and gruesome details” and how exciting it was for readers. Stoker had successfully written a thrilling horror novel that would terrify generations. he wrote other novels before he died in 1912, but none could compete with the legend he created in Dracula.

brAm sToker: The MAn BehinD The MonsTeR

Bram stoker

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WhAT is A VAmPire?Stories vary from country to country, but all of the dark tales share certain things in common:

nA vampire is neither human, nor dead, but rather undead: a being from beyond the grave, who destroys life in order to continue its own unnatural existence.

nIn most cultures, vampires are said to feed on human blood in order to sustain themselves—usually with a quick bite to the neck!

Where do VAmPires Come from?Depending on who you ask, you’ll find many different stories about where a vampire comes from. but many cultures believe that the arrival of a vampire in town means a social taboo has been broken.

nIn Macedonia, people once believed vampires (known as vrykolakas), turned up when someone didn’t respect local burial rituals, or because of the death of an unbaptized child.

nIn Portugal and Russia, people attributed the arrival of a vampire to the practice of witchcraft.

hoW do You kiLL A VAmPire?there are lots of stories about where a vampire comes from, but even more opinions on how to do away with him. Wreathes of garlic around the neck, holy water, and stakes to the heart are well-known vampire remedies, but there are others you may not be familiar with. here’s what you need to know if you’re expecting a late-night encounter:

nto kill a vampire in Albania, Romania, and Russia, you can stab it in the heart with a knife and cut its throat. (Please be careful: in Russia there’s no room for error. If you strike more than once, it will come back to life.)

nIn bavaria and Russia, cut off his head! Ditto for Greece and Crete— but afterwards, you’ll have to boil it in vinegar.

nIn Macedonia, hungary and Serbia, drive a nail into his head, neck or navel.

nIn Ireland, place stones on top of his grave to prevent him from escaping.

nIn Poland, bury the vampire face downward. he’ll become confused, and spend eternity digging for freedom in the wrong direction.

VAmPire surViVAL kiTeVerYThinG You need To knoW for Your enCounTer WiTh The undeAd.

the vampire is an ancient and mythic figure. there’s a good chance you’ve heard the Dracula tale, made famous by bram Stoker’s novel and by countless classic film remakes based on his book. but less widely known, perhaps, is the fact that countries all over the world have their very own vampire stories—each one stranger and more frightening than the next!

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BlooDlines:

TAkinG A biTe ouT of VAmPire hisTorYWe’ve always had a dark fascination with vampires. From the earliest accounts of these monsters to today’s popular interpretations, vampires continue to capture our collective imagination. The image of the thirsty undead has permeated popular culture in everything from books to television series, graphic novels to feature films. Whether evil bloodsuckers or nice guys who just happen to have fangs, vampires come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s a look at how some of these stories emerged, and how they have evolved over time.

1400s the transylvanian-born ruler of Walachia, Vlad III (often called “Vlad the Impaler,” “Vlad Dracula,” or just “Dracula”), sadistically kills tens of thousands of people who have offended him in any number of ways. his preferred method is impalement, and so the vampire rumor mill starts a-turning; Vlad effectively becomes the prototype for the most famous vampire of all time.

1600s thought to have tortured and murdered hundreds of young women in her later years, Erzsébet báthory is also rumored to have feasted on their blood. In all likelihood, the hungarian countess is probably less vampire, more serial killer.

1970s-1980s Vampires are nearly ubiquitous, popping up in everything from blaxploitation to campy cult films. Several more serious treatments are Stephen King’s novel Salem’s Lot and the next two Dracula films, one with Jack Palance and the other starring Frank Langella (another stage Dracula) and Sir Laurence olivier.

1990s the ‘90s see vampires brought to film in record numbers, and in a variety of styles. this decade brings us Innocent Blood, Interview with the Vampire, From Dusk Till Dawn, and Blade, among others. We also get two new takes on the Dracula story: Francis Ford Coppola casts Gary oldman as a chilling version of the Count in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Mel brooks gives us a goofier take with Leslie Nielsen in Dracula: Dead and Loving It.

1897 bram Stoker writes Dracula. the Irishman, a sometime theatre critic/manager, crafts the novel as a series of journal entries, correspondence between characters, and newspaper clippings. though it’s initially slow to sell, it meets high critical praise and ultimately becomes one of the greatest classics of all time.

2005 Maybe you’ve heard of Twilight? Stephenie Meyer’s quartet of novels has sold over 200 million copies so far, and inspired a successful motion picture, with another on the way. Part vampire story, part heart-pounding teen romance, Meyer further explores the idea of vampires with consciences.1997 Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, the

popular spin-off series launched by the 1992 film, chronicles the adventures of buffy Summers, her gang of outcast friends, and their sunny California high school perched on the mouth of hell. the age of the relatable vampire story has officially arrived, complete with teenage angst and snappy dialogue. Angel, the Slayer’s tormented vampire love interest (who later gets his own series), is among the new breed of kinder, gentler bloodsuckers.

1972 Count von Count joins the cast of Sesame Street on PbS. this polyester Count doesn’t bite people, sleep in a coffin, or cause trouble of any kind. he counts. Meet the world’s first cuddly vampire. Mwah ha ha! Thunder clap.

2009 In the virtual world, anyone with a Facebook account can become a vampire and infect their Facebook friends by clicking a button that says “bite these Chumps.” It seems that, like Facebook, vampires aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.

timeline by Rosie Chevalier

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1924 Dracula is adapted for the stage by hamilton Deane and premieres in London. three years later, the adaptation is revised by John L. balderston for the New York production.

1931 the first authorized Dracula film is worth the wait: based on the stage adaptation, it stars hungarian actor bela Lugosi, reprising his role from the 1927 broadway production, as an unforgettable Count.

1922 F.W. Murnau’s horror classic Nosferatu is the first time Dracula sees the big screen…just don’t call him Dracula. unable to obtain the rights to the story from Stoker’s estate, Murnau isn’t allowed to use the name or even the word “vampire.” but Max Schreck’s spooky monster still manages to horrify and thrill film audiences.

1966 the twisted romance of the seduction, the pathos and tragedy of the attack: is it any wonder that the next destination for vampires is the world of soap operas? Dark Shadows brings good old-fashioned gothic horror to daytime television.

1958 hammer Film Company’s remake stars a terrifying Christopher Lee in the title role.

Zachary Palamara, Dracula (2006)

AT your DESk Activities

THEmE linES Choose a character’s line(s) from the script that reflect an important theme of the play. Write a brief thought of your own that expresses that theme. What does it mean to you? Read both the script line and your own thought aloud to the class.

JournAl EnTry Stoker begins his novel, Dracula with a journal entry of John harker’s: 3 May. bistritz.—Left Munich at 8:35 P.M., on 1st May, arriving at Vienna early morning; should have arrived at 6:46, but train was an hour late. buda-Pesth seems a wonderful place from the glimpse which I got of it from the train and the little I could walk through the streets. I feared to go very far from the station, as we had arrived late and would start as near the correct time as possible. the impression I got was that we were leaving the West and entering the East…

think about which characters might be the protagonist and the antagonist in the play. Write a journal entry in the voice of either character (or both). Explain his objective or goal and describe reasons for wanting it (motivation). What actions does this character take to achieve his goal? Remember to justify every action and thought of your character.

CrEATE A SounD DESignthe technical element of sound creates mood and places us in a specific time and place. Assume the role of sound designer for your own contemporary production of DRACULA. Make a list of sound effects and music you would use.

on your fEET ActivitieswArm-uPsound/motion Circle – Players in circle. First person starts a “scary” sound and motion around circle. Person to his/her right imitates sound/motion and passes it to next person on right. When sound/motion makes it all the way around, person standing to left of first person starts new sound/motion. Repeat until all players have had a turn.

gET your frEAk onWhen auditioning for Dracula, some of the actors are asked to do their best creepy moves. Ask your students to walk around the room. tell them you are going to play different pieces of music. When they hear the music, ask them to change their body movement. Ask them to visualize a character that fits the tone of the music and to embody that character. Students should focus only on nonverbal expression. use several different types of

music: classical, spooky halloween, jazz, etc. be sure to leave time for reflection. What did it feel like? Were some pieces of music easier than others? Why? how can music inform a character? how can music add to the tone of a production?

rounD AnD rounD wE go….Simulate performing and directing for theatre-in-the-round (or arena theatre). have students place desks in a circle. Give volunteer actors a scene (from Dracula or another play) and have a volunteer director lead the movement. After the scene is completed, discuss the challenges of this type of stage. What do actors and directors have to think about? What might a set look like in this space? What type of plays do you think would be best performed in the round?

inTErViEw wiTH A VAmPirEhot seating – Choose one student to play Dracula. have the rest of the class take on the roles of townspeople in London who have heard rumors of his evil. they pose questions and interrogate him about the events that have happened and choices he has made. “Dracula” should explain and justify his actions.

TExT workRead the following lines of dialogue. Notice who said them and to whom they are spoken. Write a short essay about each, stating whether you agree or disagree with the thought. Give reasons to support your position, citing examples from your own life as well as observations. Your essays could serve as a start for a personal narrative or persuasive paper.

Van Helsing: (to Seward) My friend, “adventure” is a term most often used in hindsight. An “adventure” as one is experiencing it is usually referred to as “trouble”.

•••••••••••••••••••••

Dracula: (to Van helsing) Sometimes good and evil are just a matter of perception.

•••••••••••••••••••••

Dracula: Come, Professor, who does not have the beast within? humans are so hypocritical; they deny their lust for blood. I am a free creature. I hunt; kill without mercy or conscience to spoil my enjoyment.

Van Helsing: humans seek to distinguish themselves from the animals. that is our destiny.

bridGeWork:buiLdinG ConneCTions beTWeen sTAGe And CLAssroomthe following exercises combine creative drama, theatre concepts and core content to connect the theatre experience with drama activities in your classroom. by exploring drama as a mode of learning, students strengthen skills for creative problem solving, imagination and critical thinking. Core Content ConnectionThe activities are designed using the Elements of Drama: Literary Elements, Technical Elements and Performance Elements.

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CroSS-CurriCulAr ConnECTionS

EngliSH/lAnguAgE ArTS1) Locate and read several british newspaper articles from 1897. how are they written? In what ways are the language and style different from ours? Imagine that you are a reporter from 1897 London. You have been sent to write a story about Count Dracula. What has been seen and heard about this mysterious man? Write your story in keeping with the flavor of the time period.

2) Folk songs from the late 19th century are sung by various characters to comment on character, plot and theme. Analyze the following song lyrics from “Ghost Lover” sung by Dracula. Why does he sing this song? What is Dracula communicating to the others about himself? Can you identify the metaphors? What is the mood of the poem?

She feels he is as cold as the clay.She said, my dearest dear, if I only had my wish,this long night would never turn to day.

oh, where is your soft bed of down, my love?Where is your white hall and sheet?And where is the fair maid who watches over you,As you lie in your long dreamless sleep?

the sea is my soft bed of down, my love,the sand is my white hall and sheet,And the long hungry worms they do feed off of me,As I lie every night in the deep.

gEogrAPHy Locate transylvania on a map (hint- it’s in Romania). how many counties does it now encompass? What are the most populated cities? Find other interesting facts about the region. Now locate London. how far did Dracula have to travel to inhabit his new castle?

SoCiAl STuDiESDracula is classified as a Gothic novel. Many scholars consider horace Walpole’s novel The Castle of Otranto (1764) to be the first Gothic novel. Gothic novels generally focus on mystery and horror and often contain supernatural elements. the Gothic style of architecture flourished in Europe during the late medieval period (think of great cathedrals, abbeys and castles). the Gothic style enjoyed revivals in the late 1800s and 1900s. In contemporary culture, the Gothic or “Goth” movement is popular among some young people. how would you describe the “Goth” style? how does it relate to historical gothic elements? What is our fascination with the dark side?

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TheATre-in-The-roundtheatre-in-the-round, or an arena stage, is a space in which the audience surrounds the playing area. the stage is usually a simple shape such as a circle, square, or triangle, with the audience rising up from all sides (think of a bowl: the bottom is the stage and the sides are the audience). the first professional American theatre-in-the-round company, theatre ’47 in Dallas, was established in 1947.

You will witness a theatre-in-the-round production when seeing Dracula in the Actors theatre of Louisville’s bingham theatre. the cast and crew use the round space to add extra fright to the production. So be careful! No matter where you sit, there might be something lurking…

Can you name the other two types of theatre stages? What does each look like?

Bingham Theatre

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PrE-SHow QuESTionS

1) before you enter the bingham theatre, picture a stage in the center with seats all around (arena stage). think about the world of bram Stoker’s story. What kind of set do you expect to see? What style and colors? What elements do you think will set the mood? how?

2) how is seeing a play different from seeing a movie? As an audience member, what types of things do you need to keep in mind when going to see a live performance?

THEmESGooD vs. EVIL

SALVAtIoN & DAMNAtIoN

bLooD

SCIENCE vs. SuPERStItIoN

DREAMS & NIGhtMARES

PoST-SHow QuESTionS

1) During the show (and in the opening scene specifically), how did the technical elements create the mood that evoked fear from the audience? What sounds, lighting effects and costumes do you recall?

2) What themes are present in Dracula? As this is fundamentally a story about good and evil, which characters are good and which are evil? Do any characters show traits of both? Which force ultimately wins?

3) Why do you think Vlad the Impaler was bram Stoker’s inspiration for Dracula? Where did you see examples of Vlad in the production? Do you think using history to create a story is a valuable writing tool? Why or why not? What are some examples?

4) Do you feel any empathy for the evil characters? What parts of their existence might evoke pity?

5) Why do you think vampires are ingrained in pop culture? Why are vampires in the movies, on tV, popular halloween costumes, etc.? trace the evolution of the vampire in literature and film. See page 6-7 (Compare/ contrast bela Lugosi’s characterization to brad Pitt’s in “Interview with a Vampire”, for example). how has our perception of vampires changed over the years? how has it stayed the same?

disCussion QuesTions

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actors theatre of louisville n 316 West Main street n louisville, KY 40202-4218Box office 502-584-1205 n Group sales 502-585-1210 n Business office 502-584-1265

ActorsTheatre.org

PErSonAl ExPrESSiVE

What was the scariest thing that ever happened to you? Write a story narrating the event for your reader. Lead the reader through the experience moment-by-moment in detail, using clear, descriptive images. Why was this a memorable moment in your life?

liTErAry wriTing

Dracula ends leaving the story open to the audience’s interpretation. What you think happens? this is your chance to continue writing the play! If you could imagine one more scene at the end of our Dracula what would it be? Which characters would be in it? What do they still need to do? be creative!

TrAnSACTiVE wriTingAfter seeing Dracula, write a theatrical critique of the production. Pretend you are writing for a local newspaper. Describe three elements that stood out to you (maybe an actor’s performance, the set, the costumes, etc.). Why should or shouldn’t someone go see this production?

need more help? Check out our Young Critics Workshops! have an Actors theatre teaching artist visit your classroom to give your students the inside scoop on how to write a theatrical critique.

Students who have written a critique on an Actors theatre production may submit their work to be posted on our website!! to submit online, please send all critiques as email attachments to jstoebel@actorstheatre.org with the subject heading ‘Young Critics Contest.’ Please be sure to include your name, school, teacher, grade, and contact information. WRI

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note for teachers: All Writing Portfolio prompts have been designed to correspond with kentucky department of education Core Content for Writing Assessment.