Dracula (1977 play)

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Dracula
Written by Hamilton Deane
John L. Balderston
Characters Count Dracula
Jonathan Harker
Abraham Van Helsing
Dr. Seward
Butterworth
R. M. Renfield
Miss Wells
Lucy Seward
Date premiered 20 October, 1977
Place premiered Martin Beck Theatre
Original language English
Setting Purley, England. The 1920s.

Dracula is a 1977 Broadway play originally written by Hamilton Deane from the novel of the same name by Bram Stoker. Later revisions to the play were made by John L. Balderston, for the original 1927 Broadway production.

Plot

A charming Transylvanian count named Dracula, who is a vampire, goes out to seduce women for their blood.

Production

The 1977 revival was directed by Dennis Rosa, with sets and costumes by the renowned Edward Gorey. The play opened on October 20, 1977 at the Martin Beck Theatre in New York City, and closed on January 6, 1980 after 925 performances.[1]

The original cast included Frank Langella as Count Dracula (later replaced by Raul Julia), Alan Coates as Jonathan Harker, Jerome Dempsey as Abraham Van Helsing, Dillon Evans as Dr. Seward, Baxter Harris as Butterworth, Richard Kavanaugh as R. M. Renfield, Gretchen Oehler as Miss Wells, and Ann Sachs as Lucy Seward.

The play was produced by Jujamcyn Theaters (under the direction of Richard G. Wolff, President), Elizabeth Ireland McCann, John Wulp, Victor Lurie, Nellie Nugent and Max Weitzenhoffer. Dracula was originally conceived and produced by the Nantucket Stage Company by John Wulp.

Awards

The show won two Tony Awards for Most Innovative Production of a Revival and Best Costume Design (Edward Gorey).

Film

Frank Langella would go on to reprise the role of Count Dracula in the 1979 film version directed by John Badham.

References

External links