Genesius Theatre in Reading will bring Bram Stoker’s classic gothic horror story to the stage this Halloween season with a production of “Dracula,” scheduled for October 23-25 and 29-31.
The production features a stage adaptation written in 1924 by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, which reimagines Stoker’s novel in a 1920s setting while preserving its supernatural suspense and familiar characters.
The adaptation was commissioned by Stoker’s widow, Florence, following the release of the 1922 silent film “Nosferatu,” which drew heavily from her late husband’s novel without authorization. Seeking to protect and preserve Stoker’s work, she commissioned a theatrical adaptation that would introduce Dracula to stage audiences.
Unlike the novel’s Victorian setting, the play takes place primarily inside the home and asylum of Dr. Seward, incorporating elements of the spiritualism movement that gained popularity during the 1920s.
Genesius Theatre Artistic Director James Haggerty said the change in setting adds another dimension to the story’s horror.
“Where most might think you lose some of the classic, gothic horror by moving Dracula out of Victorian times, what you gain is this incredible undercurrent of the Spiritualism revival of the 1920s, when the world had been electrified with this heightened belief in the supernatural,” Haggerty said.
He added that the adaptation also examines society’s treatment of people confined to institutions, creating a different kind of fear alongside the supernatural elements.
The production marks the first mainstage show under Haggerty’s artistic direction at Genesius Theatre. He said he hopes to continue building the theater as a gathering place for local performers, artists and audiences.
“Genesius is an intimate playhouse in the heart of Reading that doesn’t shy away from telling stories that need to be told,” Haggerty said. “We want to become a place where people come to think, escape, challenge their views of the world, and where artists and creatives in the Greater Reading area can come together, collaborate, and create.”
The production is directed by Bill Eschbach, with set design by Griffin Anderson and Allen Moyer, lighting by Ty Tansy, and set construction by Adam Kissinger and Griffin Yena.
The eight-member cast includes Jon Browning as Count Dracula, Corey Clark as Jonathan Harker, Daphnee McMaster as Lucy Seward, Rick Applegate as Abraham Van Helsing, Gabriel Moreno as Dr. Seward, Brandon Reimer as R.M. Renfield, Dani Pflum as Miss Wells and Jemarc Axinto as Butterworth.
According to the theater, the production will feature period-accurate costumes, an elaborate set designed to evoke a crypt-like atmosphere, and traditional horror effects, including blood, fangs and glowing red eyes.
Haggerty said the theater’s intimate setting makes attention to detail especially important, with audiences seated close to the performers.
“In our small playhouse, we can’t hide – the audience is right in the action and the details become all the more important at that distance,” he said.
Performances are scheduled for October 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m., with a matinee performance on Sunday, October 25, at 3 p.m. The show runs approximately two hours, including one intermission.
Parking is available in a lot adjacent to the theater. Patrons can also use a complimentary shuttle service offered through the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading when making a dinner or bar reservation at the hotel. The service includes garage parking and transportation to and from the theater.
Tickets and additional information are available at www.genesiusdifference.org.
