Theater at Lime Kiln today announced auditions for Dracula, or How’s Your Blood Counts, Saturday, Aug. 15, at 10 a.m. in the Kiln at 601 Borden Road.
Tom Conway, a professional actor and director from Chattanooga, Tenn., will direct. Conway, who performed in last month’s return of Stonewall Country, has directed on every level, from high school to community to professional theatre. He was a member of the Lime Kiln professional company for several years in the ’80s and ’90s.
Conway spoke about Dracula, or How’s Your Blood Count. “This is a high-paced comedy taken directly from the hilarious British tradition of Monty Python, Joe Orton, and ‘Absolutely Fabulous.’ As a professional director and actor for more than 20 years, working with both paid and volunteer performers I can assure you that this production will be of the highest comedic standards (though not necessarily the highest taste) and that if chosen you have the potential to have the time of your life onstage.”
The characters and plot come directly from Bram Stoker’s 19th century Gothic novel, Dracula. But Lime Kiln executive director Kim Renz says that is where the similarities end. “This is, without a doubt, the funniest show I have ever seen onstage. It’s silly, it’s outrageous, it’s corny, and most of all, it’s great fun for the whole family.”
“We have cast two roles,” said Renz. “Dracula will be played by Mark Cline, and Rob Mish is Professor Van Helsing. As funny as Mark is, compared to Van Helsing, the vampire will be the straight man in this show!”
Other roles include the madman Renfield, straight-laced Jonathan Harker and his fiancée Mina, Lucy, Dr. Seward and his nurse, the brides of Dracula and other fun characters. Ages rage from late teen to late middle-aged.
Actors are encouraged to e-mail the Lime Kiln office at [email protected] with an acting resumé and headshot, if available, and they will be sent a perusal script to prepare for readings. They are also asked to prepare a short monologue showing their sense of comedy.
Rehearsals will begin in early September, and Dracula, or How’s Your Blood Count? runs at Theater at Lime Kiln on Sept. 24-26. For more information call the office at 540.463.7088.
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