Meridian Little Theatre will present “Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors,” a “Bram” new comedy that the Queen City can really sink its teeth into.

 

Filled with clever wordplay and anything-goes pop culture references, it’s a 90-minute, gender-bending, quick-changing, laugh-out-loud reimagining of  Bram Stoker’s gothic classic, perfect for audiences of all blood types.

 

In the treacherous mountains of Transylvania, a meek English real estate agent takes a harrowing journey to meet a new and mysterious client, who also just happens to be the most terrifying and ferocious monster the world has ever known, Count Dracula.

 

As famed female vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing and company chase Drac from Transylvania to the British countryside to London and back, their antics are guaranteed to increase your pulse and cause bloodcurdling screams—of laughter.

 

Stephen Thomas, no stranger to the MLT stage is thrilled to bring Count Dracula to life, so to speak.

 

“I get the chance to play the titular character, Count Dracula in this hilarious production,” he said. “I’m in my villain era, after having played a con artist in Sweeney Todd (Signor Pirelli), so I wanted to keep that momentum going. Also, I researched the off-Broadway production and saw the wonderful costumes and the vibe and knew I wanted to be a part of this play.

 

“This iteration is a little different…the Count is like a muscled-up rock-star persona who’s looking for…the one. Imagine if Bridgerton, Monty Python and Rocky Horror had a lovechild, then you’d be in the realm of this show! Don’t want to spoil it, but if you’re a fan of Stoker’s Dracula novel, know this show is very loosely based on the source material and it’s full of surprises!”

 

By day, Michael Castle is the manager and buyer for Loeb’s, but on the MLT stage, Castle will portray Jonathan Harker and the Gravedigger.

 

“Jonathan is Dracula’s real estate agent. He is a very prim and proper Englishman who is happy to sell Dracula some properties in London. But once Dracula gets to London, strange things start happening to people. They mysteriously start getting sick. Or maybe bitten,” Castle said.

 

While Castle performed as a child in a few productions, Dracula marks his first MLT performance in quite some time.

 

“My acting background is in film. I have primarily done work in the Baton Rouge/ New Orleans market. I went to college at LSU and started acting then,” he said.

 

A West Lauderdale graduate, Castle said he auditioned for this role because he had a goal last year to do more things he loved and pursue more of his passions.

 

“Auditioning for this play was my first step in that direction and fortunately, I got the part! When I saw all the characters, I instantly knew that Jonathan was the role that fit me the best. I knew I would have a good take on it and could bring something fun to the role,” he said.

 

“Audiences can expect to have an extremely good time. They are guaranteed to laugh a lot. It is a very funny show, and all the actors are giving fantastic and hilarious performances. One of my biggest challenges right now while we are rehearsing is trying not to laugh! Leave all your preconceived notions about Dracula at the door. This is a fast paced, fun, unexpected take on Dracula.”

 

Tiffany McGehee, MLT Artistic Director said, “Fear is a powerful thing. It lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to grip us—whether it’s the fear of the unknown, the fear of change, or the fear of vampires lurking in the night. But throughout history, humanity has found an incredible way to fight back: we laugh.”

“Dracula takes one of the most iconic horror stories ever told and flips it on its head, reminding us that sometimes the best way to face what scares us is with a good dose of absurdity. In this production, our goal is to invite you to laugh in the face of darkness, to find joy in the unexpected, and to celebrate the wild theatricality of this story. Theatre, at its best, brings us together to share an experience, and each show night, we invite you to lean into the fun, embrace the chaos, and most importantly—watch out for bats,” she added.

 

“Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors” runs Thursday and Friday, Feb. 20-22, at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. matinee on Sunday, Feb. 23. Tickets can be purchased by calling the box office at 601-482-6371.