PLAY GUIDE
About the
DRACULA
Play Guide
Table of contents
This play guide is a standards-based
resource designed to enhance your theatre
experience. Its goal is twofold: to nurture
the teaching 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 curriculum. 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.
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Synopsis, Cast of Characters
4
Vlad the Impaler
5
Bram Stoker
6-7
Bloodlines: Vampire History
8
Vampire Survival Kit
9
Theatre-in-the-Round
10-11 Bridgework
12
Discussion Questions and Writing Portfolio
Actors Theatre Education
Dracula student matinees and play
guides address specific educational
objectives:
• Students will identify or describe the
use of elements of drama in dramatic
works.
Steven Rahe, Director of Education
Jacob Stoebel, Associate Director of Education
Julie Mercurio, Education Fellow
Jane B. Jones, Education Intern/Teaching Artist
Christina Lepri, Education Intern/Teaching Artist
Liz Fentress, Teaching Artist
Jessica Leader, Teaching Artist
Play Guide compiled by Aurelia Clunie, Sarah Lunnie,
Jeffrey Mosser, Rosie Chevalier, Steven Rahe, Jacob Stoebel,
Jess Jung and Katie Blackerby Weible.
• Students will analyze how time,
place and ideas are reflected in
drama/theatre
The Hearst
Foundation, Inc.
• Students will explain how
drama/theatre fufills 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
Fund for the Arts
Members Agency
Cast of
Characters
DR. SEWARD
Head Doctor at the asylum. In mourning
over the death of his fiancee Mina.
COUNT DRACULA
Seward’s new neighbor; recently moved
from Transylvania.
PROFESSOR ABRAM
VAN HELSING
Old friend of Seward; comes to help Lucy.
MINA: LOVE OF SEWARD
Recently died of a mysterious illness
involving a loss of blood.
LUCY: MINA’S FRIEND
Displaying the same troubling symptoms
as her friend Mina.
JONATHAN HARKER
Lucy’s fiancé; missing after a trip to
Transylvania.
Synopsis
Trouble 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?
RENFIELD
Psychiatric patient who seems to know a bit
too much about what is going on.
miss sullivan
Dr. Seward’s assistant.
MR. Briggs
Dr. Seward’s orderly. Responsible for
maintaining peace among the patients.
Setting
The Victorian Era.
Dr. Seward’s sanatorium and
environs in Purley, England.
Later in Transylvania.
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?
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Vlad the impaler
THE REAL dracula
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
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Woodcut print of Vlad surrounded by his victims
wearing a shirt that was too short.
stake for all to see.
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
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.
BRAM Stoker
the man behind the monster
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. 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.
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
They enjoyed its “ingenious and gruesome
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Bloodlines:
Timeline by Rosie Chevalier
taking a bite out of vampire history
We’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.
1600s Thought to have tortured and
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.
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.
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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.
2005
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.
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.
Maybe you’ve heard of Twilight?
Stephenie Meyer’s quartet of novels has
sold over 200 million copies so far, and
inspired 3 successful motion pictures, with
another on the way. Part vampire story,
part heart-pounding teen romance, Meyer
further explores the idea of vampires with
consciences.
2010
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.
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.
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.
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.
Zachary Palamara, Dracula (2006)
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vampire survival kit
everything 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!
What is a vampire?
Stories vary from country to country,
but all of the dark tales share certain things in common:
A 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.
n
In most cultures, vampires are said to feed on human blood in order to
sustain themselves—usually with a quick bite to the neck!
n
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.
In 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.
n
In Portugal and Russia, people attributed the arrival of a vampire to the practice
of witchcraft.
n
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:
To 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.)
n
In Bavaria and Russia, cut off his head! Ditto for Greece and Crete—
but afterwards, you’ll have to boil it in vinegar.
n
n
In Macedonia, Hungary and Serbia, drive a nail into his head, neck or navel.
n
In Ireland, place stones on top of his grave to prevent him from escaping.
In Poland, bury the vampire face downward. He’ll become confused, and spend eternity digging for freedom in the wrong direction.
n
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theatre-in-the-round
T
Bingham Theatre
Theatre-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?
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Bridgework
building connections between stage and classroom
The 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.
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 Design
The 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 Activities
Warm-up
Sound/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 On
When 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.
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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 Vampire
Hot 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 Work
Read 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.
CROSS-CURRICULAR dCONNECTIONs
cross-cirricular connections
English/Language Arts
1) 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 Studies
Dracula 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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Discussion Questions
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?
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?
4. Do you feel any empathy for the evil characters?
5. Why do you think vampires are ingrained in pop culture?
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?
What parts of their existence might evoke pity?
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?
writing portfolio
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 do 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 Writing
Write a review of the performance of Dracula that you saw at Actors Theatre of
Louisville. Describe what it was like to watch the play, but be sure to write more than just
the plot of the play. Think about how the play tells the story. Make the experience come
alive for the reader.
actors theatre of louisville n 316 West Main Street n Louisville, KY 40202-4218
Box office 502-584-1205 n Group Sales 502-585-1210 n Business Office 502-584-1265
ActorsTheatre.org
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