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Palatine's Cutting Hall to host Midwest Premiere of DRACULA:THE MUSICAL

PALATINE, Ill. September 16, 2011–Award-winning theatre companies Theatre Nebula and Music on Stage are teaming up for the second time in either's history to produce the Midwest premiere of Frank Wildhorn's Dracula: The Musical for a limited five weekend run beginning Oct. 7, 2011 and running through Nov. 6, 2011. The two companies, which are both recent recipients of the Illinois Theatre Association's Excellence in Theatre award, previously came together to produce last season's sellout hit Jesus Christ Superstar. Dracula will be presented Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m., at Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center, 150 East Wood Street, Palatine, Ill.

Dracula: the Musical is based on the original Victorian novel by Bram Stoker. The soaring score is by Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics and book by Don Black and Christopher Hampton. The story follows the Count de Dracula as he is about to purchase a home far away from his remote estate in Transylvania and venture to the more lively England. Upon seeing a picture of Mina, his lawyer Jonathon Harker's fiancée, the Count recognizes her as a past love and vows to have her once again. In the meantime, he must find victims to quench his thirst for life and to keep him youthful. Mina's best friend, Lucy, submits to Dracula, which leads to the vampire expert Van Helsing being called in to pursue and kill Dracula.

“Our collaboration with Music on Stage last season for Jesus Christ Superstar was such a wonderful and successful experience that it was an easy choice to team up again in order to bring this powerful gothic romance to Chicago and the Midwest region,” said Theatre Nebula Artistic Director and the production's Executive Producer, J. Spencer Greene. The Music on Stage and Theatre Nebula production will be the Midwest premiere of the revised version of Dracula: The Musical. The show originally ran on Broadway for 154 performances, after which it was enhanced with six new songs and crisper dialogue, evoking rave reviews from audiences in Switzerland and Austria. This production marks the first time either version of Dracula will be performed in the Midwest, and both Music On Stage and Theatre Nebula were honored to have this groundbreaking event cited on The Frank Wildhorn Official Website along with the composer's newest Broadway offering, Bonnie & Clyde.

According to Dracula's accomplished director, Kevin Wiczer, “It was important for me to make this story about a tortured soul rather than a blood sucking monster with no remorse. The focus is about Dracula's quest to find his lost love that enchanted him so long ago." The veteran Chicago-area production team consists of Music Director Ann Stewart, Scenic Designer Frank Roberts, Lighting Designer Steve Nickerson, Costume Designer Patty Halajian and Choreographer Kara Williams.

The gifted cast features the talents of Steve Lugovsky as Dracula, Colette Todd as Mina, Jenny Kuffel as Lucy, Tony Calzaretta as Van Helsing, Mark LeBeau Jr. as Jonathon, and Don J. Orlando as Renfield. Mark Stickney, Deric Anthony Gochenauer, and Brendan Foley play the suitors of Lucy, while Kathy Blaheta, Hema Sathia, and Becky Lugovsky comprise the Vampire Bride trio. Julianna Tomecki and Mackenzie Puckett share duties as the Little Girl.

Tickets are currently on sale through the Cutting Hall Box Office, 150 E. Wood Street in Palatine: 847-202-5222, or online by visiting draculathemusical.net Advance ticket sales are $20 for reserved seating, while ‘Silver Citizens' (age 62 & over) are $17 and children (12 & under) are $18. Add $2 if purchased at the door. Groups of 10 or more pay $17 a ticket. A Dinner Package is also available for only $17 added on to your ticket price in conjunction with Vince's Italian Restaurant in Palatine.

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