Theatre Management & Producing student David O'Brien is co-producer of the new musical Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors at Off-Broadway’s New World Stages.
Co-authored by Steve Rosen and the show’s director, Gordon Greenberg, and with music by Victoria Deiorio, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors is based on the novel by Bram Stoker and set in a campy, razzle-dazzle version of Transylvannia. The show calls itself, “Sexy, spooky and laugh-out-loud funny” and follows a soft-spoken British real estate agent who finds out that his newest client is Count Dracula. What ensues is a wild vampire-hunting chase, complete with old fashioned sound effects which The New York Times characterizes as “right out of an old radio play,” and the generous implementation of puppets.
The production stars James Daley as Dracula, with Jordan Boatman, Arnie Burton, Ellen Harvey, and Andrew Keenan-Bolger also appearing in the main cast.
While the musical’s premise is undeniably unique, The New York Times points out Dracula’s references, noting that the production “[processes] the well-known gallery of characters through influences like The Rocky Horror Show and Young Frankenstein.” The show is hyper-theatrical, and while notably avoiding queer-coding by making its main character explicitly queer, the show feels rooted in theatrical tradition through its gender-bent casting and use of wordplay, giving the production a Shakspearean glow.
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors runs through January 7, 2024 at New World Stages. Tickets can be purchased here.
O’Brien is a graduate of Hofstra University where he studied Political Science and Drama. He was recently named the Associate Artistic Director of Savin Rock Theatre Company.
