Artistic Director…Erin M. Ceragioli
Choreography…Erin M. Ceragioli
Conductor…Bernard Kwiram
Orchestra…The Tacoma City Ballet Orchestra
Music…Compiled Works for Original Score of Dracula ~The Romantic Ballet~
Composers…Bedrich Smetana and Edward Elgar
Set Property Design & Construction…Salvatore Lucente
Costume Design & Construction…Diane McGuinn Strong
Lighting Design…Walter Kilmer
Technical Director…Salvatore Lucente
Stage Manager…Walter Kilmer
Stage Manager...Loc Cole
Assistant to Artistic Director…Nora Kelley
Ballet Mistress…Melissa Lovejoy Goldman
All Stage Work Performed By Employees Represented By I.A.T.S.E. Local No. 15
THE TALE OF COUNT DRACULA, VLAD THE IMPALER
THE PRELUDE
The Year of Our Lord 1462
Castle Dracula
The Tale of Count Dracula, known as the legendary Vlad the Impaler, begins in the Year of Our Lord 1462. Count Dracula is departing to defend his precious homeland against the invasion of the Great Ottoman Empire, ordered by Sultan Mehmed II. His beloved wife, Countess Elisabeta, is left grieving at their parting. Upon his arrival onto the battlefield, Count Dracula, one of the most ferocious warriors of his time, massacred tens of thousands of Turks. Because he impaled his opponents with a long spear and left them to suffer a slow and gruesome death, his enemies christened him Vlad the Impaler. He left twenty thousand of the Ottoman Empire’s Army to suffer this grisly death in the Forest of the Impaled. So, Sultan Mehmed II, to retaliate for this hideous action, devised a most evil trick. He sent his Messenger to Castle Dracula to announce to Countess Elisabeta that Vlad the Impaler, Count Dracula, had died in battle. Upon receiving the deceitful message, the Countess Elisabeta became crazed with grief and could not be consoled. She realized that she did not want to live without her beloved husband, and so she ran to the top of Castle Dracula’s Battlement and hurled herself into the River Moldau far below. Countess Elisabeta’s body, found on the shores of the River Moldau, was brought back to Castle Dracula to lie in state. When Count Dracula returned from the battlefield, he discovered that his beloved wife had jumped to her death over a wicked lie. Although this was a most horrible tragedy, Count Dracula, who was very faithful to Our Lord and His Holy Mother Church, turned to the Bishop and expected to hear that he and his beloved wife would be together again in Paradise, for this was his only consolation. Instead, the Bishop explained to him that the Countess Elisabeta had committed suicide, otherwise known as the Sin of Despair, and that she was now damned to Hell forever. According to the Holy Roman Catholic Church, they would never be together in Paradise. Count Dracula becomes enraged at the Bishop’s declaration, and renounces Almighty God and His Holy Catholic Faith. Before the Bishop can reason with him, he plunges his battle sword into the Holy Cross of Christ, and upon that moment, the Curse of the Undead befalls him.
ACT I-SCENE I
Four Hundred Years Later
The Gypsy Village Below Castle Dracula
Refusing to allow himself to perish, Count Dracula has lived under the Curse of the Undead for four hundred years. To keep himself alive and youthful, the Vampire must hide from the light of day and drink the blood of human prey. Once he has partaken of the blood of his victims, the Curse of the Undead befalls them as well. Count Dracula must travel to many distant lands to satiate his appetite, so that his murderous ways are not discovered. His evil bite has left thousands of the Undead roaming throughout all of Europe. The King of the Gypsies and his Gypsy Caravan, who live in the village below Castle Dracula, have been Count Dracula’s faithful servants. During his travels he is transported and guarded by this loyal entourage, while he hides in his dark coffin under the pretense of death. Count Dracula has just returned from England, where he purchased an enormous London Estate.
ACT II-SCENE II
The Dark Forest
The Land of Shades
Followed by the Undead, the Gypsy Caravan carrying Count Dracula’s coffin winds its way up the mountain to Castle Dracula. They pass through The Land of Shades, where the ghostly spirits of all the women who have been murdered reside. Thousands of miles away, Jonathan Harker, Attorney at Law, is departing from the London Harbor and setting sail for Transylvania. Jonathan has been mandated to deliver the London Estate Title to Count Dracula.
ACT I-SCENE III
Castle Dracula
The Drawing Room
Jonathan’s betrothed, Mina Murray, does not want Jonathan to venture off to Transylvania. It will take Jonathan many months to sail to and from this mysterious land that is so very far away. This long journey will postpone their upcoming wedding, and so Mina desperately pleads with Jonathan not to go. After a tiny quarrel, Jonathan finally convinces Mina that he loves her dearly and that they will be wed immediately upon his return. As Jonathan says his final farewell and watches Mina leave the dock, he is torn between leaving her and sailing for Transylvania. Finally, he realizes that he must perform his duty. While awaiting Jonathan’s arrival, Count Dracula frolics with his Three Vampire Brides. He partakes in his evening meal, a beautiful Gypsy Peasant Girl, delivered by the King of the Gypsies and his Henchman. When Jonathan arrives, he is greeted by Count Dracula and immediately begins to conduct the business affairs at hand. He wants to waste no time in getting back to London, and Mina. As their meeting comes to a close, Jonathan takes out his pocket watch to check the time, and Count Dracula notices Mina’s photograph contained within the locket of the watch. Suddenly, he becomes very forlorn. Jonathan inquires as to the Count’s sudden change in mood, and Count Dracula points out the painting of Countess Elisabeta. He tells Jonathan that the photograph of his betrothed is an incredible likeness to that of his deceased wife, and that as a matter of fact, he now believes that the Countess has been reincarnated. He demands the pocket watch from Jonathan, and announces that he will sail for England immediately to find Elisabeta and bring her back to Castle Dracula. Jonathan, thinking that this poor man has lost his mind, attempts to convince the Count that Mina is not Elisabeta. Count Dracula becomes enraged and summons his Vampire Brides to guard Jonathan. Jonathan is now a prisoner in Castle Dracula.
ACT II-SCENE I
England 1862
The London Market
Lucy Westenra, Mina’s dearest friend, is hosting a Garden Party in the hopes of finding an eligible young bachelor. Since Mina’s betrothal to Jonathan, Lucy has desperately wanted to find a young man of her own to marry. She is hoping that at this afternoon’s Garden Party one of her two admirers might propose. As Lucy and Mina stroll through the London Market before the festivities, they meet Her Majesty Queen Victoria. She has graciously accepted the invitation to the afternoon soiree from Lucy’s very wealthy and influential family. Walking through the London Market, Count Dracula spies the lovely Mina chatting with Lucy, and introduces himself as the Royal Count from Transylvania. Lucy, becoming immediately enamored with this handsome and distinguished gentleman, invites him to attend the Garden Party this afternoon. He gladly accepts the invitation.
ACT II-SCENE II
England 1862
Lucy’s Afternoon Garden Party
The Garden Party is filled with many lovely ladies and gentlemen who are dancing and thoroughly enjoying themselves. Queen Victoria herself has graced this charming event with her presence, and is enjoying visiting with two of her dear old friends, Professor Abraham Van Helsing and Dr. John Seward. She has been quite distraught and in desperate need of distraction since Prince Albert’s untimely death. Lucy’s two admirers, Sir Arthur Holmwood, a wealthy Nobleman, and Quincey Morris, a rich young American from Texas, arrive. Each hoping to win Lucy’s hand, they both are quite upset to see Lucy dancing with this new and very handsome fellow, Count Dracula. Although the Count pretends to be entertained by the lovely Lucy, he keeps a very close eye on Mina while enjoying the festivities.
ACT II-SCENE III
England 1862
Lucy’s Garden At Night
As evening falls, the Guests begin departing. However, Count Dracula remains in the Garden and asks Mina to dance one final dance with him. Mina, being a gracious young lady, politely accepts. While they are dancing, the Count whispers to her that he has come a world away to find her and that she is his true and only love. Mina, shocked at these words, thwarts his affections and shows him her engagement ring. She tells him that she is already betrothed to Jonathan, and that she must take her leave. As Mina runs out of the Garden, Count Dracula becomes enraged by her rejection and vows that he will turn her into his Vampire Bride. He will have her for all eternity, even if they must live as the Undead. Unbeknownst to Count Dracula, Lucy had crept into the Garden and was watching he and Mina dance. As Mina runs out of the Garden, he spies Lucy hiding behind one of the Garden Pillars and calls to her. Lucy is thrilled, for oh so brief a moment, until he places her under his hypnotic spell and drinks her blood. As the morning light slowly streams into the Garden, Mina, Professor Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, Arthur, and Quincey arrive to find Count Dracula kneeling over Lucy. He tells them that they were dancing in the Garden and Lucy suddenly became very ill. Professor Van Helsing listens to Lucy’s heart and pronounces her dead. As they lift Lucy’s body, she suddenly comes to life. Professor Van Helsing quickly realizes that the Vampire they have been hunting, who has been terrifying all of London, has bitten Lucy. Now one of the Undead, Lucy must be stabbed in the heart with a wooden stake so that her spirit may rest in peace.
ACT II-SCENE IV
The Journey
Count Dracula Brings Mina To Castle Dracula
After Lucy’s death, Count Dracula leaves London immediately for he believes that Professor Van Helsing might suspect him. He abducts Mina, places her under his hypnotic spell, and begins his journey back to Transylvania. As he and Mina arrive in The Dark Forest, he is greeted by his Three Vampire Brides. Mina, whose mind is flickering between reality and a hypnotic state, makes an attempt to run away, but the Three Vampire Brides prevent her escape.
ACT II-SCENE V
The Dark Forest
The Land of The Shades
While Count Dracula, with the hypnotized Mina, makes his way through The Dark Forest back to Castle Dracula, Professor Van Helsing, Dr. Seward, Arthur, and Quincy are following right behind. They have been trailing him from the moment he left London with the captive Mina. Professor Van Helsing had suspected that the handsome Count was indeed the Vampire who had been terrifying London, and now he was certain that this was indeed the case. Now, these brave Vampire Hunters must rescue Mina before Count Dracula turns her into the Undead.
ACT II-SCENE VI
Castle Dracula
The Castle Chapel
Still believing that Mina is the reincarnation of his beloved Elisabeta, Count Dracula brings Mina to the Castle Chapel. Here he pronounces his deep and undying love for her, and prepares to drink her blood. As he romances her, the purity and goodness of Mina’s spirit powerfully shine forth, and he realizes that this beautiful young girl is not his beloved Elisabeta. He cannot bring himself to turn Mina into the evil creature that he himself has become, and so he simply kisses her forehead rather than inflicting his evil bite upon her.
ACT II-SCENE VII
Castle Dracula
The Final Battle
Jonathan, who has been captive and wandering about in Castle Dracula, happens upon Count Dracula and Mina in the Castle Chapel. Mina, relieved to see Jonathan, runs into his arms, but Count Dracula pulls her away and prepares to slay Jonathan. Mina is frantic and tries to help Jonathan, but Jonathan shouts at her to flee. Count Dracula summons the Shades to attack Jonathan, and follows after Mina. Arthur and Quincey storm the Castle Chapel and help Jonathan fend off Count Dracula and his Three Vampire Brides. Professor Van Helsing and Dr. Seward find the three young men being ferociously attacked by the Three Vampire Brides, Shades, and Gypsy Henchmen. Count Dracula charges Professor Van Helsing, who most certainly would have succumbed to the Vampire’s super-human strength, but saves himself by holding the Holy Cross of Christ up into the face of the Evil One. As Count Dracula turns his face away from the Holy Cross of Christ, he sees Mina on top of Castle Dracula’s Battlement, and commands his Three Vampire Brides and Shades to continue the attack while he makes his way to Mina. Now at the top of Castle Dracula’s Battlement with Mina, Count Dracula realizes that he must slaughter them all, even Mina, or let himself be killed. Choosing to free himself from the unnatural life he has lived for four hundred years, he hands Mina his battle sword, and asks her to thrust it through his heart. Mina pleads that she cannot do this gruesome deed, and so in the Year of Our Lord 1862, Count Dracula takes the hands of his beloved into his own, and guides his battle sword as it plunges into his heart. At the end of this sad tale, our only consolation lies in the fact that Count Dracula’s spirit was finally free.
The Year of Our Lord 1462
Castle Dracula
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Countess Elisabeta…Isabelle Gould
Sultan’s Messenger…Timothy Joyce
Bishop…Salvatore Lucente
Altar Boys…Collin Gould, Erik Gould
Countess Elisabeta in Death…Lilly Gould
Act I-Scene I
400 Years Later
The Gypsy Village Below Castle Dracula
First Gypsy Couple…Madison Fortescue and Timothy Joyce
Second Gypsy Couple…Ellie Atherton and Rowan Hansen
Gypsy Flower Girl…Elizabeth Gilman
First Gypsy Tambourine Dancer…Scarlett Stanton
Gypsy Garland Dancers…Gianna Esparza, Hannah Morgan, Olivia Watkins
Second Gypsy Tambourine Dancer…Mariella DeLoma
Third Gypsy Couple…Laila Gilchrist and Rowan Hansen
Gypsy Violin Boy…Collin Gould
Fourth Gypsy Couple…Madeline Nilsen and Timothy Joyce
Gypsy Ribbon Dancers…Ruari Baeth, Margo Johnson, Liv Paschich
Gypsy Dancing Girls…Ellie Atherton, Madison Fortescue, Olivia Shedd
King of Gypsies…Salvatore Lucente
Gypsy with First Box of Earth…Erik Gould
Gypsy with Second Box of Earth…Marcello DeLoma
Count Dracula’s Gypsy Coffin Bearers…Michael Crowley, Allen Esparza, Bryan Johnson, Tristen Reid
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Act I-Scene II
The Dark Forest
The Land of The Shades
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Count Dracula’s Undead… Quinn Butela, LiliAna Cole, Jennelle Dormoi, Aveline Hansen, Zara Srivastava, Olivia Weichert
Three Vampire Brides…Mariella DeLoma or Scarlett Stanton, Nora Kelley, Madeline Nilsen
The Shades…Ellie Atherton, Ruari Baeth, Gianna Esparza, Madison Fortescue, Laila Gilchrist, Elizabeth Gilman,
Margo Johnson, Hannah Morgan, Liv Paschich, Olivia Shedd, Scarlett Stanton or Mariella DeLoma, Olivia Watkins
Dracula’s Gypsy Men…Rowan Hansen, Timothy Joyce
The London Harbor
Jonathan & Mina’s Farewell
Jonathan…Timothy Joyce
Mina…Isabelle Gould
Act I-Scene III
Castle Dracula
The Drawing Room
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Three Vampire Brides…Mariella DeLoma or Scarlett Stanton, Nora Kelley, Madeline Nilsen
Gypsy Peasant Girl…Margo Johnson
King of Gypsies…Salvatore Lucente
Gypsy Henchman…Allen Esparza
Jonathan…Timothy Joyce
Count Dracula’s Maidservant…Alyssa Joyce
INTERMISSION
20 MINUTES
Act II-Scene I
England 1862
The London Market
Police Bobby…Marcello DeLoma
Professor Van Helsing…Salvatore Lucente
Dr. Seward…Bryan Johnson
London Ladies…Jennelle Dormoi, Mazie Miraflor-McIntyre, Liv Paschich, Fionna Peterson
School Head Mistress…LiliAna Cole
Her Little School Girls…Camila Cruz, Katie Nortrom, Halle Weichert
Sherlock Holmes…Erik Gould
John Watson…Collin Gould
Shoeshine Boy…Kamdyn Koleber
Street Urchins…Flora Turner, Delaney Wynhof
Washer Woman…Olivia Weichert
London Times Newspaper Boy…Henry Watkins
Banker…Rowan Hansen
Pickpocket…Lexi Verdini
Flower Girls…Zara Srivastava, Olivia Watkins
Their Flowers…Alice Asano, Hayes Bickford, Annika Cromer, Edith Hartl, Keira Parisot, Loreley Wells
Butcher…Aveline Hansen
Butcher’s Assistants…Ashlynne Koleber, Norah Wamsley
Baker…Quinn Butela
Baker’s Assistants…Isla Erikson, Giselle Spencer
Fruit Vendor…Ruari Baeth
Fruit Vendor’s Assistants…Winnie Hansen, Nia Westgard
Lucy’s Friends…Ellie Atherton, Madison Fortescue, Elizabeth Gilman
Queen Victoria…Jennifer Weddermann
Her Majesty’s Ladies-in-Waiting… Margo Johnson or Laila Gilchrist and Gianna Esparza or Hannah Morgan
Lucy…Lilly Gould
Mina…Isabelle Gould
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Act II-Scene II
England 1862
Lucy’s Afternoon Garden Party
Lucy…Lilly Gould
Mina…Isabelle Gould
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Lucy’s Suitor, Jonathan’s Twin Brother…Timothy Joyce
Parasol Girls…Laila Gilchrist or Margo Johnson and Hannah Morgan or Gianna Esparza
Garland Girls…Nora Kelley, Olivia Shedd
Lucy’s Friends…Ellie Atherton, Madison Fortescue, Elizabeth Gilman
Queen Victoria…Jennifer Weddermann
Her Majesty’s Ladies-in-Waiting…Margo Johnson or Laila Gilchrist and Gianna Esparza or Hannah Morgan
Professor Van Helsing…Salvatore Lucente
Dr. Seward…Bryan Johnson
Arthur Holmwood…Erik Gould
Quincey Morris…Rowan Hansen
Professor Van Helsing’s Assistant…Collin Gould
Act II-Scene III
England 1862
Lucy’s Garden At Night
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Mina…Isabelle Gould
Lucy…Lilly Gould
Professor Van Helsing…Salvatore Lucente
Dr. Seward…Bryan Johnson
Arthur Holmwood…Erik Gould
Quincey Morris…Rowan Hansen
Professor Van Helsing’s Assistant…Collin Gould
Act II-Scene IV
The Journey
Dracula Brings Mina To Castle Dracula
Three Vampire Brides…Mariella DeLoma or Scarlett Stanton, Nora Kelley, Madeline Nilsen
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Mina…Isabelle Gould
The Captive Jonathan…Timothy Joyce
The Vampire Hunters
Arthur Holmwood…Erik Gould
Quincey Morris…Rowan Hansen
Professor Van Helsing’s Assistant…Collin Gould
Dr. Seward…Bryan Johnson
Professor Van Helsing…Salvatore Lucente
Act II-Scene V
The Dark Forest
The Land of The Shades
Three Vampire Brides… Mariella DeLoma or Scarlett Stanton, Nora Kelley, Madeline Nilsen
The Shades… Ellie Atherton, Ruari Baeth, LiliAna Cole, Gianna Esparza, Madison Fortescue, Laila Gilchrist,
Elizabeth Gilman, Aveline Hansen, Margo Johnson, Hannah Morgan, Liv Paschich, Olivia Shedd,
Zara Srivastava, Scarlett Stanton or Mariella DeLoma, Olivia Watkins
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Mina…Isabelle Gould
The Vampire Hunters
Arthur Holmwood…Erik Gould
Quincey Morris…Rowan Hansen
Professor Van Helsing’s Assistant…Collin Gould
Dr. Seward…Bryan Johnson
Professor Van Helsing…Salvatore Lucente
Act II-Scene VI
Castle Dracula
The Castle Chapel
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Mina…Isabelle Gould
Act II-Scene VII
Castle Dracula
The Final Battle
Count Dracula…Alex Koleber
Mina…Isabelle Gould
Jonathan…Timothy Joyce
Three Vampire Brides… Mariella DeLoma or Scarlett Stanton, Nora Kelley, Madeline Nilsen
The Shades… Ellie Atherton, Ruari Baeth, LiliAna Cole, Gianna Esparza, Madison Fortescue, Laila Gilchrist,
Elizabeth Gilman, Aveline Hansen, Margo Johnson, Hannah Morgan, Liv Paschich, Olivia Shedd,
Zara Srivastava, Scarlett Stanton or Mariella DeLoma, Olivia Watkins
Count Dracula’s Gypsy Fighters…Michael Crowley, Marcello DeLoma, Allen Esparza, Tristen Reid
The Vampire Hunters
Arthur Holmwood…Erik Gould
Quincey Morris…Rowan Hansen
Professor Van Helsing’s Assistant…Collin Gould
Dr. Seward…Bryan Johnson
Professor Van Helsing…Salvatore Lucente
Bernard Kwiram, Conductor
| Violin I Maggie Duggan, Concertmaster Rosie Kim, Associate Concertmaster Selina Siow Christopher LinViolin II Katrin St. Clair, Principal Karen Tadena Adam Syed Soo-Yeon Kim Viola Cello Bass Flute Flute & Piccolo Oboe |
Clarinet Jenny Ziefel, Principal Leslie EdwardsBassoon David Cripe, Principal Elaine Walters Horn Trumpet Trombone Bass Trombone Percussion Timpani & Percussion |
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