Press Release

 

Triad Stage’s UpStage Cabaret Begins Its 2008-2009 Season with the Return of Dracula,September 25 – November 1, 2008

Preston Lane’s adaptation launches a four-play series in the theater company’s daring second stage venue

(Greensboro, NC) — Triad Stage presents its first theatrical production in the new UpStage Cabaret with the bloodsucking thriller Dracula, Preston Lane’s adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel. A mysterious stranger has appeared in London causing citizens to hurry home at night, lock their doors and pray for dawn. Driven by uncontrollable passions and mysteries that even science cannot explain, the living must find the strength to challenge the power of the vampire. Dracula runs September 25 through November 1, 2008. Opening Night is Thursday, September 25 and kicks off with a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m., hosted by YES! Weekly.

The UpStage Cabaret production of Dracula is a revised version of Triad Stage’s fall 2004 hit, scaled-down in order to meet the needs of The UpStage Cabaret’s show schedule and performance area. Jay Putnam directs a talented cast of four actors, each taking on multiple roles to portray a duality of good and evil characteristics. Alexander Windner Lieberman, a graduate of UNCG’s Theatre program, is Renfield, Jonathan Harker and Dracula in London. Joshua Purvis, who appeared in Triad Stage’s productions of Brother Wolf (2007)and The Matchmaker, is Doctor Seward, the Innkeeper and Vampire #1. Lee Spencer, who starred in Triad Stage’s The Little Foxes and several Broach Theatre productions, and is a recurring character on the CW drama One Tree Hill, has the duel roles of vampire hunter Van Helsing and Dracula in Transylvania. Newcomer Caitlin Watkins, a gifted singer/songwriter and UNCG student, is Lucy Westerna, Mina Harker and Vampire #2.

The creative team includes scenic designer Holly Joy Griffin, costume designer Ami Shupe, lighting designer Kate Devine and sound designer Janie Bullard. The stage manager is Emily Mails.  

Biographies for the cast and creative team can be found online at www.triadstage.org.

Tickets for all seats are $18 and seating is general admission. The doors open one hour prior to each performance for bar service inside The UpStage Cabaret space. Tickets are on sale now at the Triad Stage Box Office and online through Triad Stage’s website.

All performances are at Triad Stage’s UpStage Cabaret on the top floor of The Pyrle Theater, located at 232 South Elm Street in historic downtown Greensboro, North Carolina (between Market and Washington Streets).

Show times for Dracula are Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 p.m., with additional late night performances Fridays and Saturdays at 10:00 p.m.

Dracula is the first of four Triad Stage theatrical productions in The UpStage Cabaret in the 2008-2009 Season. The other productions include: The Santaland Diaries, a big kids’ holiday event by David Sedaris (November 20 – December 20, 2008), Mad at Miles, a blackwoman’s guide to truth by Pearl Cleage (February 5 – March 14, 2009) and Shakespeare’s R&J, an awakening of youth by Joe Calarco (April 9 – May 16, 2009).

About Triad Stage
Triad Stage is a professional not-for-profit regional theatre company based in Greensboro’s downtown historic district. All Triad Stage productions are created in Greensboro using the best of local and national talent. Triad Stage gratefully acknowledges the support of its Season Sponsors: Mitre Agency, the North Carolina Arts Council and the United Arts Council of Greater Greensboro.

All Triad Stage productions feature the bold acting and breathtaking design that have been nationally recognized by The Wall Street Journal and haveearned the theatre accolades including “One of the Best Regional Theatres in America”, New York’s Drama League; “Best Live Theater”, Go Triad/News & Record and The Rhinoceros Times; and “Professional Theater of the Year”, North Carolina Theatre Conference. 

About The UpStage Cabaret
In late 2007, Triad Stage began the conversion of The Pyrle Theater’s top floor storage area into a new rehearsal hall, WUNC Public Radio’s Greensboro satellite bureau and a second performance space known as The UpStage Cabaret. Created with flexibility and intimacy in mind, The UpStage Cabaret has seating with tables for 80 people, bar service and a relaxed, easy-going atmosphere that blends downtown flair with uptown chic. Not only home to four daring and edgy productions by Triad Stage, The UpStage Cabaret plays host to Entertainment UpStage – a series of events that includes film screenings, live concerts, poetry readings and more – and the annual Triad Stage/UNCG Theatre THTR 232 productions each spring. The UpStage Cabaret Media Sponsor is YES! Weekly.

 

To purchase tickets or for performance information on Dracula, call the Triad Stage Box Office at 336.272.0160 or toll-free at 866.579.TIXX (8499), or visit www.triadstage.org.

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CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:

Triad Stage presents
Dracula
A Bloodsucking Thriller
by Preston Lane
adapted from Bram Stoker’s novel
directed by Jay Putnam
September 25 – November 1, 2008

Performed at The UpStage Cabaret in the Pyrle Theater
232 South Elm Street
Greensboro, NC 27401

A mysterious stranger has appeared in London causing citizens to hurry home at night, lock their doors and pray for dawn. Driven by uncontrollable passions and mysteries that even science cannot explain, the living must find the strength to challenge the power of the vampire.

For tickets:
Phone: (336) 272-0160
Toll-free: (866) 579-TIXX (8499)
Box Office hours: Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Online: www.triadstage.org
Ticket prices: $18. Seating is general admission.

Doors open one hour early for bar service inside The UpStage Cabaret.

Group tickets:
Call (336) 274-0067 ext. 218
Email: groupsales@triadstage.org
Ticket discounts: Groups of 10 – 49, 15% off; Groups of 50+, 20% off

$8 Student Rush tickets:
Current students with valid school ID may purchase tickets for $8. Student Rush tickets are only available at the Triad Stage Box Office one hour before each performance. Subject to availability. Some restrictions apply.
Available at the Box Office for walk-up sales. (Performance days: Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Sunday matinees 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.)

DraculaPerformance dates:
Thursday, September 25 7:00 p.m.  Opening Night with free pre-show reception hosted by YES! Weekly
Friday, September 26 7:00 p.m.
Friday, September 26 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 27 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 27 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 2 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 3 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 3 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 4 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 4 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 9 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 10 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 10 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 11 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 16 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 17 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 17 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 18 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 18 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 23 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 24 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 24 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 25 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, October 25 10:00 p.m.
Thursday, October 30 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 31 7:00 p.m.
Friday, October 31 10:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 1 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 1 10:00 p.m. Closing performance