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PREVIEW: Dracula Strikes Back (COLLIDE)

by Twin Cities Arts Reader -

Renee Guittar (left) is frozen as Dracula (Michael Hanna) falls in COLLIDE Theatrical Dance Company’s production of Dracula. This article was updated on Oct. 23 to reflect that Dracula has been extended from its original Nov. 5 close to a Nov. 12 close.

It’s mid-October and the Halloween decorations are creeping out all over. While some people are pacifically carving pumpkins, others are frantically scouring Amazon.com for fear of repeating last year’s costume. COLLIDE Theatrical Dance Company, however, has decided that last year’s duds are good for some more mileage, pulling a whole show’s worth of costumes – make that the whole show – off last year’s rack. The company is reviving its 2016 hit Dracula for a special Oct. 28-Nov. 12 run at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis.

Dracula (Michael Hanna, right) courts Mina (Renee Guittar).

Dracula was one of the creeper hits of Twin Cities dance and theatre in 2016. Minn Post‘s Pamela Espeland called it “fast-paced and enormously entertaining”; the dance horror extravaganza quickly sold out its high-energy take on the classic vampire tale.

This time around the coffin, most of the original cast is back for another round of biting and staking: Michael Hanna (Dracula), Renee Guittar (Mina), Rush Benson (Van Helsing), Regina Peluso (Renfield), Katie Gearty (Lead Vocals), and Rebecca Abroe (Bride of Dracula). Andrea Mislan will take over the role of Lucy Westerna (originally played by Jami Snively) and Cameron Meilicke will play Jonathan Harker. The action includes a live band with vocalists.

Although Dracula is designed as a family-friendly show, there are several upgrade options just for adults. A VIP ticket gets you a glass of beer or wine, reserved cocktail table seating, and (on opening night) an invitation to the Opening Night cast party.

Alternately, if you buy your tickets for the adults-only Halloween performance on Oct. 31, you’re privy to a special expanded evening of entertainment curated by MC Nadine DuBois and including a costume contest, prize drawings, and performances by the burlesque aerialists Kitson and Pistol.

Aerial artists Kitson and Pistol will perform at the adults-only Oct. 31 performance of Dracula.
MC Nadine DuBois will oversee the Halloween night performance. Photo by Wijadi Jodi.

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Preview performances for Dracula run October 26-27. The show officially opens October 28 and runs through November 12 at the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis.

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