Clinton County Civic Theater opens its 2026-27 season tonight with “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.” Organizers say the production is a deliberate step outside the group’s usual repertoire.
Carol Price, a Clinton County councilwoman and longtime Civic Theater volunteer, discussed the show Thursday morning on WILO’s “Partyline” program with host Shan Sheridan.
Opening night is tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Skanta Theater at the library. Performances continue Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
A comedy, not a horror show
Price said the play is a comedy and a romance built on the Dracula story. It was written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen.
“We’re stepping out a little bit of our comfort zone,” Price said. She said the group chose the show for its October timing and to attract new audiences. “We need to attract new people to come to our performances, and so we’re taking a leap of faith,” she said. She added that she hopes longtime patrons will enjoy it too.
Luke McLaughlin is directing, and Price is serving as his assistant. Five actors play 12 characters. Rip Hundley plays Dracula. Price also teased a second, smaller vampire character and a scene in which one actor plays two characters and switches between them every other line.
The production also relies heavily on technical work, with about 80 sound cues and 100 light cues. More than one person will run the sound and light booth, Price said.
After-show gathering Friday
Coffee shop and ice cream businesses will stay open after Friday’s performance so audience members can gather and talk about the show. Price said the cast is expected to attend.
“We watched the play together. Now we want to talk about it and celebrate it,” she said, adding that most places are otherwise closed after a show.
Volunteers welcome
Price said Civic Theater is staffed by local residents, and the group has started what it calls the “Backstage Brigade” for people who would rather not perform. Volunteers can help build and paint sets, make costumes, serve punch and cookies at intermission, or help take down the set after the final show.
Price said the group will consider changing the word “auditions” to something like a “call out.” That would make clear that organizers are also looking for backstage help. People who sign up are already asked whether they would help behind the scenes if they are not cast.
Price said she began about 25 to 30 years ago moving props backstage. She called the Skanta Theater a major community asset. “We’re so lucky to have that theater,” she said, noting that many community theaters perform in church basements and sometimes even have to be reconstructed several times during rehearsals and performances.
She said the Civic Theater, the Red Barn Theater and the library’s arts programs show that Clinton County supports the arts. Children’s theater auditions at the Scanta Theater are scheduled for next week, with Emma directing.
Tickets
Single tickets for “Dracula” are $12. Season tickets are $10 per show and still available for all three productions this season. The other two shows are scheduled for the end of February and the end of April. Ticket prices include cookies and punch.
Tickets are available at ccctonline.org.
