October 3-19, 2025
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Dive into Spooky Season with ESR’s Unique Twist on the Classic Tale of Dracula
Those looking for a spook-tackular start to the Halloween season are invited to Enter Stage Right’s (ESR) production of Dracula at The Citadel Stage in downtown Port Huron. Running Friday through Sunday from October 3 to 19, ESR’s production is a modern take on a classic tale. Get your tickets at ESR’s website. Adapted by Aric Cushing from Bram Stoker’s original novel, ESR’s artists will bring back characters rarely featured in the dramatic version – including Simmons, the Teaming Man, Mr. Swales, and a plethora of other characters. This production will also feature a female Countess Dracula, based on the real-life historical figure Elizabeth Bathory, who allegedly tortured and killed hundreds of girls and young women during her reign in late sixteenth-century Hungary. “I want people to come see a different version of Dracula you never see,” said Director Scott Joseph. “I want people to feel the creepiness, like they’re with us in the crypt or in Transylvania.” The production’s special effects – such as crypt-scented fog or edible blood – are designed for a disturbing, spooky atmosphere that transports the audience to Dracula’s world. Joseph purposefully included several scenes meant to unsettle the viewer. “I’m hoping the audience will be scared or uneasy in a good way, because of the quality acting and the creepiness of it,” he said. ESR’s talented artists have spent months perfecting the show’s 17 characters. The production is an effort of nearly 20 people, including 13 actors, and a music and lighting production team. Audience members who attend opening weekend will automatically be entered into a raffle, with one winner pulled per night. Get a second raffle entry by wearing a costume to match each theme night: don your finest dress for Friday opening night; come dressed as a Dracula character Saturday night; or wear pajamas on Sunday. On Sunday, October 12, the cast, tech, and directors of the production will come out on stage following the show for an informal discussion with the audience. Pre-purchased tickets are $20 or $25 at the door. Child tickets are not available for this production because ESR does not feel it is a child-friendly show. If you see the value in ESR and would like to donate more than the standard ticket price, please consider adding a donation to your cart, or visit ESR’s donations page. --By Laura Fitzgerald for Enter Stage Right. Fitzgerald is a freelance writer and communications specialist with years of experience living and working in the Blue Water Area. To learn more about her work, visit her website. -Photos by Katie Weatherly |
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