Augustana College presents “Dracula: a feminist revenge fantasy”

The Augustana College Department of Theatre Arts presents “Dracula: a feminist revenge fantasy,” Oct. 12-15. The Quad Cities regional premier is directed by Dr. Jennifer Popple, associate professor of theatre arts and co-chair of the theatre department.

Adapted from Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, Kate Hamill’s version offers a more contemporary critique of the gender and sexuality norms of Victorian England, relating those norms to issues of today.

Dracula offers a sense of freedom from those norms, but at what cost? What do we do when “the monsters look just like us,” the play asks. Dr. Popple said it’s scary, campy, funny and very pertinent to today. 

“It’s a bloody and fun play, but it has sharp teeth in its core message,” she said.

The cast of nine includes alumnus James Wheeler ’21, who plays the titular character. The New York native performed as a student actor at Augustana in “Boy,” “The Three Musketeers,” “The Crucible” and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.”

Tickets can be purchased at Augustana.edu/tickets. 

Performances will all take place in the Brunner Theatre Center Main Stage Theatre.