Leave it to an undead celebrity to help entice the living to a new Jackson theater company. Audiences have four more chances to catch Dracula at 7:30 p.m. this Thursday through Saturday, with a 1 p.m. matinee on Saturday.
The production debuted this past weekend at the Pink Garter Theatre, marking the second show of the season for Tumbleweed Creative Arts. More than 50 people filled the historic seats for opening night two days before Halloween.
Longtime Jackson Hole High School drama teacher Evie Lewis adapted the script to bring the historic vampire to life for modern audiences.
“The big question is, is he really vanquished?” Lewis said. “They think he is. But I mean, Dracula is pretty prevalent today. So one wonders.”
The show follows the eponymous Dracula as he leaves his home in Transylvania after four centuries to enjoy life (and death) of England. There, he begins to terrorize the populace until they rise up against him.
For his solo directorial debut, Josh Griffith said he was “leaning into the creepiness factor.” He never quite understood why Victorian audiences, even with all their repressed sexuality, found bloodsuckers attractive.
“I guess that’s hot, but mostly it’s just creepy because he’s taking your life,” the snowboarder and restaurant worker said.
Griffith worked closely with Tumbleweed founder Andrew Munz on the popular “I Can Ski Forever” series. He feels a certain pressure to prove what the nascent theatre troupe is capable of.
“If the community shows up, we show up even more,” Griffith said.
Casting was easy, he said. Actor Chad Horton brought a natural creepiness to the role. By day, Horton is a manager at Pearl Street Bagels, where he gets lots of practice.
“The bagels come out as full circles, and he sucks the middle out to make them,” he said.
Cast and crew are volunteers. Budget constraints forced him to scale back some of the gore. Still, the director recommends families looking for a fright leave kids under 10 at home.
The show is keeping Tumblewood’s season alive as the young production house searches for its next leader. Jackson-raised Munz departed shortly after founding the troupe.
Following the run of Dracula, the Pink Garter will host a show created by local high school students. The company’s season opened with an original puppet show called “Strings Attached,” created by local high school alumnus Charley Daveler.
