Dracula

Dracula is an original ballet, based on Bram Stoker's 1897 vampire novel Dracula, and choreographed by Wes Chapman and Roger Van Fleteren for the Alabama Ballet. Its original score, by Tom Helms was composed specifically for the "Big Bertha" Mighty Wurlitzer organ at the Alabama Theatre, where the piece was debuted in October 1997. It also travelled to Montgomery's Davis Theater.

Chapman danced the lead role in the premiere, with Van Fleterer playing the scene-stealing lunatic Renfield. Original sets were designed by Douglas Stewart and costumes by Sally Schissler.

The ballet was revived on October 13, 2006 at Samford University's Wright Center with Kyle Seguin as Dracula and Mark Asturias debuting with the company in the role of Renfield.

Other ballet versions of the Dracula story date back to Laslo Szilagyi's Prince des tenebres at the Budapest Opera in 1899. Other notable versions include one by Katherine Litz with music by Charles Ives in 1959, and one incorporating African dancers and drummers choreographed by Kim Tuttle in 1992.

References

• Huebner, Michael (October 14, 2006) "'Dracula' a lively repertoire, but not ballet's best." Birmingham News.