Dracula announces cast

Count Dracula, the world's most famous vampire, returns to the New York stage this fall in Dracula by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, based on the eponymous novel by Bram Stoker.

Dracula is set to open at the Little Shubert Theatre on 5 Jan 2011, following previews from 14 Dec 2010, where it will play a limited engagement through to 13 Mar 2011. Paul Alexander to direct.

Based on the world-famous novel by Bram Stoker, Dracula is the classic Gothic drama about the power of seduction and the nature of true love. When the mysterious Count Dracula takes an interest in the beautiful, young Lucy who suffers from horrific dreams and a strange illness, he arouses the suspicions of her fiancé Jonathan Harker and Professor Abraham van Helsing. Following a series of grisly murders and unexplained occurrences, the men fear Dracula may be one of the undead that prowls the darkness and preys upon innocent souls.

Tony Award-winner George Hearn (La Cage aux Folles and Sunset Boulevard) will lead the cast as 'Abraham Van Helsing.' He is jouned by Oscar nominee Thora Birch (Amercian Beauty) as Dracula's love interest 'Lucy Seward,' Jake Silbermann as 'Jonathan Harker,' John Buffalo Mailer as 'Renfield,' Timothy Jerome as 'Dr. Seward,' Emily Bridges as 'Miss Wells' and Rob O'Hare as 'Butterworth.'

Making his American stage debut, in the title role of Dracula, is Michel Altieri, a major star of the Italian stage who recently starred as the Beast in the Italian premiere of Disney's 'Beauty And The Beast.'

The cast will also feature Emily Bridges as 'Miss Wells' and Rob O'Hare as 'Butterworth.'

Dracula features scenic design by Dana Kenn, lighting design by Brian Nason, costume design by Willa Kim, sound design by Chris DelVecchio and special effects by Greg Meeh.

Adapted by Hamilton Deane and John L. Balderston, Dracula premiered in New York in 1927, starring Bela Lugosi. Dracula was last seen on Broadway in 1977, starring Frank Langella. Winning two Tony Awards, including Best Revival, the production ran for more than 900 performances and inspired the 1979 film adaptation featuring Langella and Sir Laurence Olivier.

Bram Stoker's horror novel "Dracula," which itself is based on European folklore, has been an international phenomenon since it was first published in 1897. The novel's influence on the popularity of vampires has been singularly responsible for numerous stage, film and TV interpretations, including the modern-day vampires of Anne Rice's 'Vampire Chronicles,' Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" series, HBO's "True Blood," and L.J. Smith's "The Vampire Diaries."

Dracula is produced by Bram Stoker's Dracula LLC, Tony Travis, George and Donna Shipley, Ed Bankole, Megan Barnett, Leslie Evers, Michael Alden, and Carolyn Bechtel.