The Truth About Transylvania to Open at A.R.T./New York

Gothic feminist playwright Patricia Lynn’s haunting new work The Truth About Transylvania makes its World Premiere at the A.R.T./New York Theatres, running October 24–November 1. Directed by Jacob Titus, the production resurrects the legend of Dracula in a bold new form, transforming the classic novel into a lean but lyrical memory play set in the twenty-first century. Lynn’s previous work, The Maid & The Mesmerizer, also played at the A.R.T./New York Theatres and received critical acclaim.

After narrowly surviving his vacation to Transylvania, John Harker vows to speak out and prove to the world that Count Dracula is very real. But as John struggles to relive his strange story, his inquisitive wife Millie can’t help questioning the validity of his claims. Can John prove to everyone—including the person he loves the most—that he is telling the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth…before the infamous monster strikes again?

The Truth About Transylvania runs October 24 – November 1, with performances on Friday, October 24 & Saturday, October 25 at 8pm, Sunday, October 26 at 3pm, Wednesday, October 29 – Friday, October 31 at 7pm, and Saturday, November 1 at 3pm. Running time: 90 minutes.

Tickets are $30 and go on sale August 29 at www.transylvaniatheplay.com. (Tickets purchased before October 22 are $15). Ticket sales for the Wednesday, October 29th performance will be donated to the New York Blood Center. The production is being staged at the Mezzanine Theatre at the A.R.T./New York Theatres, located at 502 West 53rd Street, New York, NY 10019.

The cast features David Israeli (Dracula), Patricia Lynn (Millie), Miles Purinton (Van Helsing), and Mark Weatherup Jr. (John).

The creative team includes Randall Benichak (sound), Austin Boyle (lighting), Al Foote III (fight choreography), Patrick T. Horn (mask/movement consultant), and Heather Olmstead (stage management). Produced by Patricia Lynn and Alejandra Venancio.

Bios

Patricia Lynn (Playwright/Millie) is a playwright/actor who has worked extensively in NYC independent theatre. As a writer, Patricia fancies herself to be a gothic feminist; she loves to subvert the classic genre by creating provocative plays inspired by traditional gothic stereotypes. Her plays have been developed at Triad Stage, New Perspectives Theatre Company, The Secret Theatre, Rogue Theater Festival, and Phillips’ Mill Community Association. As an actor, Patricia has worked at TheatreWorksUSA, Trinity Repertory Theatre, Soho Playhouse, Capital Fringe, NYC Fringe Festival, and many more. MFA in Creative Writing from Lesley University; MFA in Acting from Brown University/Trinity Repertory. www.patriciamlynn.com

Jacob Titus (Director) work has been seen at the Public in the 365 Plays/365 Days, HERE Arts Center, Ontological-Hysterics, The Wild Project, among other theatres off-off Broadway, in Brooklyn, as well as LA and San Francisco, and recently Iowa. Directing credits include Buried Child (BU), War Dreamer (Loading Dock, NYC), Spaceman(Loading Dock, NYC), The Weekend Will End (Randomly Specific, NYC), and The Animal Kingdom (Hunger & Thirst Theatre, NYC). Jacob has an MFA in Directing from Boston University. www.jacobtitusdirector.com

David Israeli (Dracula) is an actor hailing from Queens, New York. He also is a producer and performer with the NYC-based Commedia dell’Arte troupe, The Department of Fools. Recent credits: She’s Dead!! (A Masked Comedy) (The PIT), DRAMA – an aural experience (Apple Podcasts), Hand to God (Nutley Little Theatre), The Oresteia (Gallery Players), Picasso at the Lapin Agile (CityGate Productions). www.davidisraeli.com

Miles Purinton (Van Helsing) Selected NY Theatre Credits: War Dreamer (Loading Dock), Jayson with a Y (The New Group), The Notebook (Second Stage), A Penny For the Guy (Penguin Rep). Film and TV: Dogville (dir. Lars von Trier), Confess, The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear, Daria, Strangers with Candy, Between the Lions. Former voice of Charlie Brown for the first PEANUTS merchandise sanctioned by the Schulz Estate following Charles Schulz’s passing. Graduate of The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and Kenyon College. He is the co-writer of Czar, a new horror-comedy play about rats. www.milespurinton.com

Mark Weatherup Jr. (John) Off-Broadway: I’ll Say She Is: The Lost Marx Brothers Musical (Gimme A Thrill); Henry V (New York Classical Theatre). National Tour: Freedom Train (TheaterWorks USA). Off-Off Broadway: Soul Survivor (Hiraeth); Mary Stuart (Hedgepig); Kill Hamlet (Columbia New Works Festival). Film: Spooners (Sky Pie Studios). Podcasts: Echoes (Kvibe Studios); St. Valentine’s View (Meet-Cute). Mark has recorded audiobooks for Audible.com and appeared in many commercial campaigns–most notably at Yankee Stadium for Paramount’s Smile. B.F.A.: NYU (Stella Adler Studio). www.markweatherup.com

A.R.T./New York Theatre Spaces Established in 1972 by an innovative collective, A.R.T./New York has matured into an indispensable cornerstone for over 475 theatres and more than 150 individual producers and artists throughout all five boroughs of New York City and across the state. As the singular membership organization dedicated to encompassing New York’s entire not-for-profit theatre sector, A.R.T./New York’s reach extends from playwriting collectives and developmental labs to producing organizations and pioneering independent artists. A.R.T./NY continues to serve the field through four essential service areas — Funding, Space, Professional Development and Advocacy — in order to help theatremakers put their creative ideas onstage.

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