Dracula (Annotated)

"I find it a rare gift for such probing intelligence, however scholarly, to be on a local stage."
– Steven Leigh Morris, Stage Raw
"theatre dybbuk is one of Los Angeles' somewhat hidden treasures"
– Jeff Slayton, LA Dance Chronicle
Premiered September 27, 2025 and running for a limited engagement in Los Angeles through October 12. Performances to follow in Tucson, Arizona October 24-25, 2025 and Cincinnati, Ohio November 20, 2025.




photos by Taso Papadakis
ABOUT THE PROJECT
How do long-held prejudicial beliefs show up in a popular novel from England written at the turn of the 20th century, and in what ways do those beliefs still operate today? To what extent can perceptions of antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia be deemed as accurate and true, and how much is in the eye of the beholder?
The year is 1897.
The British Empire is in the midst of its imperialist expansion.
Major technological advances are occurring, with the first wireless communication being sent across open sea.
The women’s suffrage movement is growing, and the “new woman” is emerging.
Eastern European Jewish immigrants are making their way to England in large numbers.
And Bram Stoker's novel Dracula is published; this story of a Transylvanian vampire who invades England captures the popular imagination for generations to come.
In Dracula (Annotated), theatre dybbuk excavates Bram Stoker’s famous tale, using a unique blend of historical investigation and heightened theatricality to weave together the gothic characters and plot of Dracula with references to societal forces at play in Victorian England that are still timely today. Under the direction of writer/director Aaron Henne and accompanied by a live musical score, a company of five performers plays the multitude of characters in the novel while also bringing to life a variety of voices from its time.
This is the second in a series of “Annotated” productions in which theatre dybbuk explodes and explores classic or well-known and culturally influential works to disrupt more familiar or comfortable ways of engaging with them.
The performance run time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes with one 15 minute intermission.
Please note that strobe effects are used in the show.
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
Los Angeles, CA
Friday, September 26, 2025, 8 PM - PREVIEW
Saturday, September 27, 2025, 8 PM
Sunday, September 28, 2025, 7 PM
Friday, October 3, 2025, 8 PM
Saturday, October 4, 2025, 8 PM
Sunday, October 5, 2025, 7 PM
Friday, October 10, 2025, 8 PM
Saturday, October 11, 2025, 8 PM
Sunday, October 12, 2025, 7 PM
All performances in Los Angeles will take place in the chapel at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, 540 S. Commonwealth Ave. General admission tickets are available for purchase through Eventbrite.
Tucson, AZ
Friday, October 24, 2025, 2 PM
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 7 PM
Both performances in Tucson will take place at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre on the campus of the University of Arizona. The Tucson performances are part of a rolling world premiere and are being presented as part of our Tucson Residency. The residency is made possible by the Tucson Jewish Community Center.
Cincinnati, OH
Thursday, November 20, 2025, 7 PM
The performance in Cincinnati will take place at Memorial Hall and is being presented by the Mayerson JCC of Cincinnati as part of our Cincinnati Residency. This residency is made possible by a grant from The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati.
THE TEAM
Writer/Director: Aaron Henne
Development cohort: Erith Jaffe-Berg, Leslie K. Gray, Edgar Landa, Adam Lebowitz-Lockard, Julie A. Lockhart, Diana Tanaka, Jonathan C.K. Williams
Actors:
Edgar Landa
Adam Lebowitz-Lockard
Julie A. Lockhart
Diana Tanaka
Jonathan C.K. Williams
Swings:
Kēhau Gabriel
Zack Rocklin-Waltch
Lighting Designer: Brandon Baruch
Costume Designer: Kathryn Poppen
Production Designer: Leslie K. Gray
Musician and Sound Designer: Jeremy Robinson
Stage Manager: Anna Kupershmidt
Production Consultant: Amanda Weier
Contributing Scholar: Erith Jaffe-Berg, PhD
Consulting Scholar: Carol Margaret Davison, PhD
Consulting Scholar: Timothy Alborn, PhD
LEARNING RESOURCES
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resource packet from dramaturg Dylan Southard (PDF)
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Podcast episode "Dracula: Antisemitism and British Gothic Literature" – Dr. Carol Margaret Davison discusses with writer/director Aaron Henne the ways in which the societal concerns present at the time of Dracula's publication intersect with the prejudices and beliefs that are embedded in the text
IN-PROCESS PRESENTATIONS
Our 2024 in-process readings were photographed by Jon Weinberg, Austin Henderson, and Shay Markowitz. The Los Angeles reading included our primary cast – Edgar Landa, Adam Lebowitz-Lockard, Julie A. Lockhart, Diana Tanaka, and Jonathan C.K. Williams. The Montreal and Toronto readings included actors touring with The Merchant of Venice (Annotated), or In Sooth I Know Not Why I Am So Sad – Joe Jordan, Julie A. Lockhart, Diana Tanaka, Inger Tudor, and Jonathan C.K. Williams. All readings were accompanied by musician Andrew Anderson with discussions facilitated by writer/director Aaron Henne.
As part of our development process, we presented a series of reading-and-discussion events featuring selections from the in-development script – thanks to those who joined us and shared in the conversation!
LOS ANGELES, CA
WHEN: Sunday, March 30, 2025, 5 PM
WHERE: Skirball Cultural Center
This presentation was part of Reflections on Art and Democracy.
TORONTO, ON
WHEN: Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 7 PM
WHERE: Toronto Holocaust Museum
This presentation was part of our residency in Toronto.
MONTREAL, QC
WHEN: Saturday, November 16, 2024, 7 PM
WHERE: the Museum of Jewish Montreal
This presentation was part of our residency in Montreal.
LOS ANGELES, CA
WHEN: Saturday, October 19, 2024, 7 PM
WHERE: The Philosophical Research Society (PRS)