MCC launching ‘Dracula’s Ship’ Oct. 28-29 on campus

The McCook Community College theater department invites members of the public to “sail into the nightmare” with a launch of “Dracula’s Ship” Oct. 28-29 at the Weeth Theater on campus.

The play is written and directed by MCC Theater Instructor Mark Hardiman and is adapted from the novel by Bram Stoker.

“Dracula’s Ship has been a project that I wanted to write/direct for nearly a decade,” said Hardiman.

He said audience members can expect a thrilling experience in keeping with the Halloween spirit. The show is a drama/horror fantasy and is suitable for adults and children ages 12 and older.

In Stoker’s original text there are essentially three stories, Hardiman said: Harker at Castle Dracula, the sail to England and Dracula’s time once there.

“The second part was always of interest to me,” he said. “Stoker gives us just a hint of what happens on the journey in the form of a ship’s log, which is sparing to say the least.”

Hardiman said the question for him as playwright is, what happened on the ship?

“This exploration of that question enhances some of the possibilities that are only suggested in the original text,” he said.

That leads to additional questions such as, what happened to Dracula’s maidens? What happens between the crew when people start disappearing? What happens when the captain meets Dracula?

Performances are set for 7 p.m. Oct. 28 and 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Oct. 29. A free-will donation at the door will support MCC’s Phi Beta Lambda chapter.

The Cast (In Speaking Order)

*- Denotes individuals enrolled in classes at McCook Community College

Captain Swales - David Fielding

Tatiana - Elizabeth Meyers *

Petrovsky - Marcus Ingels *

Alexander Ivanovich (Sasha) - Brady Hall

Michael Ivanovich (Misha) - Caleb Cochran 

Ioana - Leanne Miller *

Anton - Beckett Moser *

Aramoff - Malachi Bogardus *

Dracula - Kevin Cochran 

Varia - Erin Herron *

Adriana - Ruth Malcom

The Staff

Author, Director, Fight Designer - Mark Hardiman

Dialect Design - August Roy

Dialect Assistants - Erin Herron, Kevin Cochran, Marcus Ingels, Caleb Cochran, Elizabeth Meyers

Light Design - Tate Moser

Fight Captain - Marcus Ingels

Musician - Malachi Bogardus

Musician - Leanne Miller

Fang Consultant/Fitter - August Roy