Dracula in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” (photo by P. Armstrong)
Arts

Cincinnati Shakespeare Company Stages ‘Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors’

This fast-paced, comedic spin on Bram Stoker’s classic novel returns for another year with its original CSC cast and performances through Oct. 31.

The Cincinnati Shakespeare Company once again brings a comedic take on Bram Stoker’s classic 1897 gothic horror novel to the Otto M. Budig Theater in Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine neighborhood with “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors.” 

Written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, this fast-paced, 90-minute comedy play stars Christopher Guthrie as a flamboyant, campy Count Dracula alongside an ensemble of actors who take on multiple roles with quick character changes and theatrical surprises. The romp is filled with twists, playful innuendo and plenty of gags as Dracula brings seductive chaos to the stage this Halloween season.

Blending classic horror with outrageous humor, the production offers a playful twist on the familiar vampire tale, giving audiences a chance to celebrate Halloween with laughs instead of frights. Showtimes are Oct. 22 through 24 and Oct. 28 through 31at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 24, 25 & 31 at 2 p.m. Tickets start at $14. 

“This was one of our most successful productions of all time, and we loved welcoming so many new faces to the theater during the Halloween season,” Brian Isaac Phillips, producing artistic director and CEO, said in an Oct. 8 press release announcing this year’s performances. “We knew we had to bring it back for another year.”

The ensemble in Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” (photo by P. Armstrong)
The fun extends beyond the stage with every performance featuring blood-bag cocktails, Halloween candy, spooky-themed surprises and music. For an even more festive night out, attend a costume-night performance, with themes ranging from Halloween villains to Renaissance-era attire to witches and wizards.

“Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” premiered Off-Broadway at New York City’s New World Stages in September 2023. The play premiered in Cincinnati in October 2025 with the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s original cast featuring Guthrie as Dracula as well as Kelly Mengelkoch as Mina Westfeldt and Dr. Van Helsing, Candice Handy as Jonathan Harker, Jasimine Bouldin as Lucy Westfeldt and Billy Chace as Dr. Westfeldt and Renfield. All are back for this year’s run. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit cincyshakes.com.

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