BROADWAY HEARTTHROB JARED ZIRILLI STARS AS DRACULA
IN WORLD PREMIERE OF GORDON GREENBERG & STEVE ROSEN’S
DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS
Bram Stoker’s classic story gets a hilarious reinvention in this brand-new comedy, commissioned to open the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s 2019/2020 season
October 16, 2019 (Jupiter) – With the first phase of its much-anticipated expansion complete, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, the country’s youngest LORT B+ theatre, is opening its 2019/20 season with its first commission, a vibrant world premiere by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen.
DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS tells the classic Dracula story through a comedic lens informed by Mel Brooks, Monty Python, and The 39 Steps with five amazing actors switching costumes and characters at dizzying speeds. This hyper-theatrical romp comes from the warped minds of Broadway and West End director/writer Gordon Greenberg (Holiday Inn, Guys and Dolls) and Drama Desk nominee Steve Rosen (The Other Josh Cohen). Written in much the same spirit, Greenberg and Rosen’s hilarious five-character Scrooge premieres at The Old Globe next month, while playing its third consecutive year at Bucks County Playhouse.
According to Producing Artistic Director Andrew Kato, “We are very excited to produce a world premiere at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre and give our audiences the chance to see a fresh, brand new production. One of the primary objectives of our current expansion is to have the improved facilities to be able to produce more new work – and ultimately, new shows before they make it to Broadway.”
Onstage October 27 through November 10, DRACULA: A COMEDY OF TERRORS is already nearly sold out.
Gordon Greenberg’s acclaimed West End revival of Guys and Dolls (starring Rebel Wilson) was nominated for six Olivier Awards, and he directed and co-wrote the Broadway stage adaptation of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, filmed for PBS Great Performances. Steve Rosen co-wrote (with David Rossmer) and starred in last season’s Off-Broadway hit The Other Josh Cohen, which was nominated for six Drama Desk Awards. Together, Greenberg and Rosen are currently co-writing the book of the musical The Secret of My Success for NBC/Universal which will have its world premiere next year at the Paramount Theater in Chicago, in addition to Ebenezer Scrooge’s BIG (your town here) Christmas Show which will be produced this year at both the Bucks County Playhouse and The Old Globe Theatre.
Directed by Greenberg, the cast includes Jared Zirilli, recently seen on Broadway in SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical and Lysistrata Jones, with tours that include Wicked and We Will Rock You; Peter Simon Hilton (Frost/Nixon, Les Miserables, Oklahoma), Paul Carlin (30 Rock, Long Days Journey Into Night), Mallory Newbrough and Wayne LeGette.
The creative team includes scenic designer Caite Hevner (Harry Potter And The Cursed Child, In Transit, Derren Brown: SECRET and Harry Connick Jr., A Celebration of Cole Porter), Costume designer Tristan Raines (MUNY), Lighting designer Rob Denton (MUNY), Composer and Sound designer Victoria Delorio (Chicago Shakespeare), Illusions designer Skylar Fox (Harry Potter and The Cursed Child) and wig and makeup designer Ashley Rae Callahan (Jesus Christ Superstar Live!).
With an ambitious fundraising campaign currently underway, the not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre recently completed the first phase of an exciting expansion that will improve production facilities within the next five years. Under the current plan, the Theatre’s improved stage will be ten feet deeper and six feet wider on either side, enabling the Theatre to qualify for pre-Broadway and national tours. A third-floor rehearsal studio will provide actors with a view, and residents will have the opportunity to see actors working and rehearsing.
The expansion will also benefit local children and those looking for first-class educational opportunities; the Theatre’s popular Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts will double in size, allowing students the opportunity to receive a high-quality, dynamic arts education in state-of-the-art facilities. A proposed 199-seat second space will also provide the opportunity for programmatic diversity, giving the Theatre fresh possibilities for new and exciting offerings year-round, including a film series, new and alternate plays and musicals, museum exhibits and other innovative presentations. Also new will be Scene, an innovative VIP pre-show supper lounge where guests can dine and be entertained prior to a show.
Completed in three “acts” or phases of construction, Act I (completed this summer) included extensive improvements to the parking lots, adding 40 parking spaces, landscaping and bringing power to the building in advance of its next phase, Act II.
“We’d love to invite everyone in our community to come see a performance, see the improvements and learn about our future plans,” Kato said. “This expansion is bringing us even closer to reaching our goals of producing the next Broadway-bound hit musical right here in Jupiter.”
Looking for a fun Halloween holiday evening out? Patrons may purchase tickets for club level premium seats in the Theatre’s premium space, The Green Room, and enjoy the stylish lounge and amenities throughout the season. Amenities include spacious 23” seats, a lounge with a private bar and restrooms, one free drink of choice with ticket purchase (evening performances only for season shows), panoramic views of the stage and a private entrance and elevator. Groups who purchase all 62 Club Level seats to a performance receive full access to The Green Room Club Level Lounge at no additional charge to host a private event, such as a catered dinner or cocktail party.
DRACULA: A Comedy of Terrors is sponsored by Jodie and Dan Hunt and The Roy A. Hunt Foundation and Manley and Dodie Thaler and The Thaler/Howell Foundation; single tickets start at $62. For tickets and showtimes, call (561) 575-2223 or visit www.jupitertheatre.org. For more information on bringing your group to the Theatre, contact community relationships ambassador Lina Lacy at (561) 972-6117.
About the Maltz Jupiter Theatre
The not-for-profit Maltz Jupiter Theatre has become one of Florida’s preeminent professional theatres, committed to production and education through its collaborations with local and national artists. Currently the state’s largest award-winning regional theatre, the Theatre draws 100,000 people annually, serves a subscription base of more than 8,230 and has world-class classroom facilities in support of its Goldner Conservatory of Performing Arts, which serves hundreds of youth and adults. The Theatre is a member of the prestigious League of Resident Theatres. For more information about the Theatre’s upcoming shows and Conservatory, visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call the box office at (561) 575-2223.
###
Media Contact:
Linnea Bailey (561) 713-0673
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Calendar listing:
DRACULA: A Comedy of Terrors
October 27 – November 10, 2019
By Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen
Combining the epic horror story of Count Dracula with a dash of Mel Brooks and Monty Python, DRACULA: A Comedy of Terrors makes for a lightning fast, laugh-out-loud comedy. Five world-class actors play dozens of zany characters, as they tell their story through illusion and special effects. Dracula’s antics are guaranteed to raise your pulse as you emit bloodcurdling screams — of laughter! Sponsored by Jodie and Dan Hunt and The Roy A. Hunt Foundation and Manley and Dodie Thaler and The Thaler/Howell Foundation. Visit www.jupitertheatre.org or call (561) 575-2223 for showtimes; tickets start at $62.
