Theater Review: Dracula's Fright Night by 7 Angels Children's Theatre

The Seven Angels Children’s Theatre is presenting a cute (and not scary) production of “Dracula’s Fright Night,” an original musical written by Scott Kealey.

Kealey directed the young performers and appears onstage in the role of Dad/Dracula. The musical director duties were shared by Annie Pape and Clio “CJ” Janis. Peter Kershaw performs on the guitar that is written into the script. The score includes a Zombie dance, a lullaby, a dance for the teen members of the cast, some classic tunes with new lyrics, as well as the title song. There are also some fun jokes, including one about the difference between Transylvania and Pennsylvania.

Sarah Scovill taught the cast the charming choreography. Jewell Hearon kept busy running both the sound board and the lighting board. Kartina Paul served as the carpenter for the spooky graveyard set that features creepy branches hanging from the ceiling. Costumes by Sherie Cocchiola are impressively appropriate for the various monsters and typical kids.

The cast works together very well to bring this story to life. The “littles” cover the roles of a gaggle of zombies, who get to enter via the aisles and head to the stage. The zombies include Arlin Evangelista, Kaleia Horton-Blake, Jay Garcia, Aliza Cocchiola, Nate Innocent, Xander Evangelista and Nadira Hart-White.

Hanalei Cocchiola plays the role of Draculena, a young girl who has a spooky dream. Nico Perrotti has great stage presence as her little brother Junior.

Kathleen Schurman, an adult performer, takes on the role of Mom/Mrs. Drac.

Angie Emmanuel plays Dracula’s mother “Granny” and almost steals all of her scenes in a gray wig and a purse over her arm. Because she is concerned about the state of Dracula’s teeth, she leads the song and dance “The Floss.”

The young heartthrob (songwriter and Tik Tok star) Jack is brought to life by Geno Bascetta in a black leather jacket and tap shoes.

Among the monsters are Kershaw as a well-dressed Igor, Jayden Greenlaw as Frankensteirn, Nicholas Bates as a glittery Werewolf and Alivia Clendinen as a sometimes well-wrapped Mummy.

Daniella Varrone plays Olga, Thea Miles plays Barb, Celia Mizuraca (who recently played Mr. Boddy in “Clue” at Woodland HS) plays Lizzy and Ashlyn Kish is Lois.

Kealey writes in his director’s note that the goal of this group is to entertain children. What they began to realize is how often the stories that they tell for kids “would have lots of kids right up here on stage, singing and dancing and telling jokes and stories!” All of their shows, “Goldilock,” “Tom Sawyer,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Dracula’s Fright Night,” and “Snow White,” “have had lead roles and ensembles of kids playing around on stage, and if you ever thought that it looks like fun…you’re right!”

The playwright/director goes on to invite students to join the acting classes at Seven Angels that are held throughout the year and during their Summer Theatre workshops for kids of all ages. They are also encouraged to audition for the Kid’s Shows as well as the classic adult musicals produced at Seven Angels. He goes on to thank Seven Angels’ PR guy Paul Roth, Semina DeLaurentis, WATR’s Tom Chute, among others, as well as all of the parents for their “tons of help.”

Before the show there are Halloween songs. “Dracula’s Fright Night” runs less than an hour with no intermission.

Remaining performances of Seven Angels Children's Theatre’s “Dracula’s Fright Night” are Sunday, Oct. 30 at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Come see all of your favorite monsters…Dracula, Frankenstein, The Werewolf and The Mummy! hen Dracula brings your favorite monsters to life, somehow things just don't turn out right...but they do turn out FUN!

Cavallo's Deli of Waterbury will be providing spooky treats for the kids at the Oct.30 performances, so arrive early for some extra yumminess. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes to the theater and then take photos with the cast after the show! Tickets: SevenAngelsTheatre.org

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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