Dracula Haunts Enumclaw High School Drama's Latest Production

The first show of Enumclaw High School's Halloween production of Bram Stoker's Dracula wrapped up Thursday night, but there are four more shows in the next week to catch if you missed this one. (see )

There are about 25 students participating in the show, said drama director Darrell Miller, who perused a number of Dracula scripts before deciding to adapt one to accommodate a large cast.

Most Dracula scripts, he said, require about six actors only.

If you're looking for something to do in the next week, consider taking in this production. "As an audience member, we watch movies -- scary, scary movies like the Saw franchise -- tons of blood. super scary," said Miller. "We go to the theatre to watch it as a participant -- like Blair Witch. It becomes an event. But so rarely do we see a cultural event that is live." 

All drama programs at Enumclaw High School are audition-based, and the actors in the present company all auditioned this fall. They then worked from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. each weekday to rehearse until this week when dress rehearsals run later and everyone has dinner and cookies together. "It's more fun and more hellish," said Miller.

Students who didn't get a big part are nonetheless an integral part of the show. The ensemble people do a lot of the work, moving furniture, set pieces, and "in the battle scenes, they have the swords and they're screaming 'Hi Ya!'"

Coming Up

To follow up Dracula, Miller said the next production will be Les Miserables, and "for the first time ever, we're having no-cut auditions," he said. "Anyone from the whole school can be in the show, and we'll put them in."