Dracula: A Radio Play set to hit SMCS Stage
The energy, talent, and dedication of the performing arts at St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) will once again fill the Centre for the Arts as the cast and crew prepare to debut their fall production of Dracula: A Radio Play written by Philip Grecian.
This November, the once-popular art form will be on display featuring a cast of nine actors, a team of six Foley artists and a sound, lighting, and special effects team which will bring this classic story to life as it would have been performed during the golden age of radio in the 1930s and 40s.
A unique style of production, the radio play is often referred to as “the theatre of the mind.” It draws the attention to the sound of the actors’ voices and sound effects created live by a team of Foley artists.
The SMCS production takes it one step further by also creating a visual element for our live audience, featuring the actors as they perform (minus stage action and sets), as well as being able to watch the foley artists generate the many sound effects in real-time. Also, atmospheric effects like fog, haze, and dry ice combined with creative lighting and projections further immerse the live audience in the action. There is even a live keyboardist who will add musical support at just the right moments to heighten the overall dramatic effect. It’s truly a feast for the senses!
“It is very gratifying to see how the cast and crew come together as a theatre family throughout the rehearsal process and ultimately celebrate their accomplishment as storytellers to the live audiences who will have come out to support them,” says Jamie Oatt, SMCS Music Department Head and Director of Dracula. “This is an extremely different theatre experience to perform. Audiences who attended our Frankenstein – A Radio Play production last fall were completely captivated by the whole production and fascinated with the idiom as it unfolded live on stage!”
The cast will feature three female actors from Cardinal Carter School for the Arts and six SMCS students representing Grades 9-12. Along with six Foley artists performing on stage, a team of ten stage crew members will operate the soundboard, lighting board, sound effects unit, video capture, projections, and atmospheric effects.
“I am looking forward to spending time with many friends I have made through previous SMCS theatre productions, whom I now consider family. I also look forward to the friendships that are soon to come and giving others a memorable experience like the one I have had,” says Leo Serafino Favero, Grade 10, who will be playing the role of Count Dracula. “The dramatic arts are more than just the show, but also include the people involved such as our cast, stage crew, foley artists, musicians, and our audience.”
“The St. Michael’s Dramatic Arts department has provided me with the most outstanding performance opportunities that have increased my confidence on stage and furthered my theatre experiences,” says Abigail Libertucci, a Cardinal Carter drama major and daughter of Daniel ’94. “In all my years as a theatrical actress, the St. Michael’s shows outshine anything I’ve participated in. The dramas and musicals have left me with lifelong memories and a newfound confidence.”
Dracula: A Radio Play will hit the SMCS stage November 2-4 at 7:30 p.m. A special matinee performance for elementary and middle schools in the SMCS community will also feature a Q&A session with the cast and crew after the show.
Learn more about the show at stmichaelstheatre.com
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