This Off-Broadway and West End hit comes to Cincinnati, just in time for spooky season!
Cincinnati, October 2, 2025 – Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to present Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, playing September 5 – 20, 2025 and directed by Producing Artistic Director and CEO, Brian Isaac Phillips. This production is generously sponsored by Rance and Marilyn Duke.
About the show: Sink your teeth into a hilarious new take on the world’s most famous vampire! Filled with outrageous twists, playful innuendo, and more laughs than you can count, this delightful romp reimagines Bram Stoker’s gothic classic like you’ve never seen before. This dangerously debonair Dracula brings seductive chaos, proving that sometimes the Prince of Darkness can be as captivating as he is cunning. Join the hilarious hunt this Halloween season, where the only thing sharper than Dracula’s fangs are the gags that’ll leave you in stitches. Don’t miss the riotous ride that’s sure to leave you howling with laughter!
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors premiered Off-Broadway at New World Stages on September 4, 2023, where it quickly gained popularity with critics and audiences for its fast-paced farce and campy spin on Bram Stoker’s classic. The production became a viral sensation and went on to enjoy strong success in regional theatres across the U.S. Following its New York run, it made its UK premiere in March 2025 at London’s Menier Chocolate Factory, marking a significant step in its international reach and continued popularity.
Bringing the outrageous world of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors to life is a stellar cast of CSC favorites. Christopher Guthrie sinks his teeth into the title role of Count Dracula, while Kelly Mengelkoch showcases her versatility as both Mina Westfeldt and the fearless Dr. Van Helsing. Candice Handy takes on the role of Jonathan Harker, with Jasmine Bouldin as the spirited Lucy Westfeldt. Rounding out the ensemble, Billy Chace delivers double the laughs as both Dr. Westfeldt and the delightfully unhinged Renfield.
Directed by CSC Producing Artistic Director and CEO Brian Isaac Phillips, with Assistant Director Robert Carlton Stimmel, this creative team is bringing Halloween hilarity to life! Scenic Designer Chris Holloway sets the stage for comedic chaos, while Costume Designer Rainy Edwards—along with Kayla Cieslinski’s wig design—gives Dracula and the cast their iconic looks. Lighting Designer Aiden Bezark and Sound Designer Doug Borntrager add to the fun with a playful mix of gags and sound effects. Properties Designer Robert Carlton Stimmel provides the cast with an assortment of whimsical props, including puppets designed by Matthew Lewis Johnson. Gina Cerimele-Mechley serves as Fight and Intimacy Director, and Susan Jung brings movement to the stage as Dance Choreographer. The production is stage managed by Cole Sweasy, with Assistant Stage Management by Colton Wolf.
Content Advisory: Contains adult humor and situations, PG-13 recommended. Includes flashing lights and loud noises.
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Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors runs from October 3 – November 1, 2025. Performances of Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors are on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:30 PM, with two Saturday Matinees on October 25 and November 1 and three Sunday matinee on October 12, 19, and 26 at 2:00 PM. CSC offers performances with accessibility resources. Live Audio Descriptions are available on October 3, and there is a Sign Language Interpreted performance on November 1.
Tickets are on sale now. Preview performances are on Wednesday, October 1, and Thursday, October 2, with half price tickets. Discounts are available for students, seniors, local residents, and community partners. Each performance night has a limited number of $14 “Access” tickets. These can be purchased in advance by going online or calling the Box Office. And starting 1 hour before each performance, any unreserved tickets may be available as a discounted Rush Ticket to anyone, not just students. These tickets are only $12 and could be located anywhere in the house, depending on that evening’s availability. These cannot be reserved more than 1 hour before a show and must be purchased in person in the Box Office. Visa, Discover, MasterCard, and American Express are accepted. Ticketing fees apply. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the CSC Box Office at 513.381.BARD (2273) ext. 1, or go online at www.cincyshakes.com.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is located at The Otto M. Budig Theater at 1195 Elm Street in OTR, adjacent to Washington Park. Many parking spaces are available on the street and in nearby lots and garages- for more information, visit http://www.otrchamber.com/pages/WheretoPark.
CSC has coordinated a prepaid self-parking option right next door to the theater for a hassle‐free, guaranteed spot. A limited number of reserved spaces are available starting 1.5 hours before performances and lasting through the end of the show. The parking attendant will have your name on the list with advance purchase, guaranteeing your spot and price. Visit www.cincyshakes.com/parking to reserve self-parking.
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s 2025-2026 Season is generously presented by our Operating Support Partners: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation; The Linnemann Family Foundation; The Ohio Arts Council; The Robert and Adele Schiff Family Foundation; The National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest; The Shubert Foundation; Maureen and John Bridgeland, Cindy Bridgeland Crilley, and Debby and Jim Mason in honor of Jim Bridgeland; Lightborne, and the tens of thousands of people who give generously to the ArtsWave Community Campaign.
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About Cincinnati Shakespeare Company:
Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is a professional theatre company dedicated to bringing Shakespeare and the classics to life for all. In the summer of 2017, the theater relocated to the Otto M. Budig Theater, a brand new facility in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. CSC’s repertoire is composed of the works of William Shakespeare, literary adaptations, world premieres, and contemporary classics. CSC performs on a Small Professional Theatre contract with the Actors’ Equity Association. Cincinnati Shakespeare is a member of Theater Communications Group and Shakespeare Theatre Association. Each year, Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s Education and Outreach Programs reach more than 50,000 young people and community members by meeting audiences where they are. This includes sharing programming in schools, parks, community centers and hosting educational matinees of mainstage productions. In 2015, CSC was proud to become one of the first five theaters in the United States to “Complete the Canon” by producing all 38 plays by William Shakespeare. CSC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and all donations are tax-deductible. Cincinnati Shakespeare Company is proud to be Cincinnati’s stage for the Classics!
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