Watch out, Somerset, the Count has a new haunt! Flashback Theater Co. (FbTC), in partnership with title sponsor The Weigel Family, presents Count Dracula by Ted Tiller, adapted from the classic novel by Bram Stoker. Flashback Theater Co. is founded on the passionate pursuit of bringing professional theater to the Lake Cumberland region and uplifting our local talent. Count Dracula will be no exception, featuring cast and crew members from Pulaski, Wayne, and Russel County. The show will run October 17-27th in the Cornelia Dozier Cooper Theatre at The Center for Rural Development in Somerset.
Ted Tiller’s creepy and campy adaptation of Count Dracula hits all the traditional notes you might expect from the Dracula story, with the added levity of theatrical humor. Tiller writes Dracula as a suave aristocrat harboring a strange secret in a world full of well-meaning but sometimes misled humans. Expect to meet classic characters such as Mina, Dr. Seward, and Renfield, as well as fun additions to the cast like Sybil and Hennessey. In the large playing space of The Center, audiences will greatly enjoy seeing the magic tricks and scares this play packs in – all live on stage!
Flashback Theater Co. is a semi-professional theater company, meaning that actors, designers, and directors are compensated for their time and contributions to work onstage. The company believes that by paying our artists, we are encouraging creative talent to stay in the area long-term, growing our community’s cultural resources and expanding the opportunities available for entertainment and education in the region. Though based in Pulaski County, Flashback captures artists and audience members from the surrounding counties of Russel, Adair, Casey, Lincoln, Laurel, Wayne, McCreary, and beyond.
The cast of Dracula is made up of Brian Herrmann of Pulaski County (Dracula), Martha Pratt of Wayne County (Mina), Dr. David Eads of Pulaski County (Dr. Seward), Zachary Vaught of Pulaski County (Hennessey), Lars Loveridge of Russell County (Renfield), Johnna Atkinson-Bigelow of Pulaski County (Van Helsing), Brian Estes of Pulaski County (Jonathan), Sam Enderle of Pulaski County (Wesley), and Nicole Strickler of Pulaski County (Sybil).
Brian Herrmann (Dracula) is just beginning to hit his stride at Flashback Theater, with a handful of shows under his belt such as The American Parade, 39 Steps, and Brother Wolf, and hopes you’re as excited for this season as he is!
Martha Pratt has been with Flashback since 2018. Her credits include Miss Bennett: Christmas at Pemberley, Pirates of Penzance, The Dollmaker, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), The Mousetrap, The Book of Will, and Brother Wolf. She’s also appeared in plays at Somerset Community College and Good Neighbors Theatre.
David Eads (Seward) returns for another FbTC production, having previously performed in FbTC’s Uncle Vanya, Miracle on 34th Street and As You Like It. David’s additional acting credits include the characters: Pam’s husband, Sarah and John’s Dad, and Cooper and Ainsley’s Papa. David is a FbTC board member and an Optometrist for the Veterans Administration Healthcare System.
Zachary Vaught (Hennessey) After years of reading plays and surviving his first experience at Flashback with all his faculties intact, Zack has once again returned to the stage to act once more. He has performed at Flashback as part of the ensemble for Brother Wolf and hopes to continue acting with Flashback.
Lars Loveridge (Renfield)
Bio Unavailable
Johnna Atkinson-Bigelow (Van Helsing)
Johnna Atkinson-Bigelow is excited to return to the FbTC stage after performing in Brother Wolf, Uncle Vanya, The Thin Place, Sweeney Todd, The Book of Will, and Mary: Her Story with Flashback as well as Steel Magnolias at Somerset Community College. After receiving her Theater degree from Georgetown College and Communications degree from UK, she has been teaching at SCC for over 30 years. She wants to thank her kids, Braden and Brynlee and husband/biggest fan, Brad for all the love, laughter, lessons and tears which help her bring all her characters to life.
Brian Estes (Jonathan) is relatively new to Flashback Theater, portraying Dromio of Ephesus in The Comedy of Errors over the summer. He is fully enjoying this exciting introduction to theater and looks forward to more opportunities with Flashback in the future!
Sam Enderle (Wesley) is new to the stage at Flashback. He had his stage debut in the ‘2nd Annual Ten Minute and Short Play Festival’ at Somerset Community College as Brother Armand, Derek, and Bigfoot. He is hoping to continue working with Flashback in future productions.
Nicole Strickler (Sybil) is an up and coming actor with Flashback Theater. She has a passion for the arts and a background with choir. She is hoping to conquer her fear of the stage and make a lot of wonderful memories and new friends as she goes.
The crew for the production is led artistically by director Sommer Schoch of Russell County, and logistically by Stage Manager Renate Dopp of Pulaski County. Additional technical support is provided by Ron Kidd of Ferguson, Mahayla Mounce of Pulaski County, Tonya Marcum of Wayne County, Junior Flores of Pulaski County, exchange student Frosina Brogeska of North Macedonia, Mary Clark of Pulaski County, and Tyler Fish of Lincoln County.
Renate Dopp (Stage Manager) FbTC veteran stage manager and occasional performer. Much love to her husband and children for their support during production. Favorite stage management highlights: Brother Wolf, The 39 Steps, Sweeney Todd, Every Christmas Story Ever Told (2016 & 2021), Pirates, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Previous FBTC performances include Mary: Her Story (Elder Mary), Little Shop of Horrors (voice of Audrey II), A Nightmare on Backstreet (Teddy Crooner) and season announcement cabarets.
Mahayla Mounce (ASM/Prop Master) is excited to be backstage again! In the past season, she has worked as an ASM and Prop Master for The 39 Steps and Brother Wolf. This season, she’s planning on being involved in each show, already beginning by creating the artwork for the show posters!
Tonya Marcum (ASM) finds joy where the creative process meets the methodic, rhythmic nature of life behind the stage. Her previous FbTC experience includes Set Designer for Mary: Her Story (2022) and ASM for Sweeney Todd (2023), The Dollmaker (2021), and All Together Now! (2021).
Ron Kidd (Set Adapter) The original set for Tiller’s Count Dracula was designed by Peter Harris. Special effects and time constraints made it necessary not to re-invent the wheel for this staging at The Center. Kidd’s last designs at The Center were SCC’s productions of Arsenic and Old Lace and The Secret Affairs of Mildred Wild back in the mid ’90s. More recent productions include set & lighting design for Sweeney Todd, Steel Magnolias, Around the World in 80 Days and Little Shop of Horrors, which he also directed. Kidd has a Masters Degree in Theatre from Morehead State University with additional study at Southern Illinois and Syracuse University.
Junior Flores (Audio Engineer)
Bio Unavailable
Frosina Bogeska (Stagehand) is an exchange student from North Macedonia and shares her love through theater. She has been acting in plays and helping backstage since she was 9. She is very excited to be a part of Flashback this season.
Mary Clark (Spot Op)
Bio Unavailable
Tyler Fish (Spot Op)
Bio Unavailable
Flashback Theater Co’s production of Count Dracula will astound you with its technical flair and delightful scares. Imagine making plans for the entire family to enjoy this Halloween outing together; this show truly has something for everyone! Though all audience members of a show-going age are encouraged to attend, ticket buyers should know that the show features vampires, campy humor, special effects, mild language, and a healthy fear of the unknown. Recommended for audiences 12 & up.
Production Information
Count Dracula
By Ted Tiller, adapted from the novel by Bram Stoker
Directed by Sommer Schoch
October 17-27, 2024
Cornelia Dozier Cooper Theatre at The Center for Rural Development
There’s a new patient at the asylum and a new resident in the castle across the valley, who has been seen only at night. Dr. Seward is desperately trying to keep his asylum and his spinster sister in order, when his ward, Mina, becomes very ill after a visit from the new neighbor. Mina’s fiance Jonathan arrives just in time to try to cure her of the illness before it claims her life. Baffled by the horrific events that have unfolded, Dr. Seward sends for the self-proclaimed ‘Vampire Hunter’ Van Helsing to put this nightmare to bed for good. The wolves howl, the bats fly, the lights flicker … and the legendary story of Count Dracula unfolds.
Performance Dates and Times
Thursday, October 17, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, October 18, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 20, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, October 25, 7:30 p.m. – with ASL interpretation
Sunday, October 27, 6:00 p.m.
Ticket Information
Tickets can be purchased online at: https://fbtc.ticketleap.com/count-dracula/, by visiting the box office in person at 209A E Mount Vernon St. during office hours, or by calling the box office at (888) 394-3282, ext. 1. Box office hours are Tuesday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Single ticket pricing for the 11th Season of Flashback productions will be:
Adults – $23 Advance, $25 Door
Students – $12 Advance, $15 Door
Seniors – $20 Advance and Door
The best and most cost efficient way to see Flashback’s season of productions is by purchasing a Season Ticket. Season Tickets are $85 per person and guarantee you first pick of the seating arrangements, giving you the best seat in the house. Season ticket holders will be contacted in the first week of ticket sales for each show to confirm desired date of attendance. Your tickets for each production will be sent to your email. If you would like to pick up a printed ticket to give to a friend or transfer your tickets for a production to someone else, you are welcome to do so and need only contact the box office to make arrangements.
Season Sponsors & Supporters
Flashback Theater Co. is grateful to our 2024-25 Starlight Sponsors: Applied Behavioral Advancements, The City of Somerset, Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet, and The Shubert Foundation. Spotlight Sponsors: M&W Printing and CHI Saint Joseph London; as well as our Footlight Sponsors: David Daring Rentals, Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital & Lake Cumberland Residency Programs, First & Farmers National Bank, The Weigel Family, United Cumberland Bank, T. Ronald Kidd Trust, Somerset Community College, Buffalo Wings & Rings, and Citizens National Bank.
The Kentucky Arts Council, the state arts agency, provides operating support to Flashback Theater Co. with state tax dollars and federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.