"Nosferatu: the Vampire" Starts Oct. 15

Ashland Community and Technical College presents Nosferatu: the Vampire, the opening production of the ACTC Theatres 2010-2011 season.

The musical rock opera is by Bernard J. Taylor, the writer and composer of six stage musicals that have been produced around the world. Nosferatu: The Vampire has had three successful productions since the album was released: the world premiere in Illinois in 1955 and two productions in the UK. ACTC Theatre is proud to be the first college to present this adaptation of the original novel.

Taylor has taken two basic elements - the tragic and the redemptive - and embroidered on them considerably. Although based on Bram Stoker's Dracula, Nosferatu is a more tragic figure than the creature generally portrayed in countless Dracula films and other cinematic portrayals of vampires.

In this story, Nosferatu began his adult life as a scientist and philosopher, the product of a noble household. He has become cynical and disillusioned, and he is ready to die because life no longer holds any meaning for him.

The cast includes Andrew Potter, a paralegal with The Potter Law Firm, is Nosferatu. ACTC students Brian Duty and Robb Johnson portray Van Helsing and Jonathan Harker respectively. Roger Hagley, ACTC Interactive TV Facilitator, portrays Renfeld.

Greenup County High School student Lauren Saltsman is Mina and Russell High School student Caroline Clay is Lucy. Other high school students in the cast are Michael Pritt from Ironton High School, Trey Kenner from Boyd County High School, Terry Pennington from Greenup County High School, and Keirstin Greene from Paul Blazer High School.

Other cast members include ACTC students Alana Mullins and Holly Forbes, ACTC alumnus and Morehead State University-Ashland student Douglas Foster III, and area residents Tiffany Burchett, Jason Greene, Troy Hall, Talena McGill, Greg Picklesiemer and Lindsey Taylor.

ACTC Theatre Director and Professor Edward Figgins is the director. Kathy L. Saltsman, a employee of the Boyd County Public Schools Board of Education, is the Musical Director. Eric M. Akers, Director of Orchestral Strings for Cabell County WV Schools, is the orchestra director. Ashland resident Paula Krepsik is the costume designer, and ACTC employee Roger Hagley is the sound designer.

Performances are Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 15 and 16, and Oct. 22 and 23 at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays, Oct. 17 and 24, at 2:30 p.m. in the J. B. Sowards Theatre at the College Drive Campus. A midnight performance will be given Saturday, Oct. 23, to help the audience get into a Halloween mood.

Tickets are $8.00 for adults and $5.00 for students, seniors and groups of 10 or more. Tickets may be reserved with a major credit card through the bookstore, 606-326-2014. Unreserved seats will be sold at the door before each performance with cash or check payment.

For more information on the musical, call the Theatre office, 606-326-2073.