The UT Theaters will hold auditions this weekend for one of their most

ambitious productions to date. Dracula, Prince of the Dark

is an original rock opera making its world premier at the Clarence Brown

Theatre. Auditions for the production will be held Saturday, Dec. 3, and

Sunday, Dec. 4, in the UT Music Building Auditorium. Anyone interested in

making an appointment for an audition should contact Thomas A. Cervone at

974-0964.

“It’s a great opportunity to get involved with theatre if you never have

before,” says Zack Allen, Marketing Director for UT Theaters. “It’s also a

great chance for local rock musicians.”

Auditioning performers should prepare 16 bars of two songs, in styles of

hard rock, R & B or reggae. An accompanist is provided, but auditionees

should bring sheet music or taped accompaniment. The show is a true rock

opera, so there is no spoken dialogue and, therefore no readings from a

script.

Rehearsals begin in mid-February, and performances are scheduled to run

March 31 to April 15.

Music Department faculty member Steve Young will serve as musical director

for the production. He has assembled a large rock orchestra to accompany

the actors/singers. Since this show is radically different from the

standard fare of the Clarence Brown Theatre, Young and director Albert J.

Harris are encouraging even those who have never participated in theatre to

audition.

“We are looking at amateur rock singers as well as classically trained

voice majors,” Harris said. UT Theatre faculty member Richard Croskey will

handle choreography duties.

The opera itself was written by John R. Briggs and Dennis West, who have

teamed for a number of successful original musicals.

“Hopefully, the show will go on from Knoxville to have many successful runs

at regional theaters and even a shot at Broadway. This is an actor’s and

singer’s dream: to be be listed in the original cast of a production,” says

Margaret Ferguson, general manager of UT Theaters. UT Theaters has a

history of producing shows that eventually find a life on Broadway,

including Medea, with Zoe Caldwell and Dame Judith Anderson.