Feminist vampires, a musical version of the civil rights activist and a twist on a classic Charles Dickens story come to the Actors Theater of Louisville this season.
The 2022 season, announced Thursday, will welcome three productions to the physical stage — Dracula: a Feminist Revenge Fantasy, FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer, and A Christmas Carol: Ghost Story.
Showing September 7-18 at the Bingham Theater at the Actors Theater, 316 W. Main St., Dracula by Kate Hamill is a feminist revenge fantasy loosely based on the Bram Stoker novel. This adaptation uses a combination of humor and horror to reinterpret the vampire classic.
“Kate Hamill’s funny, dark and insightful adaptation of ‘Dracula’ will subvert expectations of this long-standing annual tradition,” said Robert Barry Fleming, executive artistic director of the Actors Theatre, in a press release.
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Next is “FANNIE: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer” by Cheryl L. West, which runs October 12-23 at the Pamela Brown Auditorium. This music-filled story was inspired by the legacy of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, who was born into a family of Mississippi sharecroppers. She went on to be a leader in the civil rights movement and co-founder of the Freedom Democratic Party.
It’s an important story that “sheds a spotlight on voting rights issues that continue to plague many Kentucky residents to this day,” Fleming said.
Finally, an adaptation of the Christmas classic “A Christmas Carol” runs from December 14th to 23rd. This innovative mixed reality production tells the classic story of Ebenezer Scrooge and his experience with the spirit world, which transforms his greedy indifference into grace.
Spring 2023 live-in-theater productions will be announced at a later date.
Beyond the physical stage, Actors has also continued to expand its digital presence by streaming productions through its member library, which is open to the public through a free membership.
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The latest addition to the Member Library collection is the puppet film The Other America: An Anne Braden Story by Louisville-based Squallis Puppeteers. The film tells the story of two families who challenged the segregated housing market in Louisville in 1954.
Table of Contents
Actors Theater of Louisville Season 2022
All productions take place at the Actors Theater of Louisville, 316 W. Main St. Tickets can be purchased at actorstheatre.org/box-office
“Dracula: A Feminist Revent Fantasy”
WHAT: Kate Hamill’s Dracula is a feminist revenge fantasy loosely based on the novel by Bram Stoker. Louisville native Jennifer Pennington will direct this exciting new adaptation that hops between humor and horror to reinterpret the vampire classic.
IF: September 7th to 18th
WHERE: Bingham Theater
CREDITS: The cast consists of LaShondra Hood as Doctor Van Helsing, Justin Jackson as Jonathan Harker, Abigail Bailey Maupin as Renfield, Mark Mozingo as Doctor George Seward, Brittany “Beebee” Patillo as Lucy Westenra, and Dara Jade Tiller as Marilla/Maid. They are joined by Alanna Darby as Drusilla/Merchant/Miller, Nick Jordan as Dracula, and Lipica Shah as Mina Harker. The creative team includes fight choreography by David Anzuelo, voice and dialect coaching by Joy Lanceta Coronel, and dramaturgy by Miss Hazel Jade.
TICKETS: Ticket sales for members begin on July 12th. The sale to the public begins on August 2nd.
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“Fannie: The Music and Life of Fannie Lou Hamer”
WHAT: This musical tells the life story of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer, who was born into a family of Mississippi sharecroppers. She went on to be a leader in the civil rights movement and co-founder of the Freedom Democratic Party.
IF: 12-23 October
WHERE: Pamela Brown Auditorium
CREDITS: This production is co-produced with Atlanta’s Kenny Leon’s True Colors Theater Company and Pittsburgh’s August Wilson African American Cultural Center, City Theater Company and DEMASKUS Theater Collective. The director is Atlanta-based artist Joy Vandervort-Cobb.
TICKETS: Ticket sales for members begin on July 12th. The sale to the public begins on September 6th.
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“A Christmas Carol: Ghost Story”
WHAT: This Christmas classic has been adapted to tell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge’s evolution from greedy indifference to grace using mixed reality technology.
IF: 14.-23. December
WHERE: Bingham Theater
CREDITS: This story was adapted and directed by Robert Barry Fleming in collaboration with Agile Lens and Heavenue, an entertainment-focused platform that delivers immersive, high-fidelity live shows.
TICKETS: Ticket sales for members will start on July 12th. The sale to the public begins on September 6th.
Maggie Menderski of Courier Journal can be reached at [email protected] or 502-582-4053. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @MaggieMenderski.