A Message From The Undead, Count Dracula

Blood Suckers Found In Ruch, Oregon

 

Kate Vangeloff as Dracula

Photo Credit: Wanda Borland

Nestled in the heart of the Applegate Valley, cradled by majestic mountains, lies Longsword Vineyard, the playing grounds for Wanderlust Theatre Company, now showing their second production of Dracula, an original adaptation expertly written by Kate Vangeloff and Jae Unker.   The show opened this weekend with roaring success, despite rain-fall, leaving audiences with a gasp for breath and a thrilling experience.

Jae Unker as Lucy and Kate Southern as Mina

Photo Credit: Lia Dugal

Although a well-known story, this adaptation is revealed in true Wanderlust fashion, known for its experiential, cinematic experience of live theatre, wherein the audience travels from set to set with the characters as the story unfolds, keeping the audience rapt attention in enthrallment.  

Nathan Green as Dr. Van Helsing

Photo Credit: Wanda Borland

The play is divinely directed by Nathan Green and Madeline DeCourcey in a way that highlights the natural talents and character work of each performer.  In a very real way, there is no star or diva with Wanderlust and in this production itself, but the ensemble is just that, the true starring role.   Each performer births their character allowing the revealing of the story according to their viewpoint, as in life, we only know the story according to our perspective.  Then, in a true to life fashion, the characters' experiences weave together as the action unfolds, seemingly coming together in love and opposition sometimes simultaneously, as they find a way to overcome the challenges they face.  Relationships merge, then collide, showcasing that where there is love, there is  always the constant of both light and dark.

Tim Coatney as Johnathan Harker, Kate Southern as Mina, Tiffany Schechter as Dr. Jack Seward, and

Abby Brown as Arthur Holmwood

Photo Credit: Wanda Borland

Then again, the story of Dracula itself, although fanciful, lends itself to holding up a mirror to our very own psyches, as we realize that the propensity for good or for evil lie within each of us.  In a very real sense, there is no black or white, but all of us have within the nuance of shades of grey.  Even Dracula herself is not wholly evil, nor is Johnathan Harker or Dr. Van Helsing purely good, but all have motives and reasonings that force them along the journey of their life to whom they become and whence they end.

Alayha McNamara as Victoire, Amelia Rose as Lilith, Jae Unker as Lucy, Tiffany Schechter as Dr. Jack Seward,

Nathan Green as Dr. Van Helsing, Abby Brown as Arthur Holmwood, and RuRu Painter as Carmilla

Photo Credit: Lia Dugal 

Faced with the daunting task of putting on a play during a pandemic, Wanderlust Theatre found a way to use this Covid19 reality in a way that lends itself well to the telling of the story.  From limiting audience numbers grouped into pods to the use of masks on the actors to reflect the health risks of the year 1893, the time of the story taking place.  

Tiffany Schechter as Dr. Jack Seward and Brandon Kinsey as Quincy Morris

Photo Credit: Lia Dugal 

With a range of talent of a varied experience level, Wanderlust Theatre spends its rehearsal time in intensive training, from the heightened physical of their "boot camp" that prepares the actor for the terrain of their playing field to extensive character work and activities that help deepen the actor's understanding of the craft of acting, highlighting the belief in living truthfully in the given circumstances of the story with oneself and the other characters.

Alayha McNamara as Victoire

Photo Credit: Wanda Borland 

Along with Kate Vangeloff as Dracula, you will see Abby Brown as Arthur Holmwood, Tim Coatney as Johnathan Harker, David Countiss as a variety of roles, Nathan Green as Dr. Van Helsing, Brandon Kinsey as Quincy Morris, Andrew McGill as Renfield, Alayah McNamara as Victoire, RuRu Painter as Carmilla, Amelia Rose as Lilith, Elle Schechter as a variety of roles, Tiffany Schechter as Dr. Jack Seward, Tasia Simon as Mama Westenra, Raven Slayton as a variety of roles, Kate Southern as Mina Murray,  and Jessica "Jae" Unker as Lucy Westerna.  Each performer shines within their roles and stuns the audience with a winning, truthful performance.

Behind the scenes, such talents helped unfold the performance, as Sharif Abdulraham as Director of Production, James DeDekais as Musical Director, J.Sincere Gustin Sr as Sound Technician, Jacob Kuhl as Sound Designer, Nathan Ynacay as Costume and Set Designer, with Amanda Haverick and Pidge Miller as stage manager and assistant stage manager.

The show opened this weekend and runs through July 18th.  For more information, check out the website: https://www.wanderlusttheatre.co/  as well as follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Wanderlust Theatre Company Means To Inspire Connection

Jessica "Jae" Unker, one of the founders & producers of Wanderlust Theatre Company

Nestled in the heart of the Applegate Valley, just outside of Ruch, Oregon, the happy, little winery of LongSword rests and it is there where Southern Oregon's newest, burgeoning theatre company holds its productions.  The theatre is Wanderlust Theatre Company and was founded by Jessica "Jae" Unker, Nathan Green, and Kate Vangeloff. Still in their infancy as a production company, however, these three are no stranger to the professional theatre world, having been in and out of the realm across the country in a variety of means, from acting, marketing, to directing.  

LongSword Winery

In 2019, they launched their first production with "Neverland", an original adaptation of the classic story of Peter Pan.  Wanderlust asserts its difference in Southern Oregon from other theatres because not only is it held in the natural, rural environment but the actor and audience voyage together through the landscape, touching in a very real way the story.  Together, the actor and the audience are joined in the immediacy of the story unfolding, in a fashion that is truly up close and personal, dynamic and alive, leaving no room for complacency.  

This summer 2021 they will birth their second production with an original adaptation of "Dracula", starring Kate Vangeloff as Dracula and directed by Nathan Green and Madeline DeCourcey.  A delightfully talented, passionately committed, and ethically minded cast rounds out the story with equally passionate and dedicated crew.  Three different sets will help to birth the story as audiences travel between as the story unfolds.  Look for such rising and upcoming Southern Oregon talent as Jessica "Jae" Unker, Kate Southern, Nathan Green, Abby Brown, Amelia Rose, RuRu Painter, Raven J. Slayton, Brandon Kinsey, Andrew McGill, Tim Coatney, Tiffany Schechter, Elle Schechter, and Tasia Simon.

Amelia Rose & Michael Meyer at Dracula auditions

Wanderlust Theatre Company prides itself on being a company resting between community theatre and professional theatre, perhaps, "professional community" is an apt description.  The heart of the founders is to inspire and educate amateur actors on what it means to truly be professional, working actors while staying true to the core of creativity and art.    Thus, the artistic creation and helping to inspire connection within the community is vastly more important than notoriety and fame.  

As I sat down with Jae Unker at the Dracula auditions, she told me that what they look for in an actor are those willing to play, to give of themselves freely and with full commitment, and to come alongside the rest of the cast in a true familial ensemble.

To reflect on the idea of the thriving artist, Jae believes that to thrive is to be fully alive and to abide constantly within your art, no matter the circumstance, to be truly exploring, sharing, and helping to inspire growth and change through creativity in their community and the greater reality.

Wanderlust Theatre Company's Dracula opens June 11, 2021 and runs through July 18, 2021.  For more information on WTC, head over to: 

Wanderlust Theatre Company

https://www.facebook.com/wanderlusttheatreOR

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The Dracula Production team, (l to r), Kate Southern, Madeline DeCourcey, Sharif Abdulrahman, Kate Vangeloff, and Nathan Green.