Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Dracula on Broadway

Due to the success of Edward Gorey's Dracula on Nantucket in 1973, the production was reworked and remounted for Broadway in 1977. Mr. Gorey's original set designs had to be redrawn for a larger stage. The set designs retained the layout and essence of the original production, but more detail was added. To the left is the souvenir program from the Broadway production.

Three of the original cast members from Nantucket (Jerome Dempsey, Gretchen Oehler and Ann Sachs) made the move to Broadway with the production, but the title role of Dracula was now played by Frank Langella. Willowy, intense, and with a shock of dark hair, the unmistakably sexy Langella was a striking figure who earned a Tony Award nomination for this role. Langella repeated his role, sans the Gorey sets and costumes, in a movie version of Dracula which came out in 1979.

The production garnered other Tony Award nominations: Director Dennis Rosa for Best Director of a Play and Edward Gorey for Set Design. Dracula won two Tony Awards: Most Innovative Production of a Revival, and for Best Costume Design - Edward Gorey!!

Edward Gorey did not attend the Tony Awards ceremony. His award was delivered to him and he gave it away to a friend. The Edward Gorey House acquired Mr. Gorey's Tony Award and has had it on display in the house/museum for visitors to enjoy!

2 comments:

Unknown said...

how much would you be willing to sell it for?

ampootozote said...

The Tony Award is part of the permanent collection at the Edward Gorey House Museum.