The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park wants your theatergoing experience to be as enjoyable as possible. Following is a list of content within Dracula that may be of concern to some members of our audience. Please understand that some information may give away surprises within the story. The information is provided to help you make informed decisions. Keep in mind, however, that the language and themes outlined below, taken out of context, may seem more offensive than they would be within the context of the actual play. This information will continue to be updated until the opening of the show to address any changes that may occur throughout the rehearsal process. Please check back often.

Dracula is suitable for adult and teenage audiences. It contains mature themes.

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Dashing young Jonathan Harker frantically arrives at the country home of Doctor Seward, who has called him there from London. Seward’s daughter and Harker’s fiancée Lucy has grown increasingly ill with a puzzling disease and nothing in the world of medical science seems to ease her suffering. Pale and weak despite numerous blood transfusions, Lucy’s symptoms are strikingly similar to those that recently resulted in the death of her dear friend Mina, who had been visiting Lucy at the time.

Seward has called upon the wisdom of his old acquaintance, the legendary Professor Van Helsing, who is well regarded for his work in the field of obscure diseases. Van Helsing quickly guesses that supernatural forces may be at play, and he tells the others about his knowledge of vampires, creatures that continue to survive after death by drinking the blood of the living. Though skeptical, they admit that all other explanations have failed and agree to aid Van Helsing in his investigation.

Van Helsing’s suspicions are heightened by the strange behavior of one of Seward’s psychiatric patients, Renfield, a young man who always has been quiet but recently has taken to raving fits as he escapes from his cell to wander the property. Sensing that the professor has a unique understanding of his situation, Renfield begs him to save his soul and send him away for good.

At the same time, the family’s new neighbor Count Dracula, who has taken up residence in the dusty old ruins at Carfax, has been demonstrating an unusually keen interest in Lucy’s condition and in Van Helsing’s arrival. It soon becomes apparent to Van Helsing that it is Dracula himself who lies at the heart of the mystery. Van Helsing and the others must work quickly to save not only Lucy, but also the fate of future generations threatened by the evil curse of the undead. A suspenseful race against time, Dracula is deliciously decadent, sensual yet deadly and spellbinding entertainment.

Dracula contains only the mildest use of adult language, including “dam*” (twice) and “hell” (once). Hell is additionally used four times to describe an actual location. The show also employs several expressions invoking God’s name (“For God’s sake,” “In God’s name,” or “Good God”).

Dracula runs approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, including one 20-minute intermission.