Oak Park Newspaper

OAK PARK, IL–Oak Park Festival Theatre presents acclaimed storyteller Megan Wells in her annual incarnation of Bram Stoker's Dracula as a benefit for Festival Theatre. There will be only four performances of Dracula at the National Historic Landmark Pleasant Home, 217 Home Ave. in Oak Park, on Thursday, October 7; Friday, October 15; Sunday, October 17; and Friday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m.

Oak Park's beloved storyteller, Megan Wells, returns to haunt Pleasant Home with her popular one-woman performance. An award winning story and theatre artist, Megan narrates directly from the novel and embodies the famous characters with fierce charisma and exquisite emotional detail. As a story experience, Megan has memorized Stoker's original text and improvises in delivery as if living the novel in conversation with the audience. Megan's performance is gothic and intimate in equal measure.

As a director, Megan Wells has received a Joseph Jefferson award for her work with the Absolute Theater Company. As a storyteller, she has been hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Symphony, The Field Museum, the Ray Bradbury Festival, Theatre Building Chicago, and the National Storytelling Festival among many others. She holds a BFA degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and an MFA from Illinois State.

Dracula runs Thursday, October 7, Friday, October 15, Sunday, October 17, and Friday, October 22 at 8:00 p.m. at Pleasant Home, 217 Home Ave. in Oak Park. Tickets are $20 for adults and $15 for students and seniors. Because seating is limited, advance reservations are strongly recommended. Cider and cookies will be served at intermission. Please see http://www.oakparkfestival.com for more information and to purchase tickets. This performance is best appreciated by brave souls 12 and up.

The first performance of Dracula is also part of Artrageous, a village-wide event that showcases the depth and breadth of the arts in Oak Park.

Oak Park Festival Theatre–Oak Park's only Equity theatre and the Midwest's oldest professional theatre performing the classics outdoors–is proud to present its 37th year of theatrical excellence and to provide Chicagoland with the greatest classical plays ever written. Since 1975, the greatest playwrights have illumined our stage and enlightened our audiences. More information on Oak Park Festival Theatre is available at http://www.oakparkfestival.com or by calling (708) 445-4440.