Placer Repertory Theatre's production of Dracula: A Melodrama will run from Oct. 8 through 17 across Placer County. Photo courtesy of Placer Repertory Theatre

PLACER COUNTY, CA (MPG) - Over a dozen Bram Stoker characters, including Professor Van Helsing and Count Dracula, are brought to life by a cast of four actors to share the brand-new Placer Repertory Theater play for general audiences (ages 7 and up), DRACULA: A Melodrama, from Oct. 8 through 17 at venues in Roseville, Auburn, Rocklin and Lincoln. 

The cast of the comedic, romantic, gothic thriller Dracula includes three actors returning to Placer Rep, alongside three talents new to this young professional repertory theater company. The play is written to be performed by four actors; and the cast includes four core actors, one understudy and two swing actors.

Carson Sloan, who performed with Placer Rep last season in The Corsican Brothers and Sherlock Holmes, is cast in Dracula as Professor Van Helsing, and understudies Dracula and Harker. In addition to acting, Carson is an accomplished dancer and singer familiar to area audiences for his musical theater performances.

Anthony DePage is cast as Dracula. New to Placer Rep, he is a seasoned professional of theater and film. Some of his prior roles include Gordon Gottleib in Dead Man's Cellphone, Saunders in Lend Me a Tenor, and Friar Laurence in Romeo & Juliet.

Tristan Sloan makes her Placer Rep debut as Mina Murray, Jonathan Harker’s love interest and Dracula’s object of obsession. Among her many credits include the role of Irina Arkadina in The Seagull, a member of the Apprentice Acting Core at Williamstown Theatre Festival and was a Mint Theatre Fellow at the Lucille Lortel Foundation.

John Cablao is cast as Jonathan Harker. He returns to Placer Rep having performed in the July 2025 New Works Showcase as Lenny in “A Pretty Good Wife.” A few of John’s credits include portraying the Boatswain in The Tempest, working with Teatro Espejo and performing professionally for Interactive Entertainment.

Katie Elson, new to Placer Rep, is the primary Swing actor for Dracula. She will perform the role of Van Helsing in several venues, and is the swing performer for Mina Murray, should Tristan Sloan become unable. Katie performed with the Stockton Symphony as “Juliet” in Romeo and Juliet, has appeared on the Stockton Civic Theater stage as Mrs. Segstrom in A Little Night Music, and most recently portrayed Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime.

T.S. Forsyth, who has performed periodically with Placer Rep since 2020, is the Swing 2 (emergency) actor and playwright of Dracula: A Melodrama. She began performing at a young age, enjoyed a few international touring shows then pivoted to writing and directing for the majority of her career. Tess is a member of the Dramatists’ Guild (DGA) and Stage Directors & Choreographers union (SDC) and periodically teaches and/or develops curriculum for universities.

Cast bios may be found on the CAST tab of the production website for each city and in the printed playbill at each venue.

“This play is deliciously funny yet thrilling, and I love the strong female characters” said cast-member and playwright T.S. Forsyth. While Dracula: A Melodrama is inspired by the characters and plot of Bram Stoker’s immortal gothic thriller, the novel is re-imagined as an interactive melodrama that allows patrons to participate from their seats or join the actors onstage for this very lively on-script performance with music, sound cues and costume pieces to help set locale and mood. This new play in development is designed for general audiences (age 7 and up) and offers thrills, romance, drama, action and laughter.

DRACULA: A Melodrama performance dates for the opening run Oct. 8-17 in Roseville, Auburn, Rocklin and Lincoln include Roseville on Oct. 8, Auburn on Oct 10 and 11, Rocklin on Oct. 15 and 17 and Lincoln on Oct. 16.

Evening shows begin at 7 p.m.  The Matinee on Oct 11 in Auburn begins at 4 p.m. Runtime with an intermission is approximately 80-90 minutes. The venues are 24 to 50-seat intimate spaces transformed into theatrical performance venues. As seating is limited, advance purchase of tickets online is highly recommended.

After the October 8-17 opening run, DRACULA is available for bookings through June 2026. DRACULA is a wonderful candidate for booking into retirement communities, colleges, middle and high schools or as a fundraiser or evening entertainment for civic and community organizations. Venues, groups and scholastic entities interested in booking Placer Repertory Theater’s main season offerings can contact [email protected].

Placer Repertory Theater (PlacerRep.org) is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with the mission to offer educational and quality-of-life enriching professional performing arts and cultural programs relevant to the people of Placer County and surrounding area, while supporting local organizations and acting as an economic engine for the region. Follow Placer Repertory Theater on Facebook (PlacerRep), Instagram & Threads: @PlacerRep and subscribe to their YouTube Channel (/@PlacerRep).