Dim lighting, coffins in plain sight, spooky background music: it didn’t take long for audience members of Lisa Starry’s “A Vampire Tale” to sense a dark twist looming in their future.
Waiting for the show to begin at Phoenix Theatre, a strange looking man dressed as a vampire whisked his way across the stage, setting the scene for an interesting evening. All of a sudden, he was in the audience asking questions, providing tongue-in-cheek responses to everyone who tried to interact with him and handing out fangs and shot glasses to some of the most talkative onlookers.
“It’s improv,” he said. “Anything could happen.”
Although most of the show was choreographed, this year’s rendition of “A Vampire Tale” left room for audience participation. Several women were chosen to demonstrate their best dancing abilities, only to be ultimately dismissed by the same actor who opened the show and continued to be the main source of comic relief throughout the performance.
Eventually, a woman was summoned from the audience and led on stage. Unbeknown to the audience, this woman was actually a dancer from Scorpius Dance Theatre who played the character of Eve for the rest of the performance.
“A Vampire Tale” has been performed for eight years, Director and Choreographer Lisa Starry said. This year, Starry decided to change up Act One to make it more energetic by adding new elements, such as aerial performances.
“You come in feeling like you’re going to a vampire circus,” Starry said.
The small setting of Phoenix Theatre’s Little Theatre near Central Avenue and McDowell Road made every audience member feel as if they were a part of the show, with performers practically dangling above their heads. The “klan” of vampires also reached into the audience during most of their dance numbers, providing an engaging opportunity, especially for front row audience members.
“A Vampire Tale” typically runs for two to three weeks every October. This year the production is limited to two weeks due to a unique opportunity to travel to England to perform at the Bram Stoker International Film Festival.
“It’s a great opportunity for all of us, but it is great to publicize Phoenix and show that Phoenicians create great art,” said Nicole Olson, the lead female role. “It’s not just New York and Chicago that produce art, and now we will get to showcase this across the pond.”
Olson has been playing “Queen of the Klan” for the past eight years.
“So often you play a character once and then move on,” she said. “It’s been a great opportunity as a performer to play the same character for eight years and develop her, change her and work with her as the story line changes.”
The performers were very dark and mysterious throughout the production and maintained the characteristics of scathing vampires. However, after the performance the whole cast was lined up eagerly waiting to interact with friends, family and audience members.
“From an inside perspective, it was wonderful. The timing was good, nothing fell out of the ceiling, altogether artistically it was wonderful,” said David Starry, the lead male role and husband to director Lisa Starry.
With Halloween around the corner, the cast hopes to spread the word about this year’s unique performance and gain momentum before the UK tour. “A Vampire Tale” will be showing at Phoenix Theatre this week Wednesday through Saturday at 7:30 p.m., with additional showings Friday and Saturday night at 9:30 p.m.
“Doing a Halloween-themed performance is always fun. We have our groupies for this show,” Olson said. “There is a different nuance in the audience. It’s cool when the audience is all dressed up just like the performers.”
Contact the reporter at jessica.boehm@asu.edu
