Dracula, Frank Wildhorn's latest foray into musical theatre since his triple crown opened and closed on Broadway, takes Tony-nominated talent into its casting. The long-rumored Tom Hewitt (The Rocky Horror Show) will play the blood-thirsty count, backwards aging from a 70-year-old Translyvanian in his castle into a 30-something seducing London's beautiful young women.

That includes the fiance of Dracula's solicitor Jonathan Harker, Mina and her flirtacious friend, Lucy. Harker will be played by Tom Stuart with Jenn Morse as Mina and Amy Rutberg (The Civil War on tour) as Lucy. Also in the cast are Joe Cassidy, Chris Hoch and Lee Morgan as Lucy's suitors, Jack Seward, Arthur Holmwood and Quincy Morris. Tom Flynn (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Who's Tommy) is the vampire hunter Van Helsing. William Youmans (Titanic, Big River) is a former solicitor with Harker's company who is driven mad by Dracula.

La Jolla Playhouse artistic director Des McAnuff (Tommy, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying) directs. Mindy Cooper (Titanic) will choreograph.

Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Savages) and Don Black collaborated on the book and lyrics. Black's previous theatrical experience includes several Andrew Lloyd Webber projects—the Tony Award-winning Sunset Boulevard, Aspects of Love and Tell Me on a Sunday, the sung part of Song and Dance. He won an Academy Award for the song "Born Free." He and Hampton both worked together on Sunset.

Dracula makes its world premiere Oct. 9-Nov. 18 with an opening Oct. 21. Atlantic Records has already promised an original cast recording. Designing Dracula are John Arnone (sets), Catherine Zuber (costumes), Howelll Binkley (lighting), Tom Clark (sound) and Michael Clark (media).

La Jolla Playhouse is located on the corner of La Jolla Village Drive and Torrey Pines Road. For reservations, call (858) 550-1010. La Jolla Playhouse is on the web at http://www.lajollaplayhouse.com.

— By Christine Ehren