The play Vampire Dreams, based on award-winning author Suzy McKee Charnas' best seller, "The Vampire Tapestry," will be given its NYC premiere Dec. 1 by Mefisto Theatre Company at Altered Stages.

Vampire Dreams is based on chapter three of the best seller "The Vampire Tapestry," by Charnas, a science fiction novelist. The winner of Hugo and Nebula Awards, Charnas has penned eleven novels of sci-fi, fantasy and feminism. She won the Hugo Award for the short story, "Boobs" and her popular books include "Walk to the End of the World," "Dorthea Dreams,"" The Furies," "Motherlines," "The Slave and the Free," "The Conqueror's Child" and "The Bronze King."

Directed by Mefisto co-founder Matthew von Waaden, Vampire Dreams takes place in NYC, where the 2,000-year-old predator Edward Weyland is forced into therapy to keep his job. The play had its world premiere at San Francisco's Magic Theatre in 1990.

The cast for Vampire Dreams features Mark Nichols, Kate Lunsford, Damien Midkiff and Carrie Wilshusen. The show's composer and sound designer is Will Pitts. Set designer is Jerome Martin, costume designer is Alexandra Bredenko and lighting designer is Matt Dacey.

Producers Weil Richmond and Matthew von Waaden founded Mefisto in 1990 to produce "little known or original works which explore dangerous, controversial and edgy material." In the past, Mefisto has presented such works as The Boys Next Door, The Vietnamization of New Jersey, The Ugly Man, and Offending the Audience. Mefisto's Vampire Dreams runs Dec. 1 - 18 at Altered Stages, 212 West 29th Street. Tickets are $12 and may be ordered at (212) 760-5940 or on the web at www.mefistonyc.com. TDF Vouchers are accepted.

-- By Murdoch McBride