(Graphic Illustration - MetroCreativeConnection)

PARKERSBURG — The Actors Guild of Parkersburg opened its next production, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, on Friday night and it will continue this weekend and next.

The performance dates are Saturday at 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 p.m., Sept. 26 and 27 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 28 at 2:30 p.m. General tickets are $20 and are available online at actors-guild.com or can be purchased at the box office one hour prior to the start of the show.

This “Bram-new” comedy is a laugh-out-loud, 90-minute, quick-changing, reimagining of Bram Stoker’s gothic classic. Overflowing with clever wordplay and pop culture twists, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors” is designed to delight audiences of all ages and all “blood types.”

The story follows a timid English real estate agent who travels deep into the Carpathian Mountains to meet a mysterious client, none other than the infamous Count Dracula. What follows is a whirlwind of chaos as the fearless vampire hunter Jean Van Helsing and her motley crew chase the Count from Transylvania to London and back.

The Guild production is co-directed by Josh Martin and Kit Parsons, Lexi Hoover as assistant director, and Rachel Martin as costumer and production assistant. The production team also includes Barbara Full as advisor.

“Putting together a show like this is certainly a lot of work, but I adore the process. I think I like rehearsals better than performing,” said Parsons. “The process is especially delightful when there are so many wonderful people involved. This show is deceptively large, so much so, we’re taking applications for a third director if you’ll leave your information at the box office.”

Martin added, “Comedy is deceptively difficult. It’s not just cracking jokes — it’s cracking the code. You need an innate sense of humor, a PhD in timing, and at least three semesters of ‘Why Wasn’t That Funny 101.’ On top of that, you’ve gotta surround yourself with people who are funnier than you… and then just pray most of the stuff they throw at the wall doesn’t bounce back and hit you in the face.”