CAST OF CHARACTERS
                                                                 Alphabetically
                                        PATRICIA DURANTE.............Helga Van Zandt
                                        BILL EDWARDS*...................Renfield
                                        ROBERT HEFLEY*.................Abaham Van Helsing
                                       JAQUELINE HOLLOWAY........Wilhelmina Murray
                                       JONATHAN HOLTZMAN*........Count Dracula
                                       TED ODELL............................Dr. Cedric Seward
                                       PAUL TRACY.........................Jameson
                                       NICHOLAS WILDER...............Gordon Godalming
                                       TOM WRIGHT........................Jonathan Harker
                  * Denotes member, Actors’ Equity Assocation, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers

PATRICIA DURANTE (Helga Van Zandt)--Recently starred in Susan Goodell's HOPE THROWS HER HEART AWAY in Tri-State's New Plays Reading Series, played Valerie in Conor McPherson's award-winning play, THE WEIR, and was Cynthia in the new play reading of THE GIRL FROM TENNESSEE. She starred as Lilly in the 2011 New Plays Reading Series performance of THE RED BALLOON by Matthew Gutschick. She was a featured playwright and actor in 2010's New Plays Reading Series' IT'S YOUR MOTHER. Ms. Durante made her main stage acting debut in 2009 as Claire in David Auburn's award-winning drama, PROOF. She will  play Lady Bracknell in Tri-State's spring production of Oscar Wilde's famous comedy, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST. Most recently she starred in ENCHANTED APRIL for he Women's Theatre Company. Ms. Durante has performed on the main stage before as a singer in a cabaret special event. She has performed in both musicals, comedies and drama all over the country, including Mrs. Johnstone in BLOOD BROTHERS (Ritz Theatre and Walnut St. Theatre, Philadelphia;) Effie in THE SPITFIRE GRILL (Skylight Opera, Milwaukee;) Eva  in EVITA (Phoenix Theatre, Red Bank, and on European and Scandinavian Tours;) Carrie in CAROUSEL (Playhouse Productions, Chicago;) Olivia in TWELFTH NIGHT (Door Shakespeare, Door Cty, WI;) Agnes in DANCING AT LUGHNASA (Lantern Theatre, NYC;) Polly Caprice in MOOD SWINGS(Samuel Beckett Theatre, NYC;) and others. Ms. Durante has appeared in film including TWELVE MONKEYS, has hosted several television and internet shows, and is often seen anad heard on commericals and radio voice-overs. She is a graduate of the American Music and Drama Academy and has studied Shakespeare at the Globe Theater in London.

BILL EDWARDS*(Renfield)-- Played Cratchit and others in in Tri-State's A CHRISTMAS CAROL for six seasons.  In 2011 he starred in COMEDY & A MEAL for a night of comic improvisation, which he  followed with  more comedy in an On the Town play reading of Norm Foster's THE FOURSOME.  He was Jose' in the new Spanish Comedy, YOUR AVERAGE JOSE' in 2009's last New Plays Reading Series  Billy has performed at Tri-State for several seasons in majors roles including Tom in THE GLASS MENAGERIE, many roles in GREATER TUNA, ROUNDING THIRD, Andrew Aguecheek in TWELFTH NIGHT, THE STAR-SPANGLED GIRL, and, of course, A CHRISTMAS CAROL, various play readings, and most recently as Jed in the musical comedy, THE BIG BANG.  He was given NJTA's Applause Award for his many fund-raising efforts for Tri-State. He works as an actor throughout the the tri-state area & has also been seen in the Bickford Theatre's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and SYLVIA, The Women's Theatre Company's LETTING GO and The Growing Stage's THE BIG FRIENDLY GIANT. He recently closed a show in NYC, VAUDEVILLE AT THE GINMILL. He also performs for Historic Philadelphia as one of their colonial interpreters, playing roles of Timothy Matlack & John Adams. Billy has performed with various improvisational comedy & interactive groups as well as performing in the theme park realm at both Busch Gardens,VA & Universal Studios,CA. His film credits include MAID IN MANHATTAN and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE. Member of Acdtors Equity Association.

ROBERT HEFLEY* (Abraham Van Helsing)-- Returned to Tri-State in 2011 to perform the role of Sid and other roles in New Plays Reading Series production of THE RED BALLOON, a new play by Matthew Gutschick. He was featured in  MERCY MILD, by Deborah Finkelstein, the 2nd in the 2010 New Plays Reading Series. Mr. Hefley first appeared with Tri-State in Season 2010 as Lord Capulet in Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET. He recently played the title role in NATHAN THE WISE for the Pearl Theatre Company in New York City. Regional credits include the Alley Theatre, Houston; Tennessee Rep, Nashville; Theatre Virginia, Richmond; New Harmony Theatre, Indiana; Florida Shakespeare Festival, Miami; California Repertory Company, Los Angeles; Banyan Theater Company, Sarasota, Florida, and Classic Theatre International in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. He received the Detroit Free-Press Best Supporting Actor Award for playing Ralph Nickleby in NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. Television credits include UNSOLVED MYSTERIES, the title role in SPEAKING OF SHAKESPEARE, and voiceovers for ABC SPORTS. Member of Actors' Equity, the Screen Actors Guild, and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists.

JAQUELINE HOLLOWAY (Wilhelmina Murray)--Ms. Holloway  performed Actress 3 in HOPE THROWS HER HEART AWAY, the September 2011 New Plays Reading Series new play by Susan Goodell. She played multiple roles in 2010's A CHRISTMAS CAROL, and played the title role in the new play reading of THE GIRL FROM TENNESSEE earlier this season. She starred in the Womens's Theatre production of THE LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS and staged sword fights in I HATE HAMLET for The Bickford Theatre.  In 2005, Jacqueline graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (NYC) having studied theatre, film, dance, and stage combat.  After acting in several productions in NYC, and taking on the role of Beauty in a touring production of Beauty and the Beast, Jacqueline relocated to Philadelphia. Almost immediately, she became involved in companies such as Collingswood Shakespeare Co, Historic Philadelphia, Plays and Players Theater,Hedgerow Theater, and Red Light Cabaret. She also continued her study in stage combat under the instruction of Canadian fight master, Ian Rose. Jacqueline is now a certified actor/combatant in all 8 SAFD (Society of American Fight Directors) disciplines and intermediate status with the FDC (Fight Directors Canada). In 2008, Jacqueline, along with a few others, founded Fortune’s Fools, a fun, fast theatre company geared towards performing condensed versions of Shakespeare’s plays to a variety of audiences of all ages.

JONATHAN HOLTZMAN* (Count Dracula)--Jonathan is pleased to make his third appearance with the Tri-State Actors Theater as Count Dracula in The Passion of Dracula, having previously played Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and Jim in Conor McPherson's award-winning play, THE WEIR.    Mr. Holtzman recently returned from a nation-wide tour iwith the American Shakespeare Center where he played the title role in Macbeth, and Jacob Marley in A Christmas Carol. Off Broadway: Gloucester in KING LEAR (Theater Row). Other NYC theater: Flemming in LINE (13^th Street Rep.), Winton Dean in JAMIE, ANOTHER SIDE OF DEAN (Veritas Prod.), Spartan in LYSISTRATA (45 St. Theater). Touring: Short Story Masterpices (NTAE). Regional theater: Tyler Moss in CROSSING DELANCEY (Bickford) Tony Caruso in THE GREGOR AND OLGA SHOW (Capitol Fringe Festival), Mark Antony in ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA (MacOwen Theater), York in HENRY VI p.iii (MacOwen Theater), Mark in THE OTHER  DAY (Blueberry Pond Ensemble). Film/TV: AS THE WORLD TURNS, ONE LIFE TO LIVE, DREAMLAND,  FUSE. Training: London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts, Stella Adler. Member of Actors Equity Association.

PAUL MEACHAM* (Artistic Director)-- Mr. Meacham returns  as Scrooge in 2009 for the sixth season and will direct a new adaptation  of A CHRISTMAS CAROL for this holiday season. He is the founder and artistic director of Tri-State Actors Theater, most recently directing Tri-State's   PROOF and THE TURN OF THE SCREW. Mr. Meacham performed Off-Broadway with Frank Langella and Diane Wiest in Arthur Miller's AFTER THE FALL; as Teddy Roosevelt in FIGHTING BOB,  was Dr. Seward in the long-running hit, THE PASSION OF DRACULA; and was a member of the acting company of the Classic Stage Company (two years), playing featured roles in TWELFTH NIGHT, THE TEMPEST, THE HOMECOMING, THE LADY'S NOT FOR BURNING, WOYZECK, ROSENCRANTZ AND GUILDERNSTERN ARE DEAD and others. He was a founding member of the innovative WPA Theater, where he acted and directed for five seasons including directing the musical, CHARLATANS, for which he wrote the book and lyrics, and Tevia Abrams' AND NO CEREMONY. On television, he has appeared in commercials and on "soaps," including ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ALL MY CHILDREN. He adapted and produced Edgar Allen Poe's WILLIAM WILSON for public television. His films include PRINCE OF THE CITY and others.  He has performed coast to coast in  theaters including Milwaukee Repertory Theater,  Barter Theater; Pennsylvania Stage; Cohoes Music Hall; George Street Playhouse; Virginia Stage; Missouri Repertory Theater and New Jersey Shakespeare Festival.  Since founding Tri-State Actors Theater in 1988, he has appeared as John Barrymore in I HATE HAMLET,  and Stanley in the world premiere of ERICA'S LAST MISSION by Tevia Abrams.  He has staged many productions for Tri-State  in its twenty-two seasons, including the world professional premieres of Sean O'Leary's RAIN IN THE HOLLOWS, Tevia Abrams' THE VIEW FROM HARRY'S BAR, and Judylee Oliva's ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. He was the featured performer in Tri-State's solo reading of Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL in the 2004 holiday season.  He  began TAT's New Plays Reading Series in 2000, and has appeared in and directed many play-readings for the Series. Mr. Meacham is a member of Actors Equity Association, AFTRA, and Screen Actors Guild. He is proud that Tri-State Actors Theater is a vital part of  the Sussex renaissance.