Ever heard the phrase, “scary good?” That’s an apt way to describe Brooks School's winter play, “Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors,” directed by Abby Derderian ’25 and performed to a packed audience in the Center for the Arts from February 27 through March 1.

“It’s definitely not a version of 'Dracula' anyone’s seen before,” said Director of Theatre Meghan Hill. She described the tongue-in-cheek production as “very quirky,” “a lot of fun,” and full of pop culture references with “a little bit of something in there for everybody.”

View the program here.

The 90-minute show enlisted ten cast members on stage, and another seven in the crew behind the scenes, including Derderian, who also designed the set as part of their theater Independent project first imagined more than a year ago (see below for the timeline board displayed outside the theater).

“It feels amazing to have had this experience and led the show through from idea to final performance,” said Derderian. “I am really proud of how it turned out.”

With all of the responsibilities involved — from casting to running rehearsals, advising classmates and collaborating with the adult production team — the actor-turned director could have easily become overwhelmed. Yet Derderian said, “The whole process was a gift to experience.”

See a photo album from the show.

Derderian has starred in and served as crew on multiple plays and musicals over the years at Brooks:

• Clue: High School Edition
   
• Rent
   
• Arsenic and Old Lace
   
• Chicago
   
• Peter and the Starcatcher
   
• Footloose
   
• She Kills Monsters
   
• Six: Teen Edition
   
• Mean Girls.

Hill never doubted Derderian could pull off directing, too. “I'm always impressed by the initiative that a student shows in wanting to take to take on a project like this,” she said.

“Abby has been at the tech table and they've done some design before so they have an idea of what they're getting themselves into but they’re also venturing into the unknown,” said the theater director. “I think that's really brave for a student to want to take on, especially as a senior because … you could pick an easier activity that doesn't take as much of your time. …This is an indicator of Abby's talent and drive and passion to want to be in this space and do this art form. Honoring that is really, really fun.”

Reflecting on how it felt to be boss this time, Derderian spoke more like a teammate.

“As you progress, your expectations change and grow to accommodate new problems and ideas,” they said. “For example, just before building the set, we decided to move it further back, which led to decisions about adding more walls and changing line sets of hanging pieces. As someone who has spent a lot of time in other roles, both onstage and backstage, I was more empathetic and aware of the needs and challenges of the people I was working with.”

A servant leader to the end, Derderian summed up their feelings about directing this winter with thanks. “I am really grateful to have had the space to share and grow my ideas,” they shared. “...Every moment spent on ‘Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors’ was a joy and an honor and I am so proud to have collaborated with all the great minds who took a bite out of it!”

Learn more about theater at Brooks.