The OU School of Drama students will perform an inspired rendition of Bram Stoker’s original 1897 classic this weekend.

“Dracula,” the School of Drama’s newest project, begins at 8 p.m. Friday in the Rupel J. Jones Theatre, and runs until Oct. 2. While many people know the story of “Dracula” through Hollywood films, the play will adapt the story from Stoker’s novel.

“The Victorian era is much about controlling your ambitions,” said play director Tom Huston Orr, director of the School of Drama. “Dracula represents the ability to free those ambitions when he bites you and so one turns into a bit of a monster.”

Because the novel is a good length, the play will be a condensed version of the story, focusing on the most important and famous parts.

“It’s very fast; it’s very scary,” Orr said. “It’s not really designed for children under the age of 13. It’s too violent.”

To add to the frightening storyline, Orr said the play will use special effects to keep audience members on the edge of their seats.

“This is not something we normally do,” he said. “We don’t usually play with the special effects we are playing with.”

“The play with the actors has been ready probably nine or 10 days ago, it’s the scenic elements that are so challenging,” he said.

Brad Gray, drama with an emphasis in lighting design junior, has helped design the dark, dreary mood of the play through his creative lighting techniques.

Gray had to spend time writing the code for every scene with lighting cues, which could sometimes take hours to complete.

Actors also have put many hours into perfecting their roles in production.

Drama senior Madison Niederhauser will play the role of Sigmund Freud-based Professor Abraham van Helsing, who rallies the cast members to go after Dracula and drives the plot.

Niederhauser said this has been one of the more unique roles he has performed.

“I’m 21 years of age and I’m playing this guy who is 57 years old,” Niederhauser said. “That’s a huge challenge that you don’t typically get to face.”

Dracula’s actor Brad Brockman, drama junior, said he also believes this has been a rewarding yet different experience in the theater.

“It’s just been kind of a journey and a fight to really grow,” Brockman said. “Never before have I played such a villain, and that has been a struggle for me because I usually play really goofy people.”

Dracula will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, 30 and Oct. 1; at 3 p.m. Sunday and Oct. 2; and at 11 p.m. Saturday at the Rupel J. Jones Theatre.

Tickets are $14 for students with an OU ID, $18 for seniors, members of the military and OU faculty and staff and $22 for adults.