The J is thrilled to be part of the rolling world premiere of theatre dybbuk’s “Dracula (Annotated).” This production, with its blend of artistry, history, and provocation, offers a rare opportunity to engage audiences on multiple levels. From the outset, our goal has been to create a month of festivities surrounding a multi-day artist residency that speaks to all ages and interests by inviting people into the world of the play and sparking conversations that extend far beyond the stage.
In our early conversations with Artistic Director Aaron Henne, he shared how deeply he values the educational component of theatre dybbuk’s work as a way to ground audiences in the themes and questions explored in performance. This inspired us to develop programming that could illuminate those ideas from different angles. True to the company’s mission of “create[ing] provocative performances and innovative educational encounters that explore Jewish thought to illuminate universal human experience,” we envisioned opportunities for the community to not only witness but also to investigate and express themselves.
From the “One Community, Many Stories” event and a masterclass for artists, to a historical panel at the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center, we sought ways to connect the audience to the production. Congregation Chaverim graciously selected “Dracula” for its October book read, giving participants a literary doorway into the material, while our cooking class playfully explores cultural flavors tied to the story’s setting. Together, these programs form a constellation of exploration, inviting you in to wrestle, revel, and understand the experiences at the heart of this work.
theatre dybbuk Events
Chaverim Book Club: “Dracula” Through a Jewish Lens
Wednesday, October 8, 2025, 6:45pm at Congregation Chaverim
Even if you don’t read the book — come for the conversation! This month, Chaverim is taking a bold turn with Bram Stoker’s “Dracula.” While not a Jewish book, this gothic classic offers a rich opportunity to explore themes of othering, fear, and cultural projection — especially resonant in light of current conversations around antisemitism.
Bottles & Bites: A Young Adult Sukkah Social
Thursday, October 9, 2025, 5:30-7:30pm at the Tucson J
Free, fun, and fang-friendly! Join us for a wine and juice tasting, garlicky snacks, and good company as we welcome in the spookiest month and the holiday of Sukkot. This informal gathering is our way of saying: You’re invited. You belong.
Cancelled: In Every Generation: Storytelling, Lore, and Cultural Transmission: Panel Discussion
Thursday, October 16, 2025, 6-8pm at the Tucson Jewish Museum and Holocaust Center
This panel explores how folklore (Jewish and otherwise) shapes our understanding of fear, identity, and survival. Drawing on Dracula’s symbolic legacy and Jewish storytelling traditions, we’ll investigate the role of supernatural tales, antisemitic myths, and oral histories in carrying memory across generations as well as how institutions preserve and reinterpret communal stories in the digital age.
Bite into History: A Knish-Making Workshop with Jeremy Knellerl
Friday, October 17, 2025, 3-5pm at the Tucson J
Explore the rich flavors and cultural history of the knish—an iconic Ashkenazi dish that has survived for generations through migration, adaptation, and resilience. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to craft your own savory pastries under the tutelage of Jeremy Kneller, owner of Kneller’s Delicatessen! As you knead, fill, and bake, reflect on the lives of Eastern European Jewish immigrants at the turn of the 20th century — navigating unfamiliar landscapes, preserving tradition, and feeding both body and soul in times of great change.
One Community, Many Stories: A Night of Writing, Connection, and Community Voices
Monday, October 20, 2025, 5:30-7:30pm at the Tucson J
One Community, Many Stories blends creative writing, storytelling, and performance into one powerful communal experience.
Under the guidance of Aaron Henne, artistic director of theatre dybbuk, you’ll take part in a writing workshop open to all levels, where you’ll craft personal essays or stories rooted in your own lived experience. These pieces will then be curated and performed in a staged reading by Aaron and his ensemble of actors. This October gathering is playful, powerful, and rooted in the belief that every voice deserves to be heard — even in the shadows.
Bringing the First Jewish Play to Life: theatre dybbuk on Exagoge
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 1-2:30pm at the Tucson J
Learn about the first Jewish play, and how the 2nd-century BCE fragment became a 21st-century theatrical experience. Join theatre dybbuk’s Artistic Director Aaron Henne for a behind-the-scenes exploration of “Exagoge,” the earliest known Jewish play. Through conversation, Q&A, and selected excerpts, discover how ancient texts still speak to our most urgent modern questions.
Heritage, History, and Humanity Masterclass with Aaron Henne
Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 6-9pm at CATALYST Creative Collective
theatre dybbuk specializes in using historical narratives that intersect with considerations of identity and heritage to illuminate the forces at play in our contemporary societies. In this three-hour masterclass, Artistic Director Aaron Henne will lead participants through a process in which they gain tools to investigate their own personal and/or communal narratives, texts, and turning points as vessels to create new theatrical work that explores the complexities of our world.
“Dracula (Annotated)”
Friday, October 24, 2025, 2pm at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, The University of Arizona
Saturday, October 25, 2025, 7pm at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, The University of Arizona
In this rolling world premiere of “Dracula (Annotated),” theatre dybbuk excavates Bram Stoker’s famous tale, using a unique blend of historical investigation and heightened theatricality to weave together the gothic characters and plot of “Dracula” with references to societal forces at play in Victorian England that are still timely today. Under the direction of writer/director Aaron Henne and accompanied by a live musical score, a company of five performers play the multitude of characters in the novel while also bringing to life a variety of voices from its time.
Learn more and register for theatre dybbuk programs here: bit.ly/tucsonjtheatredybbuk
