THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
Executive Director, Crystal Field
Presents
JOHNNY DOO WOP DRACULA
(A Drac-apella Musical)
Written & Directed by William Electric Black
February 19, 2026 – March 8, 2026
Thursday, Friday, Saturday at 8:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM
Tickets – $20, Students & Seniors $15
$12 GROUPS OF 10+ Code GROUP
Run time: 85 minutes, no intermission
CABARET THEATER
THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY
155 First Avenue (between 9th and 10th Street)
New York, NY 10003
Directions
GREASE MEETS TWILIGHT – in Emmy Award winning, Regional Tony Award winning… writer and director, William Electric Black’s bopping Drac-apella Musical – JOHNNY DOO WOP DRACULA. Former Sesame Street writer, William Electric Black aka Ian Ellis James, and an ensemble of 10 actors go back in time to 1955, Pittsburgh, PA where we meet a singing, swinging vampire named Johnny Dracula. He comes to Pennsylvania, because it sounds like Transylvania, to put a bite on the local teens. But not with his fangs. He’s a doo wop singing vampire who just arrived to make a name for himself in the music scene. A guy named Elvis is starting to stir things up but Johnny convinces Leon Leon, the owner of the local Soda Pop Shop to give him a chance to prove that he’s also got the sound to make the local teenager shake, rattle, and bop. And with the recent death of teen idol James Dean, Peggy Lombardi, along with the other broken hearted fans, could really use a new teen rebel. Golly gee, is Johnny the one she’s been dreaming about, the one to mend her broken heart? She may never find out because Brenda & The T-Tones, the local girl group, don’t take kindly to another singer in town, especially one who is a vampire. They decide to get rid of him with the help of the local bad kid, Eddie Iannotti. Will Peggy save Johnny? If so, will she let him suck her on their first date? Geez…you will just have to bop on down to see this FANGTASTIC, FANGTABULOUS immersive show with 11 Drac-a-pella doo wop songs that will have you clapping and snapping – while eating twinkies, rice pudding, popcorn – and sipping a coke or two. Get ready for Johnny Doo Wop Dracula – the TRANSYLVANIA KID – YEAH BOPPIN’ IS HIS BIZ, BOP-SHE-BOP -SHE-BOP, BOP-SHE-BOP -SHE-BOP-BOP-BOP!
CAST
William Electric Black
Sam Baum
Fernanda Becher
Chyna Jackson
Zoe Ray Prawda
Mizzie
Claire Houghton Renoe
Nick Schiro
Caitlin Snyder
Malikah Stafford
PRODUCTION
Light Design: Alexander Bartenieff
Set Design: Andrew LaPointe
Costumes: Susan Hemley
Stage Manager/Choreographer: Nicole Toshima
Assist Stg. Manager/Props Coord. Ella Greher
Light Board Op. – Ally Clare
Press/Soc. Media: Sofia Zucker – JohnnyDooWopDracula@gmail.com
W. Electric Black, who under his aka Ian Ellis James, co-wrote several songs as a writer for Sesame Street with over a million views on YouTube. These include: The Gospel Alphabet for Patti LaBelle Sesame Street: Patti Labelle Sings The Alphabet and The Letter “O” for Queen Latifah Sesame Street: Queen Latifah: The Letter O
William Electric Black, aka Ian Ellis James, is a seven-time Emmy Award winning writer for his work on “Sesame Street” between 1992 and 2002. La MaMa ETC Regional Tony Award – 2018. He also wrote for Nickelodeon’s “Allegra’s Window” and Lancit Media’s “Backyard Safari.”
In 2022-2023, his children’s television show “Rap-U-Cation” was optioned by FarView Entertainment. He also developed an original TV show for FarView called Dragon Clouds.
In a series of multimedia projects with Doug E. Fresh, Chuck D, and Artie Green, Mr. Black has campaigned for exercise and good nutrition for young children, prescription drug awareness and obesity prevention. He has also raised awareness re: saving kids from gun violence. https://news.wfu.edu/2025/03/28/wfu-center-for-literacy-education-initiates-community-conversations-about-gun-safety-and-young-children/
Mr. Black’s stage credits include: (2025) Can You Hear The Pigeons Writer/Director Theater For The New City https://www.theatrebeyondbroadway.com/reviews/can-you-hear-the-pigeons
(2024) Fly To Tomorrow – Additional Book Writer – Jooda Culture – South Korea USA Production (2024) Betty & The Belrays – Writer/Director – La MaMa ETC, NY, NY (2024) The Frankenstein Project – Writer/Director – Theater For The New City, NY, NY (2023) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical -Writer/Director, Theater For The New City, NY, NY
(2022) Romeo & Juliet: Tribal Rock Musical –Writer/Director La MaMa ETC