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More than a century after its first publication, Dracula remains
the ultimate horror story, with countless film adaptations and literary
spin-offs. This fall, the Rosenbach Museum &
Library plumbs the depths of its collections to bring you another
chilling installation of Release the
Bats, a month-long series of cultural events inspired
by Bram Stoker's classic novel and iconic figure, Dracula.
In its third year, the festival takes on a global theme, exploring
the influence of Stoker's powerful vampire mythology on popular culture
throughout the world, and extending to interpretations of vampire
and monster legends in various cultures worldwide. This year's festival
features:
- film screenings of vampire films from around the world, including
Nosferatu and Chinese Ghost Story
- dramatic readings from Bram Stoker's novel
- a monster storytelling slam
- visiting authors of contemporary vampire stories
- tours of Stoker's research notes and outlines for the novel
- a Halloween Eve Dracula Puppet Parade
[Click to see full calendar of events]
[Click for details on the Dracula Puppet Parade]
Release
the Bats: A Dracula Film & Cultural Festival was
made possible by major grants from the Independence
Foundation and the Hirsig Family Fund
of the Philadelphia Foundation, with additional support from
the Philadelphia Citypaper. Special
thanks to Spiral Q Puppet Theater.
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DRACULA PUPPET PARADE
Saturday, October 30, 5:30PM *FREE*
(Starts and ends at the Rosenbach)
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 This
year's Release the Bats
unleashes the 2nd annual, larger-than-life Dracula puppet
parade, produced by Spiral
Q Puppet Theater and funded by the Independence Foundation.
The parade brings the novel and its powerful mythology to life—and
in true Spiral Q style, to TITANIC proportions.
 A
pageantry of costumed characters, screeching bats, giant heads
of garlic, a horde of howling wolves, a horse-drawn, coffin-laden
carriage and more, lead a colossal Nosferatu through
the darkening streets of Center City. Don your costume (or fangs)
and join us!
Volunteers needed! We need volunteers to help us get things going. Spiral Q welcomes kids in particular and those with a flare for theatrics. Call 215.222.6979 or visit www.spiralq.org for details.
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VENUE AND TICKET INFORMATION
Rosenbach
Museum & Library
2008-2010 DeLancey Place
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.732.1600
www.rosenbach.org
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm;
Wednesday 10am-8pm
Admission: adults $8, students/seniors
$5, members/children under 5 FREE
Unless otherwise noted, all programs at the Rosenbach
are free with museum admission.
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EXHIBITION
Bram Stoker's Dracula: The
Rosenbach Notes
October 1 - November 7, 2004
 During
Release the Bats, you'll have
the chance to explore Bram Stoker's research
and manuscript notes for Dracula, some of which were
written right here in Philadelphia on authentic Stratford hotel stationary.
Since its publication in 1897, Bram Stoker's Dracula has never gone
out of print or left the public imagination. One of the most often
told stories in the world, it has been translated into every major
language and adapted into hundreds of different films, plays, and
books. During the festival, the Rosenbach offers a rare opportunity
to see Stoker's meticulous notes for the novel, including his earliest
ideas and research, complete character lists, chapter outlines, and
lists of "vampire qualities." Learn about the source of
this most famous of horror stories, and discover the moment where
our fascination with the vampire began. |
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| CALENDAR OF EVENTS |
OPENING RECEPTION |
Wednesday,
October 6
6PM
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Release the Bats Kick-Off
Party FREE
Sponsored by the Young Friends of the Rosenbach
This year’s kick-off event will be a bigger and scarier
tribute to Bram Stoker’s literary classic, Dracula. See
the Rosenbach's Dracula notes and enjoy special readings and
poetic interpretations of the vampire’s mysterious allure,
hosted by poet-in-residence Nathalie Anderson.
RSVP: 215.732.1600, ext. 113 or email rsvp@rosenbach.org |
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WORKSHOP - for families! |
Saturday,
October 9
2PM
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Day of the Dead Altar-Building
FREE
Celebrated throughout Mexico, the Day of the Dead (or Dia de
los Muertos) explores the mysteries of death, while allowing
the living to pay tribute to the deceased through offerings
and personalized altars. In partnership with the Mexican
Cultural Center and Congreso de Latinos Unidos
Girls Center, the Rosenbach invites you to join local
artists to create a Day of the Dead altar and learn about the
origins, history, and cultural significance of this enduring
Latin American tradition. The altar will be displayed at the
Rosenbach during Release the Bats. |
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READINGS - for families! |
Saturday,
October 16
2PM
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Monster Storytelling Slam
Free with museum admission
Lurking under various guises and names, vampires and other monsters
have long excited the imaginations of every culture throughout
the world, and inspired cautionary folktales passed down for
generations. Join us for lively exchange of monster myths and
legends from around the world, led by Philadelphia’s finest
storytellers who - through a diverse array of storytelling styles
- will offer their renditions of classic, spine-tingling tales
of terror. Local storytellers and international cultural lore
will collide as we summon mysterious creatures of the night!
Hosted by storyteller-in-residence Linda Goss.
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FILM SERIES Have
Cape Will Travel: The Vampire as a Global Citizen
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Three-course series:
$50 / $30 members, any one movie $20
Join us for an evening course that spans the globe in search
of cinematic representations of vampirism. Inspired by the Rosenbach’s
own collection of Bram Stoker’s Dracula notes,
and led by Associate Director Michael Barsanti and
independent film curator, Gretjen Clausing,
this course provides an intriguing introduction to the history
and appeal of this ever-expanding film genre.
Registration required: 215.732.1600, x113 |
Wednesday,
October 13
6:30PM
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Ganga and Hess (Bill
Gunn, USA, 1970, 110 mins)
Considered a landmark work of 1970s African American cinema,
Ganja and Hess is a complex, sensual and expressive
vampire film where themes of addiction, class, and race are
explored and the word “vampire” is never uttered.
Ganja and Hess tells the story of Dr. Hess, an anthropologist
who is stabbed in Africa with an ancient dagger and cursed with
an addiction to blood, and Ganja, who discovers his bloody curse
and becomes his enemy and lover. This film will be preceded
by the discussion by author LA Banks. |
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Wednesday,
October 20
6:30PM
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Chinese Ghost Story
(Ching Siu-Tung, Hong Kong, 1987, Cantonese w/ subtitles, 95
mins)
In the tradition of the visceral Hong Kong cinema of the 1980s,
Chinese Ghost Story is a wild, high-flying supernatural
love story that transposes the storylines and vampire characteristics
from Bram Stoker’s Dracula to the Ming Dynasty
in China. A lowly tax collector (Leslie Cheung) seeks shelter
in a strange temple where he falls in love with a beautiful
ghost (Joey Wong) in the reluctant employ of a three thousand
year old tree demon, while Van Helsing takes on the form of
a highly energetic sword swinging Taoist priest. Think Crouching
Tiger, Hidden Dragon meets Blade. This film will
be preceded by the discussion by author Jonathan Maberry. |
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Wednesday,
October 27
6:30PM |
Spanish Dracula (George
Melford, USA, 1931, in Spanish w/ subtitles, 104 mins)
Everyone knows Bela Lugosi from the classic film Count Dracula,
but how many cinephiles know that while Lugosi slept the film
sets were haunted by a Spanish-speaking cast filming the Spanish
version for export? More atmospheric and sexually charged than
its English counterpart, the Spanish Dracula is a fantastic
gem of the horror genre brought back to life from the archives
for all to see, cobwebs and all. |
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AUTHOR EVENTS |
Wednesday,
October 13
6PM |
LA Banks $
In the fictional world created by Philadelphia writer LA
Banks, one woman is all that stands between humankind
and eternal night. That woman is Damali Richards, a young
African American vampire huntress who has been chosen to vanquish
vampires of The Dark Realm. Join the author for a discussion
of her recent books, Minion and Awakening,
and discover the groundbreaking vampire series that has been
called “an action packed journey through a world of
vampires and hunted, told with the flavor and rhythm of the
hip hop generation.” Followed by a screening of Ganga
and Hess at 6:30pm.
RSVP: 215.732.1600, ext. 113 or email rsvp@rosenbach.org |
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Wednesday,
October 20
6PM |
Jonathan Maberry $
Ever wonder how to protect yourself from a vampire reincarnated
from a werewolf, a Malaysian cat-vampire that hunts for children
each night, or the water-dwelling Kappa of Japan who use Sumo
wrestling to overpower their victims? Written under the pen
name of Shane MacDougall, Jonathan Maberry’s A Vampire
Slayer’s Field Guide to the Undead is the definitive
encyclopedia of vampire folklore across the globe. Maberry
will discuss his fascinating book and identify the many treacherous
vampire species, expose their fiendish powers, and reveal
the secrets of seasoned slayers. Followed by a screening of
Chinese Ghost Story at 6:30pm.
RSVP: 215.732.1600, ext. 113 or email rsvp@rosenbach.org |
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EXHIBITION TOURS |
Saturday,
October 23
Sunday, October 31
2PM |
Dracula Notes
Spotlight Tour Free with museum
admission
A unique opportunity to explore Bram Stoker’s research
notes for Dracula with exhibition curator and Associate Director
Michael Barsanti.
RSVP: 215.732.1600, ext. 113 or email rsvp@rosenbach.org |
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WORKSHOP - for families! |
Wednesday, October
27
4PM |
Shadow Puppet Workshop
with Spiral Q
In preparation for the Release the Bats parade and shadow puppet
performance, Spiral Q artists invite children, families, and
Dracula enthusiasts to this hands-on workshop to learn
how to create Dracula-themed shadow puppets and produce
a puppet show. All workshop participants are invited to participate
in a shadow puppet performance following the Dracula
Puppet Parade on October 30. |
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DRACULA PUPPET PARADE |
Saturday, October
30
5:30PM |
Dracula Puppet Parade
(Meet at the Rosenbach @ 5:30PM) FREE
On the eve of Halloween, Spiral Q Puppet Theater brings Dracula
to life - and to gigantic proportions! Join the procession of
vampires, bats, howling wolves, heads of garlic, zombies, and
more through the darkening streets of Center City. The parade
concludes at the Rosenbach with spirited readings from Stoker's
novel and an interpretive shadow puppet performance, created
and performed by children. Put on your scariest costume and
follow the cavalcade of horror!
Discover the fiendish fun behind the scenes of the Dracula
parade – volunteer! For information call 215.732.1600,
ext. 111, or email info@rosenbach.org
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FILM
SCREENING |
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Saturday, October
30
8PM |
Nosferatu $
First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, 2125 Chestnut Street
After the parade, enjoy a Release the Bats tradition: an atmospheric
screening of the 1922 silent classic, Nosferatu the Vampire,
with live music accompaniment by organist Don Kinnier.
Tickets available at the door: $8 adults/$5 students and children
over 5 |
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