Teaching at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, Loyola University and Young Starz of NOLA, and opening The Barn Studios in St. Roch, are among Donald Jones Jr.’s local dance work, according to NOLA.com. He is now playing the title character in New Orleans Ballet Theatre’s Dracula at the Orpheum Theater.
From local classrooms to the stage
Jones is from Gentilly and trained with New Orleans Ballet Theatre, the New Orleans Ballet Academy, the American Dance Festival and Seattle’s Spectrum Dance Theater, according to his Loyola University New Orleans biography. He graduated from Northwestern State University of Louisiana with a degree in theatre and dance. NOLA.com reported that after touring with The Color Purple and joining a Seattle dance company, Jones spent seven years performing in Broadway productions of Frozen, Aladdin and Chicago.
NOLA.com reported that Jones found the classical ballet steps and learning the new choreography challenging, and that he expects audiences to encounter a range of dance styles in the production. He previously performed in New Orleans Ballet Theatre’s Nutcracker with Dracula castmate Katherine Elena Hanson in 2021, according to the outlet.
A New Orleans take on Dracula
New Orleans Ballet Theatre describes Dracula as an adaptation inspired by Bram Stoker’s novel: Jonathan Harker travels to Dracula’s castle and faces questions of darkness, morality and grief. The company says the production combines rock-and-roll elements with different dance styles. NOLA.com reported that choreographer and director Oliver Halkowich incorporated second-lines, marching bands and dancers in the French Quarter into his approach.
Hanson plays Lucy Westenra. NOLA.com reported that Olivia Gobbell plays Mina, Khen Kurulkar plays Renfield, Christopher Landreneau plays Dr. Seward, Lily Mangiaruga plays Art and Arcadian Broad plays Van Helsing. The outlet also reported that company founder Greg Schramel selected Jones for the refreshed production.
Performance details and what comes next
New Orleans Ballet Theatre lists Dracula performances at the Orpheum Theater at 8 p.m. Oct. 29 and 30 and 2 p.m. Oct. 31. Costumes are encouraged; the company gives an approximate running time of two hours with one intermission and notes that strobe lighting at the end of Act 1 may affect patrons with sensitivities. Tickets are available through the Orpheum Theater.
The Orpheum’s place in the arts
The venue’s role extends beyond this ballet: the National Register of Historic Places identifies the Orpheum Theatre as a Beaux Arts building significant for entertainment and architecture, with 1918 and 1921 listed as significant years. The Orpheum describes itself as the home of both the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and New Orleans Ballet Theatre.
The company’s season listing includes Nutcracker in December, New Works the following spring and Swan Lake in May. NOLA.com reported that Jones hopes to perform Dracula again next year.
