'Dracula' heading to Broadway

NEW YORK, March 10 (UPI) -- A musical based on Bram Stoker's vampire classic "Dracula" will be the first entry in the 2004-2005 Broadway season.

Produced by Frank Wildhorn and directed by Des McAnuff, the show is set to bow this July, The New York Post reported Wednesday.

Tom Hewitt, last seen on Broadway in "The Rocky Horror Show," is expected to play the fanged villain with Len Cariou expected to play the vampire hunter Van Helsing and Melissa Errico to portray Mina, the innocent object of Dracula's affections.

"Dracula," which has book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black, was first produced at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2001.

It was supposed to come to Broadway that season, but was derailed by tepid reviews. It has since been extensively reworked, The Post noted.