Taylor Gentry, the director and producer of local horror-comedy podcast Count Drahoon’s Feature of Fright, will bring his horror/comedy radio show to a live audience in Smyrna on July 13.
While this will be his first-ever show involving a live audience, Gentry says the podcast has been around for a few years and has garnered a loyal following.
“We have a growing audience, but our fans are spread out in several small pockets all over the world,” Gentry said. “We’re wanting to put on a show in the local area because this is a great way for our public to see that we have a central location [where] they can stop by and see us.”
Gentry noted that Rutherford County was the perfect spot to put on a show that caters to audience members hungry for something fun and unique.
“Rutherford County is growing tremendously, and with it is a growing number of folks that are eager to go out and see new shows and cultural events,” Gentry said. “We would love to be a part of this expanding community of performers.”
The show will be presented in a “radio-style play” format and will include three stories performed by at least three actors each. The first story is titled “Purgatory Is a Bar on Main Street” and is loosely based on the Book of Job in the Bible. The second stars Count Drahoon, played by Gentry, and the count’s Frankenstein-esque son, Daryl. According to Gentry, Count Drahoon is a centuries-old vampire and a mad scientist who has a knack for storytelling. Lastly, the actors will be presenting a story about a couple who encounter a creature known as the Nucklavee, a well-known monster in Scottish folklore.
The blend of horror with comedy that Count Drahoon brings to the table should make for an entertaining show.
“Horror/comedy is a quirky mix, but that’s why we love it,” Gentry said. “For me, laughing and screaming are two sides of the same coin. When we watch scary movies or something startles us, we have a natural tendency to laugh it off. So, I think that’s why it is so entertaining to have a show where the two are mixed. It’s a fun ride.”
While Gentry was the first to start work on the live show, he says that he would not be able to put it on without his committed cast.
“None of this would be possible without my cast and Aaron [Trimble],” Gentry said. “They truly are the best. They aren’t just super-talented. They aren’t just super-hardworking. They are the best friends that anybody can ask for. Almost all of these folks I have worked with and known for years. The only thing better than having talented friends is the honor to work side by side with them.”
The show’s full cast includes actors Yancy Pearson, Andrew Gately, Charles Shrodes, Jon Fleet, Austin Duke, Poem Atkinson and John Mauldin. Foley artist (sound effect man) Aaron Trimble will handle the sound effects for the live show.
Locals can catch the live show on Friday, July 13 at 7 p.m. at Carpe Cafe in downtown Smyrna. The show is free to the public.
For more on Count Drahoon’s Feature of Fright and other podcast and video projects by Gentry and his Camcorder TV team, visit camcordertv.com.
