NATCHEZ &045; They came in T-shirts, fleece pullovers and baseball uniforms, but within minutes they left their high school days behind and embodied someone first created in the late 1800s.

A little heavy makeup and red lipstick later and two of the male leads were looking more the part, but for the others, a rehearsal without costumes meant it was their acting that made the role.

And that acting is what Cathedral School drama teacher Pat Caldwell loves to watch.

&uot;This is the most talented group I’ve ever worked with, bar none, college, community college, high school,&uot; Caldwell said of the 14-student cast of &uot;Dracula.&uot;

Caldwell’s class, plus a few other students from the school, started work in November for their &uot;Dracula&uot; production, which will be this weekend. The real work started after Christmas and in recent weeks with the cast and crew headed over to the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Building’s stage.

For senior Maggie Brown, being on stage is nothing new. Brown has appeared in several Natchez Little Theatre performances and plans to major in theater in college next year.

&uot;You have to learn your lines first and foremost,&uot; Brown said. &uot;Then you begin to develop the character and the little habits. You take time to brainstorm and from that you build a character.&uot;

Brown plays Mina, a love interest for Dracula, and one of many lead roles in the play.

&uot;’Dracula’ has so many lead roles, so many substantial parts and so many scenes with such high drama,&uot; Caldwell said. &uot;I think it’s a great opportunity for the kids to get involved in theater.&uot;

The performance is the first one of its size for Cathedral School in several years.

Junior Drew David plays Professor Abraham Van Helsing and spends a lot of time on stage.

&uot;Van Helsing is very intense, very philosophical,&uot; David said. &uot;He’s a really complex character. It took a lot of hard work and it is really going to pay off.&uot;

Though the play is considered a horror production, it’s not the typical Halloween screamer you’d expect, Brown said, but more like a drama.

Dracula becomes interested in another man’s woman and uses all means necessary to get what he wants.

Sophomore Matthew Sanders, who plays Mina’s betrothed and is imprisoned by Dracula, said he thought the story line would interest all ages, including children.

&uot;I think it’s a really thrilling play,&uot; Sanders said. &uot;It catches you off guard in some places.&uot;

For Dracula, senior Justin Johnson, the real fight is with the makeup crew that has insisted on the red lipstick he’d rather just do without.

In addition to the 14-person cast, the crew runs between 20 and 25 students who do everything from props and makeup to sets and public relations.

Performances will be Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are $6 in advance and $8 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling the school at 442-2531.