Jekyll and Hyde

October 4 - 26, 2002

Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM, Sunday at 6:00 PM

(4 Weekends with NO matinees)

Book & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse
Music by Frank Wildhorn
Conceived for the stage by
Steve Cuden & Frank Wildhorn

Artistic Director: Carrie Dabelow

Vocal Director: Bruce Weise

Choreographer: David "Doc" Lindquist

Cast List | Cast Photos | Reviews | Brief History | Story Synopsis | Song List

Press Photos | Press Release | Production Photos

Cast List

Cast Photos

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Woodstock Independent 10/09/2002

NorthernIllinois CommunityTheatre.com  10/09/2002

Brief History

A true musical theatre phenomenon, “Jekyll & Hyde” attracted legions of loyal fans even before the show began its smash-hit Broadway run.

An evocative tale of the epic battle between good and evil, “Jekyll & Hyde” is based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic story about a brilliant doctor whose experiments with human personality create a murderous counterpart. Convinced the cure for his father's mental illness lies in the separation of Man's evil nature from his good, Dr. Henry Jekyll unwittingly unleashes his own dark side, wreaking havoc in the streets of late 19th century London as the savage, maniacal Edward Hyde.

“Jekyll & Hyde” is pure pulse-pounding theatre, with that same macabre combination of fun and fright that fuels such classics as “Sweeney Todd” and “The Phantom Of The Opera,” and a lush, romantic pop score that includes the hit songs "This Is The Moment" and "Someone Like You." The show features a trio of star-making roles in Dr. Jekyll, his sympathetic fiancée Emma and Lucy, the woman he rescues from a life of sin who later succumbs to the uncontrolled passions of Mr. Hyde.

With the international hit "This Is The Moment," as its centerpiece, the score, with music by Frank Wildhorn (The Civil War) and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, throbs with the pulse of today, while evoking another time and place.

JEKYLL & HYDE: The Broadway Phenomenon that ran 1,587 performances and generated an unprecedented 1,587 standing ovations.

STORY SYNOPSIS

ACT ONE

London, 1888, Henry Jekyll, a brilliant young doctor and research scientist, analyzes the dual nature of Man - the good and evil (I Need to Know). He tears himself away from his work to attend a glittering, if superficial, social event (Facade/Bitch, Bitch, Bitch). Celebrating his engagement to Emma Carew, the eligible and lovely daughter of Sir Danvers Carew, an eminent and revered figure of London society, and Chairman of the Board of Governors of the great London hospital to whom Jekyll is about to present the findings of his research. Jekyll expresses his fears and doubts to Emma. She reassures him that they will see it through together (Take Me As I Am).

Jekyll's fears, however, are well-founded. His radical proposals are totally rejected the following day by the St. Jude's Hospital Committee, chaired by Sir Danvers (Board of Governors). Jekyll insists he has found the key to separating the good and evil elements in man's nature but needs to conduct a human experiment to prove his theories conclusively. His ideas are greeted with outrage and scorn by the high-minded but hypocritical governors. Their unanimous negativity crushes Jekyll's immediate plans but not his determination to continue, with or without their support.

Consumed with anger and frustration, Jekyll walks the dark streets of London, consoled by his close friend and lawyer, John Utterson. Jekyll recklessly decides to drown his sorrows in a bawdy London pub, "The Dregs," where he encounters and is drawn to Lucy, a sweet-and-spicy, seductive and sympathetic young lady of the night (Bring On The Men). They share a drink and a confidence or two, and an unlikely friendship is born.

Returning home with renewed confidence and determination, Jekyll convinces himself that the logical and only candidate for his revolutionary experiment is himself (This Is The Moment).

Recording his every move in a journal, Jekyll prepares and consumes his formula HJ7. Within minutes it takes effect - disastrously - transforming the gentle, quiet, civilized Henry Jekyll into the vain, uninhibited, violent, libidinous monster Edward Hyde (Transformation).

The many remarkable qualities we have come to admire in Jekyll now gradually give way to his basest animal instincts. In the persona of Hyde, Jekyll starts to display all the hidden and repressed evil characteristics of his nature, with even more devasting consequences.

An impulse guides Hyde back to "The Dregs." Lucy senses she knows him but isn't sure (Lucy Meets Hyde). She is cautious, but she likes him. Hyde buys her for the night but quickly becomes violent. Lucy runs away, and a ferocious fight ensues between Hyde and the other men in the pub. Victorious, Hyde glories in the power and strength he feels running through him (Alive) and pursues Lucy into the night.

Back in Harley Street, Jekyll becomes reclusive. Emma, Utterson, and Sir Danvers are increasingly concerned about him (His Work and Nothing More). Lucy, unaware that Jekyll and Hyde are the same man, visits Jekyll to show him the injuries she has received from a violent customer at "The Dregs." Jekyll treats her wounds. Lucy's feelings for the good doctor grow stronger (Someone Like You). Little is she aware of the terror the good doctor's alter ego is about to inflict on London.

ACT TWO

The terrifying other half of Jekyll now emerges in its full horror to wreak a terrible vengeance on society for its neglect and injustice toward Henry Jekyll. In swift succession, Hyde dispatches five members of the Board of Governors from this world in the most gory fashion imaginable (Mass/Murder, Murder!). Jekyll's frustrations are finally being resolved by his avenging devil, Hyde.

Elsewhere in London, Sir Danvers cautions his beloved daughter about Jekyll's recent unreliability, though he is motivated by his own reluctance to lose her (Letting Go), while Emma and Lucy pine for the man they both love (In His Eyes), unaware of the monster he has become.

The horrendous pendulum swings back and forth between Jekyll and Hyde, gathering momentum as Jekyll continues to gamble with death, risking everything in his desperate struggle to achieve his ultimate purpose, the isolation of good from evil in man. But it is driving him slowly but inevitably toward madness (The World Has Gone Insane).

At "The Dregs" (The Girls of the Night), Lucy also sees her dreams fading (No One Knows Who I Am). The return of Hyde, and their irresistible attraction to one another, make her increasingly aware of the consequences of such a relationship (It's a Dangerous Game).

Emma visits Jekyll, incurring his wrath when he finds her reading the journal in his laboratory. She leaves, aware that their romance is disintegrating (Once Upon a Dream - Emma).

Jekyll is in torment (No One Must Ever Know); the drama spirals relentlessly upward, and he strives desperately within himself to reverse the implacable fates that threaten to engulf those nearest and dearest to him - Emma, Lucy, and himself! He persuades Utterson to revise his will in favor of Edward Hyde, in case he fails in his last efforts to regain control of the situation.

Realizing what he has done, Jekyll is in total despair (Once Upon a Dream - Jekyll). He destroys his laboratory by fire. Utterson arrives and meets Hyde. He demands to know where Jekyll is. Jekyll reveals himself and his terrible secret, tells Utterson of the death of Lucy, and sends him to "The Dregs" to retrieve his incriminating letter.

Jekyll resolves to make one final supreme effort to overcome Hyde. He drinks the last of the formula HJ7, looks himself in the mirror and sees.....Hyde. They engage in a final desperate battle (Confrontation). Who has won?

A month passes (The Wedding Reception). Jekyll marries Emma. All seems well, but at the wedding reception, the indestructible Hyde emerges yet again, and in a final scene of utter mayhem, when Emma's life is threatened, Utterson shoots and kills him. The goodness of Henry Jekyll finally drowns in the ocean of evil of his own creation - Edward Hyde.

Song List

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Press Photos

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Robert Kimmeth as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Krissy Linde as Lucy Harris

Robert Kimmeth as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Megan Marshall as Emma Carew

Robert Kimmeth as Dr. Henry Jekyll / Mr. Edward Hyde

Dan Kreisman as Sir Danvers Carew, Robert Kimmeth as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Bill Sizemore as John Utterson

Robert Kimmeth as Dr. Henry Jekyll and Bill Sizemore as John Utterson

Megan Marshall as Emma Carew and Dan Kreisman as Sir Danvers Carew

Press Release

For Immediate Release
Date: Sept. 30, 2002
Contact: Laurie Faith Gibson – Publicity Chair
GibbyPHD@mindspring.com or 815-263-7658

WMTC PRESENTS

Woodstock Musical Theatre Company presents Jekyll & Hyde October 4^th-26^th at the historic Woodstock Opera House. Tickets are on sale now. Call (815) 338-5300 to order tickets today! An evocative tale of the epic battle between good and evil, Jekyll & Hyde is based on Robert Louis Stevenson's 1886 novella about a brilliant doctor who, distraught over his father's mental illness, embarks upon a quest to isolate the dual elements of good and evil that are constantly struggling for supremacy inside every human being. However, when his experiment backfires, Jekyll inadvertently gives life to Edward Hyde, his evil alter ego, a murderous being who will let loose a reign of terror on the city of London and those who had ridiculed Jekyll's research.

Jekyll & Hyde is pure pulse-pounding theatre, with that same macabre combination of fun and fright that fuels such classics as Sweeney Todd and The Phantom of the Opera, and a lush, romantic pop score that includes the hit songs "This Is The Moment" and "Someone Like You." A true musical theatre phenomenon, Jekyll & Hyde attracted legions of loyal fans even before the show began its smash-hit Broadway run. Jekyll & Hyde was originally produced in 1990 at the Houston's Tony Award-winning Alley Theatre. An instantaneous success with audiences and critics alike, it went on to break box office records, and its original run was extended four times during that first summer. In 1997 Jekyll & Hyde made its Broadway debut at the Plymouth Theatre. Another resounding success, this production was nominated for 4 Tony Awards. Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll/Hyde) won the Drama Desk award for Best Actor in a Musical. And Linda Eder (Lucy) won a 1997 Theater World Award for Outstanding Debut Performer in New York City.

Woodstock Musical Theatre Company is producing this incredible show under the polished direction of Carrie Dabelow, musical direction of Bruce Weise and choreography of David “Doc” Lindquist. Jekyll & Hyde marks the opening of the 28^th annual season at the Woodstock Opera House. Jekyll & Hyde promises to be an enjoyable challenge for our Designer and Technical teams; Set Designer Trent Halpin, Lighting Designer Daniel McElmeel, Property Design Seleta Varga, Technical Coordinator Greg “Norm” Boyd, Stage Manager Pete Liput, Sound Designer M. Christopher Stevens, Wig/Make-Up Designer Virginia Zymonas and Costume Designers extraordinaire Darrin Pufall and Ryan Moller.

Our multi-talented cast includes: Robert Kimmeth of Chicago as Jekyll/Hyde, Krissy Linde of Johnsburg as Lucy, Megan Marshal of Woodstock as Emma, Bill Sizemore of McHenry as John Utterson, Dan Kreisman of Woodstock as Sir Danvers Carew.  Our supporting Board of Governors includes: Rob Scharlow as Simon Stride and Spider, Peter Lopatin as the Bishop of Basingstoke, Bob Reed as Lord Savage, David “Doc” Lindquist as Archibald Proops, Corey Keane as General Lord Glossop and Sue Kedzior as Lady Beaconsfield.  Our talented ensemble cast of characters includes: Barbara Tipton, Michael Perry, Kim Kreisman, Laurie Faith Gibson, Angie Brandenburg, Jennifer Erickson, Stephanie Foster, Beth Davis Johnson, jennifer m.k., Karla Ziller, Mary Anne Bennett, and Jennifer Lorenc.

Jekyll & Hyde performs Fridays and Saturdays, October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, and 26, 2002 at 8:00 pm and Sundays, October 6, 13, and 20, 2002 at 6:00 pm, at the historic Woodstock Opera House. Tickets are on sale now. Call (815) 338-5300 to order tickets today. Senior and Student discounts as well as a 10% Group Discount for groups of 20 or more per performance are available. Please Note: Jekyll & Hyde is rated PG-13 and may be inappropriate for younger children.

For more information visit our Web Site, www.woodstocktheatre.com and click on our current production link.

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