July 14-16 and 20-23: CLC presents summer musical 'Jekyll and Hyde'
Murder and chaos are pitted against love and virtue in the sweeping gothic musical, "Jekyll and Hyde," being presented in July by the College of Lake County departments of theatre, music and dance. Seven performances will take place in the Studio Theatre of the James Lumber Center for the Performing Arts over two weekends: July 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m.; July 16 at 2 p.m.; July 20, 21 and July 22 at 7:30 p.m.; and July 23 at 2 p.m.
The epic struggle between good and evil comes to life in this thrilling musical phenomenon that tells the story of Dr. Henry Jekyll, a devoted man of science driven to solve mankind's most challenging medical dilemmas. But after making himself the subject of his own experiments, Dr. Jekyll accidentally unleashes his own inner demon, the man the world comes to know as Mr. Hyde.
Based on the famous story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the musical was conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn. After its world premiere in Houston, the musical embarked on a U.S. tour prior to its Broadway debut in 1997.
Since then the show has toured North America and the United Kingdom and was revived on Broadway in 2013. The show features songs from multi-Grammy and Tony-nominated Frank Wildhorn and double Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse.
Thomas B. Mitchell, director and scenic designer, said that he has always loved the old story and has wanted to direct and design the show since working on a Chicago-area production more than 20 years ago. "It's such a powerful play, but it's also very intimate, which fits perfectly into our Studio Theatre. The show's music is haunting, beautiful and well written. It has same kind of drive that 'Les Miserables' has, with music that is pressing, moving forward."
Audiences will feel immersed in the show's action as they look down into the chemistry lab where Dr. Jekyll transforms himself into the murderous Mr. Hyde, Mitchell said. An eight-piece orchestra will be placed higher, at the back of the set, which was designed to conjure up Victorian-era London, creating two simultaneous worlds using turntables.
The musical centers on our good and bad tendencies and how a man unleashes his evil side through chemicals. "I think Stevenson must have written the story in reaction to the abuse of narcotics in Victorian England at the time. It's an interesting tie-in to how our society abuses drugs today and the consequences that can occur," Mitchell said.
The "Jekyll and Hyde" cast includes many seasoned veterans of CLC summer musicals, alumni, CLC choir members and current students as well as newcomers such as Dana Pepowski of Lake Forest, a voice and opera major at Northwestern University, in the role of Emma. "I'm very excited about the casting," Mitchell said.
Tickets are $17 for the general public and $14 CLC/Teen/Seniors 65-plus (prices include $2 JLC facility fee). Performances on July 14 and 20 qualify for buy one, get one free tickets. For tickets, call the James Lumber Center Box Office at (847) 543-2300 or visit www.clcillinois.edu/tickets. The James Lumber Center Box Office is open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and one hour before performances.
Jekyll and Hyde Cast:
Gabriel John Utterson: Jason Aaron (Kenosha, WI)
Sir Danvers Carew: Greg Nevil (Waukegan)
An Inmate: Scott Christian Knier (Vernon Hills)
Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde: Rob Sadlowski (Gurnee)
Simon Stride: Michael Claver (Arlington Heights)
Lady Beaconsfield: Emmalee Berger (Libertyville)
The Bishop of Basingstoke: Dan Pfeifer (Algonquin)
Lord Savage: Josh Formeller (Palatine)
General Lord Glossop: Michael Ermel (Northbrook)
Sir Archibald Proops: Alex Boyer (Highland Park)
Emma Carew: Dana Pepowski (Lake Forest)
Lucy Harris: Ashley Marie Rodriguez (Franksville, Wis.)
Nellie: Jenna Eve Kleinofen (Grayslake)
Spider: Scott Christian Knier (Vernon Hills)
Poole: Alex Poehlman (Grayslake)
Bissett: Riley Beckett (Antioch)
Guinevere: Liz Hernandez (Zion)
Priest: Madeline Moll (Round Lake Beach)
Newsboys: Charlie Gill (Grayslake), Elliott Weiss (Zion), Joshua Sadlowski (Gurnee)
Minister: Jonathon Rocha (Waukegan)
Ensemble: Grace-Ann Gifford (Mundelein), Christiane Laskowski (Lake Zurich) Sandra Lew-Moll (Round Lake Beach), Kendall Lueder (Libertyville), Eilise Lynch (Lake Forest), Johanna Nagorny (Mundelein), Sarah Peppler (Wauconda), Angela Peterson (Mundelein), Vanetta Powell (Kenosha, Wis.), Bianca Shofner (Gurnee), Ela Winnett (Waukegan), Heidi Zapp (Grayslake), Reason Charles (Grayslake), Ben Compton (Winthrop Harbor), Brian Flanders (Grayslake), Ryan Leith (Grayslake), Juan Sedonio (Island Lake), Oguzhan Ucak (Antioch).
Production staff:
Director/Scenic Design: Thomas B. Mitchell (Chicago)
Assistant Director: Alex Gray (Zion)
Choreographer: Val Alpert (Lake Zurich)
Vocal Music Director: Jeff DeLay (Waukegan)
Orchestra Music Director/Conductor: Paul Hefner (Antioch)
Lighting Design: Jeff Weiss (Zion)
Sound Design: Matt Godlewski (Chicago)
Costume Design: Sally Gill (Grayslake)
Hair, Makeup and Hat Design: Taylar Klouda (Lindenhurst)
Prop Design: Nancy Krause (Mundelein) and Eric Jenels (Libertyville)
Stage Manager: Jean Boylan (Gurnee