Jekyll & Hyde (musical)

Jekyll & Hyde

Original Broadway cast recording
Music Frank Wildhorn
Lyrics Frank Wildhorn
Leslie Bricusse
Steve Cuden
Book Leslie Bricusse
Basis Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Premiere May 1990: Alley Theatre
Productions 1990 Houston World Premiere
1995 US Tour
1997 Broadway
1999 2nd US Tour
2000 Non-Equity Tour
2001 DVD Recording
2004 In Concert
2004 UK Tour
2011 2nd UK Tour
2012 4th US Tour
2013 Broadway revival
2014 5th US Tour
Regional and international productions
2016 Mexico Cast

Jekyll & Hyde is a musical thriller based on the novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Originally conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, it features music by Wildhorn, a book by Leslie Bricusse and lyrics by Wildhorn, Bricusse and Cuden. Following a world premiere run in Houston, Texas the musical embarked on a national tour of the United States prior to its Broadway debut in 1997. Many international productions have since been staged including two subsequent North American tours, two tours of the United Kingdom, a concert version and a re-vamped US tour in 2012 ahead of a 2013 revival on Broadway. The 25th anniversary production is slated for release in 2016.

Development

Wildhorn and Cuden had written the score in the late 1980s, producing a demo recording in 1986 with Chuck Wagner, Christopher Carothers, Tuesday Knight and Gillian Gallant but it was not produced on Broadway to begin with due to financing, however a concept recording was made featuring Colm Wilkinson as Jekyll/Hyde and Linda Eder as Lucy Harris and Lisa Carew. The show was subsequently re-written by Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse and a world premiere production was announced for 1990 in Houston, Texas.[1]

Production History

Pre-Broadway Engagements/Tour

Jekyll & Hyde was first presented at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas in May 1990 where it broke box office records, played to sold-out houses, and won acclaim from critics leading to the run being extended twice, finally closing in July 1990. Chuck Wagner played the title roles, with Rebecca Spencer as Emma Carew (then named Lisa) and Linda Eder as Lucy. Gregory Boyd directed the production.[1]

After an almost five-year hiatus, the show then returned to Houston, this time produced by Theatre Under the Stars, from January 20, 1995 for a limited engagement through February 19. It then played the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle from February 28 until March 19, 1995.[2] Due to the success of both runs, the musical embarked on a national tour of North America from August 1, 1995 (beginning in Dallas, TX) through April 1, 1996 (ending in Baltimore, MD).[3] The cast included Robert Cuccioli (Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde), Linda Eder (Lucy Harris), Christiane Noll (Lisa Carew), Rod Loomis (Sir Danvers Carew), Phillip Hoffman (John Utterson), Sandy Rosenberg (Lady Beaconsfield), Brad Oscar (Lord Savage/Poole/Bissett), Bill Nolte (Simon Stride), Martin Van Treuren (Sir Archibald Proops/Spider), Bob Wrenn (Hugo Carruthers), Rob Evan (Theo Davenport), James Hadley (Butler), William Thomas Evans (Orderly), Raymond McLeod (General Lord Glossip), Dave Clemmons (Bishop of Basingstoke), Nita Moore (Nellie), Allyson Tucker (Jenny), Sven Toorvald (Condemned Prisoner), Amy Spanger (Lizzie/Newsboy), Lauren Goler-Kosarin (Mary), Mary Jo Mecca (Nancy), Andie L. Mellom (Rosie), Michelle Mallardi (Ivy), Judy Glass (Lottie), and Lenny Daniel (Fenwick).[4]

Original Broadway production

The musical premiered on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre on March 21, 1997 (previews) officially on April 28. Directed by Robin Phillips, the original cast featured Robert Cuccioli as Jekyll and Hyde, Linda Eder as Lucy Harris and Christiane Noll as Emma Carew with Rob Evan originally cast as Cuccioli's alternate, performing the title roles at two performances per week (at matinees). The cast also featured George Robert Merritt as John Utterson, Barrie Ingham as Sir Danvers Carew and Martin Van Treuren as "Spider", all of whom played their respective roles throughout the entire run. Raymond Jaramillo McLeod was originally cast as Simon Stride. He was later replaced by Merwin Foard, who in turn, was replaced by Robert Jensen. Coleen Sexton was a swing in the company before becoming the final Lucy Harris. The musical played an almost-four-year run and became the longest-running show in the history of the Plymouth Theatre, closing after 1,543 regular performances on January 7, 2001.[5]

DVD Recording

The Broadway production was filmed live at the Plymouth Theatre in 2000 with the final cast consisting of David Hasselhoff as Jekyll/Hyde, Coleen Sexton as Lucy and Andrea Rivette as Emma. This is the only official video recording of the musical that exists; it was released in Region 1 DVD in 2001.

Later touring productions

The second national tour of North American began previews on April 13, 1999 in Wallingford, CT before opening April 21 in Detroit, MI.[6] The touring company was led by Chuck Wagner in the lead roles, with Sharon Brown as Lucy and Andrea Rivette as Emma. The final performance took place on April 30, 2000 in Houston, TX where the show debuted 10 years earlier.[2][7]

The third US tour to run was a Non-Equity production featuring a Non-Equity cast. It ran from September 19, 2000 (in Evansville, IN) through May 20, 2001 (closing in New London, CT). It starred Guy LeMonnier as Jekyll and Hyde, Annie Berthiaume as Lucy and Shani Lynn Nielsen as Emma.

The musical made its UK debut, when a national tour launched in Eastbourne on August 24, 2004. The tour, which featured Paul Nicholas as Jekyll/Hyde, alongside Louise Dearman as Lucy and Shona Lindsay as Emma, ran through May 21, 2005 and closed in Sunderland.[8] A second 6-month tour, mainly of the UK and Ireland began on January 20, 2011 in Bromley and ran through July 30 in Leeds, with Marti Pellow as Jekyll/Hyde, Sarah Earnshaw as Emma and Sabrina Carter as Lucy, under the direction of Martin Connors.[9] The tour also played a month in Abu Dhabi.

A re-vamped North American touring production, featuring a more contemporary rock score, officially began performances in San Diego, CA on October 2, 2012 following previews from September 7 in La Mirada, CA. Constantine Maroulis plays the lead roles and is joined by Deborah Cox as Lucy and Teal Wicks as Emma. The tour, which has various changes to the orchestrations and arrangements of the original score, closed March 31 in Los Angeles, CA in preparation for a pre-planned transfer to Broadway.[10][11][12]

Broadway revival

The revival opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre on April 5, 2013 (previews), officially on April 18. Originally scheduled to play a limited engagement through June 30, 2013, the production announced shortly after opening that it was to close early, on May 12. It closed that day following 29 regular performances and 15 previews.[13] The production starred Constantine Maroulis as Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, Teal Wicks as Emma, and Deborah Cox as Lucy Harris.

Jekyll & Hyde: In Concert

The musical was adapted into a concert version which toured North America and South Korea with Rob Evan playing Jekyll/Hyde. He was joined in the US by Brandi Burkhardt as Emma and Kate Shindle as Lucy and by Julie Reiber as Emma and Mandy Gonzalez as Lucy in Korea.[14][15][16] The musical played two try-out engagements in June and September 2004 in Marlton, New Jersey and Uncasville, CT, respectively, before touring the US from September 10, 2005 in Birmingham, Alabama until February 25, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Korean leg began in Seoul on April 7, 2006 and ended on May 3, 2006 in Pucheon-si. The production did however play two additional runs, one in Blacksburg, Virginia on November 30, 2006 and a second engagement in Seoul from May 5–6, 2007.

Regional and international productions

Performance rights have since become available in the US and UK following the closure of the Broadway production, leading to many regional productions being produced each year. Most notably was a staging directed by original star Robert Cuccioli in Elmsford, NY which ran in 2001 and 2010.[17][18][19]

Many international productions have been staged over the years which have translated the book and score into different languages. The first such production was in the Netherlands (September 1997). Subsequent productions were in Germany, Sweden, Madrid, Austria, Canada (English-speaking), Australia (English-speaking), Japan, Finland, Greece, Switzerland, Denmark, Mexico, the Czech Republic, New Zealand (English-speaking), Russia, Italy, Malta, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Poland, Slovakia and Ireland (English-speaking).

Film adaptation

On January 21, 2013 it was announced that Mike Medavoy, Rick Nicita and his production company RP Media had secured the rights for a film version of the musical to be made. According to reports from The New York Times, Wildhorn and Bricusse will play a major role in the casting of the film, stating that they are looking for "first rate actors who are also first rate singers". In addition to finding a director, the producers hoped to release the film by 2015.[20]

Synopsis

The majority of the show's story has not changed from production to production, but many of the songs have been altered, cut or replaced since the show debuted.

Act I

The audience is introduced to John Utterson and Sir Danvers Carew, both having been associated with Doctor Henry Jekyll. Utterson was Jekyll's lawyer and best friend while Sir Danvers was Jekyll's future father-in-law. The two gentlemen take the audience back some time to find Jekyll in an insane asylum singing over his comatose father ("Lost in the Darkness"). It is Jekyll's belief that the evil in his father's soul has caused his illness. Jekyll tells the audience about his passion to find out why man is both good and evil and his attempts to separate the good from the evil ("I Need to Know"*).

Some time later, the rich and poor of 19th century London describe how people act how they want others to see them, no matter who they really are inside ("Façade"). Afterward, Jekyll presents a research proposal to the Board of Governors of St. Jude's Hospital. Sir Danvers, the chairman of the board, is in attendance along with His Grace Rupert the 14th Bishop of Basingstoke, the Right Honorable Sir Archibald "Archie" Proops, Lord Theodore "Teddy" Savage, Lady Elizabeth "Bessie" Beaconsfield, General Lord Glossop and Simon Stride, the secretary. All, with the exception of Sir Danvers and Stride, are pompous, rich semi-hypocrites. When Jekyll proposes to test his theory and his formula on a human subject (presumably his father), they reject the proposal with cries of "sacrilege, lunacy, blasphemy, heresy", voting five to none with Sir Danvers' one abstention ("Jekyll's Plea"). Utterson tries to calm Jekyll down, knowing that he is obsessed over his father's conditions. Jekyll feels that he could "save" those who have fallen in the same darkness. Utterson urges his friend, if he feels he is right about his theory, that he should continue ("Pursue the Truth").

Later that night, a group of high society Londoners turns up at Sir Danvers' residence at Regent's Park, which has a well-maintained facade. Sir Danvers throws a showy party for his daughter, Emma's, engagement to Dr. Jekyll, to which Jekyll is late. ("Façade (reprise #1). During the party, the guests - which include the Governors and Stride - mention how worried they are about Emma being engaged to a "madman," but both Sir Danvers and Emma back up Jekyll. Stride, who has feelings for Emma, speaks to Emma in private and tries to reason her out of her engagement, but she quickly turns him down, saying she feels she can be who she wants to be with Jekyll ("Emma's Reasons").

Jekyll arrives late as usual - just before the party leaves to go see the fireworks - and shares a moment with Emma. Though he warns her he may always be busy with his work, Emma swears she will be beside him through it all ("Take Me as I Am"). Sir Danvers returns as Jekyll leaves and expresses to Emma that he considers Jekyll like a son to him, but finds it difficult to tolerate his behavior at the cost of losing his daughter. Emma assures him that he will never lose her, and they should not be afraid to let go ("Letting Go").

Jekyll and Utterson later go to the dregs of Camden Town known as "The Red Rat" for Jekyll's bachelor party ("Façade (reprise #2)"). Prostitute Lucy Harris arrives late and is in for some trouble with the boss, known as 'Spider', but she dismisses it for now. Despite her position in life, she is seen to be kind-hearted and well liked by her co-workers, but has moments of contemplation about her life ("No One Knows Who I Am").

Guinevere, the German manageress of "The Red Rat", then breaks Lucy's reverie and then sends her out onstage to do her number ("Bring On the Men"**), which captivates Jekyll. After the number, Lucy begins to circulate among the clientele. Spider approaches Lucy and after striking her hard across the face, threatens to kill her if she is late again. Jekyll approaches Lucy after witnessing the Spider's actions and intends to help her as Utterson is led away by another bar girl. Jekyll and Lucy are drawn to each other in a way that promises each of them a great friendship. Jekyll admits Lucy's song has helped him find the answer to his experiment. Utterson reemerges, and Jekyll tells Lucy that he must be on his way. Before he goes, he gives Lucy his visiting card and asks her to see him should she ever need a friend ("Here's to the Night").

As Utterson and Jekyll arrive at the latter's residence, Utterson notices that Jekyll is in a better mood. Jekyll informs him that he has found a subject for his experiments. Utterson recommends that Jekyll go straight to bed and departs. Jekyll dismisses his butler, Poole, for the night and proceeds to his laboratory, excited that the moment has come to conduct his experiment ("This Is the Moment"). Keeping tabs on the experiment in his journal, Jekyll mixes his chemicals to create his formula, HJ7, and injects it into the subject: himself (in some versions, he drinks the formula, as he did in the book). After a minute of the potion's side effects, he writhes in pain, and is taken over by an alternate, aggressive personality ("First Transformation"). With grim humor he notes in his journal "3:18 AM -A few slight changes". He gleefully goes out and roams the streets, taking in the sights and sounds of London while tormenting innocent bystanders, which includes an abusive encounter with Lucy. Jekyll's alternate personality gives himself a name: Edward Hyde ("Alive").

A week later, no one has heard anything from Jekyll. Emma, Sir Danvers and Utterson ask Poole where he is, but Emma decides to leave and believes Jekyll will come for her after his work is finished. After Emma and Sir Danvers leave, Poole tells Utterson that Jekyll has been locked in his lab all this time and that he has heard strange sounds from the lab. Jekyll, who seems distraught, emerges and sends Poole to fetch some chemicals for him. Utterson confronts Jekyll about his bizarre behavior, but Jekyll brushes this off. He instead gives Utterson three letters: one for Emma, another for her father, and one for Utterson himself should Jekyll become ill or disappear. Suspicious and concerned, Utterson warns Jekyll to not let his work take over his life. Meanwhile, Emma and Sir Danvers argue about the prudence of Emma's marriage to a man who seems to be falling into an ever-deepening abyss. Emma again tells her father that she understands that Jekyll's work is important ("His Work and Nothing More").

After Utterson departs, Lucy arrives at Jekyll's residence with a nasty bruise on her back. As Jekyll treats her wound, she tells him a man named Hyde inflicted it. Jekyll is stunned by this revelation but hides it. Feeling compassion for Jekyll for being kind to her, Lucy kisses him ("Sympathy, Tenderness"). Disturbed by his own actions, Jekyll leaves Lucy, who wonders about her love for him ("Someone Like You").

Later, the Bishop of Basingstoke is seen with Guinevere after having a "meeting" with one of her underage attendants. He pays Guinevere and arranges to see the attendant next Wednesday. When Guinevere and the attendant leave, Hyde appears holding a swordstick with a heavy pewter knob. After insulting the Bishop, Hyde proceeds to beat and stab him to death with the swordstick before gleefully setting the body aflame ("Alive (reprise)").

Act II

Utterson and Sir Danvers speak to the audience once again of past events with Jekyll: Utterson begins to feel he was not able to help his poor client and friend, while Danvers senses that something was horribly wrong with his work, as he had not been seen or heard from for weeks.

The citizens of London gossip about the Bishop's murder as Hyde hunts down and kills General Glossop, Sir Proops, Lady Beaconsfield, and Lord Savage. By now, all five Governors who rejected Jekyll's proposal are dead ("Murder, Murder"). Later one night, Emma lets herself into Jekyll's laboratory. She finds his journal open and reads one of his entries. Jekyll enters and immediately closes the journal, preventing her from learning what he has become. Emma can see he is distraught. She professes her love for him and begs him to confide in her ("Once Upon a Dream"). He tells her nothing of his work, but says he still loves her. After Emma leaves, Jekyll writes in his journal that Hyde has taken a heavy toll on him and those around him, and that the transformations are occurring of their own accord. His entry is interrupted when Utterson arrives at the lab, seeking to find out who Jekyll's sole heir is, Edward Hyde, as referred to in Jekyll's letter. Jekyll only tells him that Hyde is a "colleague" involved in the experiment. Utterson can see that his friend is desperately ill and agrees to obtain the rest of the chemicals Jekyll requires. Jekyll, once again alone, begins to face the fact that Hyde is a part of him ("Obsession"). At the same time, both Lucy and Emma wonder about their love for the same man ("In His Eyes").

At "The Red Rat", Nellie and Lucy consider their profession and why they keep doing it. Lucy is then visited by Hyde, who tells her that he is going away for a while. He then warns her to never leave him. Lucy is terrified, but seems to be held under a sexual, animalistic control by Hyde ("Dangerous Game"). As they leave together, Spider addresses the "Red Rat" attendants, warning them to always be aware of what dangers lie ahead in the East End ("Façade (reprise #3)").

Utterson comes to Jekyll's lab with the rest of the chemicals and discovers Hyde, who informs him that the doctor is "not available" tonight. Utterson refuses to leave the package with anyone but his friend and demands to know where he is. Hyde replies that even if he told him, Utterson would not believe him. When Utterson threatens him with his swordstick, Hyde injects the formula into himself, roaring with laughter as he reverts to Jekyll in front of an appalled Utterson. Jekyll tells Utterson that Hyde must be destroyed, whatever the cost. He then begs Utterson to deliver money for Lucy so she can escape to safety. As Utterson leaves, Jekyll mixes in chemicals and injects the new formula, fearing that he might lose his mind forever, and praying that he can restore his former life ("The Way Back").

Utterson visits Lucy at "The Red Rat" with the money, along with a letter from Jekyll that entreats her to leave town and start a new life elsewhere. After Utterson leaves, Lucy wonders of the possibilities ahead ("A New Life"). Just then, Hyde returns. Seeing the letter from Jekyll, he tells Lucy that he and the doctor are "very close" and that they "share everything". As he holds Lucy softly so that she does not suspect it, he slowly and savagely stabs her multiple times before slitting her throat ("Sympathy, Tenderness (reprise)"). The vile murderer runs off laughing, just as the "Red Rat" attendants find Lucy's body and carry her out on a stretcher. Covered in Lucy's blood, Jekyll returns to his laboratory and faces off with Hyde in a final battle for control ("Confrontation").

Later, Utterson tells the audience that Jekyll had given up his task of "finding the truth," condemning his father to the darkness. Yet, as Sir Danvers would put it, the doctor had returned at "the sound of wedding bells" ("Façade (reprise #4)"). Several weeks later, Jekyll seems to have regained control as he and Emma stand before the priest at their wedding in St. Anne's Church. As the Minister begins the ceremony, Jekyll doubles over in pain and transforms into Hyde. Hyde then kills Stride, a guest at the wedding, before taking Emma hostage. At the sound of Emma's pleading voice, Jekyll is able to regain momentary control. He begs Utterson to kill him, but Utterson cannot bring himself to harm his friend. Desperate, Jekyll impales himself on Utterson's swordstick. Emma weeps softly as Jekyll dies, finally free of Hyde's evil control ("Finale").

(*) "I Need to Know" was removed for the Broadway production, but featured in all other productions (in some cases it replaces "Lost in the Darkness").
(**) "Bring On the Men" was replaced by "Good 'N' Evil" for the Broadway production only; it was re-instated in all subsequent productions.
(***) For the Broadway production only, "Streak of Madness" was shortened and re-titled "Obsession"; it was re-instated in full for all subsequent productions.

Further note: In subsequent productions following Broadway, reprises #1, #2 and #4 of "Façade" are usually removed (henceforth what was "Façade (reprise #3)" on Broadway, effectively becomes the sole "Façade (reprise)"). Also, in certain productions, songs featured on the 1994 Concept recording have been re-instated, i.e. "The World Has Gone Insane" on the Concert tour (this staging is essentially the track listing of the Concept album and omits most Broadway changes), and "Bitch, Bitch, Bitch!", which was used on the 2nd UK Tour.

Characters

Musical numbers

All songs feature music and lyrics by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse. Steve Cuden is the co-lyricist for "First Transformation," "Alive," "His Work and Nothing More," "Alive (reprise)," "Murder, Murder," and "Once Upon a Dream". The following is the song list from the original Broadway production:

Act I
  • "Prologue"
  • "Lost In the Darkness" – Jekyll
  • "Façade" – Townsfolk
  • "Jekyll's Plea" – Jekyll, Simon Stride, Sir Danvers, Board of Governors
  • "Pursue the Truth" – Jekyll, Utterson
  • "Façade (reprise #1)" – Townsfolk
  • "Emma's Reasons" – Emma, Simon Stride
  • "Take Me As I Am" – Jekyll, Emma
  • "Letting Go" – Emma, Sir Danvers
  • "Façade (reprise #2)" – Townsfolk
  • "No One Knows Who I Am" – Lucy
  • "Good 'N' Evil" – Lucy, Prostitutes
  • "Here's to the Night" – Jekyll, Lucy
  • "Now There Is No Choice" – Jekyll
  • "This Is the Moment" – Jekyll
  • "First Transformation" – Jekyll and Hyde
  • "Alive" – Hyde
  • "His Work and Nothing More" – Jekyll, Emma, Utterson, Sir Danvers
  • "Sympathy, Tenderness" – Lucy
  • "Someone Like You" – Lucy
  • "Alive (reprise)" – Hyde
Act II
  • "Murder, Murder" – Townsfolk
  • "Once Upon a Dream" – Emma
  • "Obsession" – Jekyll
  • "In His Eyes" – Lucy, Emma
  • "Dangerous Game" – Hyde, Lucy
  • "Façade (reprise #3)" – Spider, Townsfolk
  • "The Way Back" – Jekyll
  • "A New Life" – Lucy
  • "Sympathy, Tenderness (reprise)" – Hyde
  • "Confrontation" – Jekyll and Hyde
  • "Façade (reprise #4)" – Townsfolk
  • "Finale" – Emma

Changes made after the original Broadway production
The Concert

Casts

Jekyll and Hyde
  • Robert Cuccioli — 1st US Tour lead, Original Broadway lead
  • Rob Evan — 1st US Tour standby, Original Broadway alternate, Broadway lead (replacement), In Concert lead
  • Frank Mastrone — Original Broadway understudy
  • Bill E. Dietrich — Original Broadway understudy
  • Robert Jensen — Broadway understudy (replacement)
  • Joseph Mahowald — Broadway alternate (replacement)
  • Jack Wagner — Broadway lead (replacement)
  • Sebastian Bach — Broadway lead (replacement)
  • David Hasselhoff — Final Broadway lead (replacement, DVD recording)
  • Chuck Wagner — Houston World Premiere lead, 2nd US Tour lead
  • Guy LeMonnier — Non-Equity US Tour lead
  • Paul Nicholas — 1st UK Tour lead
  • Marti Pellow — 2nd UK Tour lead
  • Constantine Maroulis — 4th US Tour/Broadway revival lead
  • Aleks Knezevich — 5th US Tour lead
  • Anthony Warlow --- 1994 Complete Work album, 25th Anniversary lead
  • Colm Wilkinson --- 1990 Highlights album (Jekyll only)
Lucy
  • Linda Eder — Houston World Premiere lead, 1st US Tour lead, Original Broadway lead
  • Leah Hocking — Original Broadway understudy
  • Corinne Melancon — Original Broadway understudy
  • Jodi Stevens — Broadway understudy (replacement)
  • Luba Mason — Broadway lead (replacement)
  • Coleen Sexton — Broadway understudy (replacement), Final Broadway lead (replacement, DVD recording)
  • Sharon Brown — 2nd US Tour lead
  • Becca Ayers — 2nd US Tour lead (replacement)

'In Concert lead (US)

  • Mandy Gonzalez — In Concert lead (South Korea)
  • Louise Dearman — 1st UK Tour lead
  • Sabrina Carter — 2nd UK Tour lead
  • Deborah Cox — 4th US Tour/Broadway revival lead
  • Laura Helm --- 5th US Tour lead
  • Jackie Burns --- 25th Anniversary lead
Emma
  • Rebecca Spencer — Houston World Premiere lead (as "Lisa"), Original Broadway understudy
  • Christiane Noll — 1st US Tour lead, Original Broadway lead
  • Leah Hocking — Original Broadway understudy
  • Christy Tarr — Broadway understudy (replacement)
  • Coleen Sexton — Broadway understudy (replacement)
  • Anastasia Barzee — Broadway lead (replacement)
  • Andrea Rivette — 2nd US Tour lead, Final Broadway lead (replacement, DVD recording)
  • Kelli O'Hara — Broadway understudy (replacement), 2nd US Tour lead (replacement)
  • Shani Lynn Nielsen — Non-Equity US Tour lead
  • Brandi Burkhardt — In Concert lead (US)
  • Julie Reiber — In Concert lead (South Korea)
  • Sarah Earnshaw — 2nd UK Tour lead
  • Teal Wicks — 4th US Tour/Broadway revival lead, 25th Anniversary lead
  • Eryn LeCroy --- 5th US Tour lead

Reception

The musical ran on Broadway for over 1,500 performances and despite the long run, the musical lacked stellar reviews and lost money - more than $1.5 million - upon closure.[21]

The best known song from the musical is "This is the Moment" which has been covered over 1,000 times and has been performed on television programs. It has been sung twice at the Olympics (in 1994 and 1996) and by long-running cast member Rob Evan for George W. Bush's U.S. presidential inauguration.

Awards and nominations

Tony Award
Theatre World Award
Drama Desk Award
Outer Critics Circle Award
Friends of New York Theatre Award
Joseph Jefferson Award (Prestigious Chicago Theatre Awards)

Recordings

English-language recordings

1986 Demo Album
Made in 1986, this was the oldest version of the play, and features Chuck Wagner as Jekyll and Hyde, Tuesday Knight as Lucy Harris, and Gillian Gallant as Lisa Carew, as well as lyrics from Steve Cuden. The demo only contains ten songs, making it the shortest line up of any Jekyll and Hyde recording, and of all the songs, "Alive", "Murder, Murder", and "Letting Go" are the only ones to go on every recording of the musical, though containing different lyrics and musical arrangements in its original form. Songs like "The Engagement Party", "The First Time", "Find My Way Again", "If He/She Only Knew", "Waiting There Tonight", and "'Til Forever" were only exclusive to this album, with later versions reworking them or removing them all together. "The Ballad of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" would later reappear again on the 1987 Demo Album along with several reprises, before being replaced by "Facade" in later productions. Hard copies of the album are unavailable for purchase because it was made for noncommercial use and the only way to listen to it is through website leaks.
1987 Demo Album
Demo version of the musical made in 1987 for producers. This version is very different from the complete work. "Facade" is not as prominent as in the later version. A song "The Ballad of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde" has four reprises (in similar fashion to Sweeney Todd). Other songs that are only included in this version are "Seven Solid Years", "Jekyll's Disbelief", "Possessed", "I Must Go On", "It's Over Now" (which was later reworked to become "Confrontation") and "We Still Have Time". The Songs "Facade", "Alive", "Murder, Murder", "His Work and Nothing More" and "Someone Like You" are very different from later versions. The sound quality of this recording is poor as the CD was not made to be sold.
Concept Album
Recorded in 1990, the CD features Colm Wilkinson as Jekyll/Hyde and Linda Eder as both Lucy and Emma (the latter then named Lisa). The album contained the original versions of many songs that would later be reworked and included in altered forms in subsequent recordings. It is also the only recording that has the song "Love Has Come of Age" which, despite being the intended centerpiece for the musical, never made it past this original recording.
Complete Work
Released in 1994, prior to the first national tour, the recording has the sub-title The Gothic Musical Thriller: The Complete Work. The album features Anthony Warlow as Jekyll/Hyde, Linda Eder as Lucy, Carolee Carmello as Lisa. This version features more songs than any other recording and represented the incarnation of the show before its major re-write for Broadway including the condensing of the character Simon Stride, who had a much more prominent role at this stage.
Original Broadway Cast Recording
This 1997 recording features Robert Cuccioli as Jekyll/Hyde, Linda Eder as Lucy, Barrie Ingham as Sir Danvers and Christiane Noll as Emma (now re-named from Lisa.) As the definitive Broadway recording, this CD features the final arrangements of the songs of the musical (sometimes for length and complexity) and features all musical numbers except "Jekyll's Plea," "Here's to the Night" and "Sympathy, Tenderness (reprise)" which were not recorded for reasons unknown. Reviewers have generally preferred the mix of female voices in this version of the musical, with the contrast between Emma and Lucy made more marked, as opposed to the soprano-on-soprano duets of the earlier recordings.
Resurrection recording
This 2006 recording featured Rob Evan as Jekyll/Hyde, Kate Shindle as Lucy and Brandi Burkhardt as Emma and is a studio recording of the arrangements that would go on to form Jekyll & Hyde: In Concert. It features several songs, all re-worked to include psychedelic/rock guitar accompaniment, mainly during Hyde's songs. It is worth noting that the songs featured on this CD are built upon those from the "Complete Work" recording, and include very few of the alterations made for the original Broadway cast recording.
The New 2012 Concept Recording
Prior to the 2012-13 re-vamped US Tour, which led to a limited Broadway engagement following conclusion, a new recording was made featuring 18 of the musical's re-worked songs to be featured in the new production starring Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox. There was a contest for a fan submission piece to be included with the album's booklet, to be selected by Frank Wildhorn, Cox and Maroulis through Broadwayworld.com. The album was released on September 25, 2012 in conjunction with the tour's opening.
Australian Promotional Recording
Starring Simon Burke as Jekyll/Hyde, Delia Hannah as Lucy and Terri Crouch as Emma, this CD was recorded to promote the upcoming Australian production, which never materialized, leading to all un-sold copies of the recording being recalled. This remains the rarest of all the recordings.

Foreign-language recordings

Charts
Chart Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[22] 92

References

  1. 1 2 Jones, Kenneth."'Jekyll & Hyde' s Moment on Broadway Ends Jan. 7" playbill.com, January 5, 2001
  2. 1 2 National Tour of 'Jekyll & Hyde' Ends April 30 in TX" playbill.com, April 30, 2000
  3. ↑ "Tour 1" jekyll-hyde.com
  4. ↑ http://www.ovrtur.com/production/2883315
  5. ↑ Robertson, Campbell."Theater; A Royal Behemoth Stumbles To Broadway",The New York Times, April 22, 2007
  6. ↑ "Tour 2" jekyll-hyde.com, retrieved June 16, 2010
  7. ↑ Ehren, Christine."'Jekyll & Hyde' Opens National Tour April 21 In Detroit w/ Chuck Wagner" playbill.com, April 21, 1999
  8. ↑ "UK tour" jekyll-hyde.com, retrieved June 17, 2010
  9. ↑ Jekyll mayflower.org.uk
  10. ↑ "Broadway Bound Jekyll Hyde Tour Launches Fall 2012" broadwayworld.com, January 29, 2012
  11. ↑ "Broadway Bound Jekyll Hyde" broadway.com
  12. ↑ "Teal Wicks Set for Broadway Bound Jekyll Hyde Starring Constantine Maroulis Deborah Cox" broadway.com
  13. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Jekyll & Hyde, Starring Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox, Will Arrive at Broadway's Marquis in April" Playbill.com, January 22, 2013
  14. ↑ Concert jekyll-hyde.com, retrieved June 17, 2010
  15. ↑ Hernandez, Ernio."Broadway's Robert Evan and Kate Shindle Reprise 'Jekyll & Hyde in Concert', Sept. 8-12" playbill.com, August 21, 2004
  16. ↑ BWW News Desk."'Jekyll & Hyde: The Concert' in Seoul" broadwayworld.com, April 13, 2006
  17. ↑ Jones, Kenneth."Cuccioli Will Direct 'Jekyll & Hyde' at Westchester Broadway in Fall 2001" playbill.com, January 4, 2001
  18. ↑ Listing broadwaytheatre.com
  19. ↑ Hetrick, Adam."Cuccioli to Helm 'Jekyll & Hyde' at Westchester Broadway Theatre" playbill.com, June 17, 2010
  20. ↑ "Hollywood Buys Film Rights to Broadway's 'JEKYLL AND HYDE" broadwayworld.com, retrieved January 21, 2013
  21. ↑ McKinley, Jesse."On Stage And Off; 'Jekyll and Hyde' Among Closings" The New York Times, November 10, 2000
  22. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH. Retrieved August 8, 2013.

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