Sturges Center for the Fine Arts Presents JEKYLL AND HYDE, 10/14-16

Good and evil, and the consequences of examining man's darker side too closely, is at the heart of the musical "Jekyll & Hyde," which opens the 2011-2012 season at the Sturges Center for the Fine Arts.

The Tony Award-nominated musical, based on the classic 1886 novel "The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" by Robert Louis Stevenson, will be staged for three performances Oct. 14-16.

A presentation by the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency, tickets to the show are $19-$45 and are available through www.ticketmaster.com or the center's box office at (909) 885-5152.

"Jekyll and Hyde" is the first locally produced show at Sturges Center, said producing director Jason James, who also directs the musical.

"This show couldn't be a better way to kick off our season and give Sturges the jump start it needs to becoming a theatrical force in not only the Inland Empire but Southern California," he said.

Set in 19th century London, "Jekyll and Hyde tells of the classic tale about the battle between good and evil. It tells the story of the brilliant English physician Henry Jekyll, whose passion to discover why man is both good and evil leads to tragic results for himself and for those he loves.

When Jekyll's research proposal to test his theory on a human subject is rejected, he decides to drink the experimental formula he created on himself. But Jekyll unwittingly unleashes the evil Edward Hyde within, and the madman's cruelty soon wreaks havoc on the streets of London.

'Jekyll & Hyde' is a thrilling, murderous musical that's a roller coaster ride of a show," said director James. "It's pure pulse-pounding theater, with a macabre combination of fun and fright, with a lush, romantic pop score."

The show stars James C. Mulligan as Dr. Henry Jekyll/ Mr. Edward Hyde; Tomasina Abate as Lucy Harris; Kathy Risinger as Emma Carew; Timothy Campbell as John Utterson; Randy Ingram as Sir Danvers Carew; and Jason Marquez as Simon Stride.

Others in the cast are Christopher Van Etten, Valerie Jasson, CJ Emmons, Peter Schulz, Jeremy Schrock, Shane Litchfield and Maxwell Myers. Ensemble members are Tim Woods, Randy Kelley, Dominique Araiza, Courtney Cheatham, Emily Tucker, Sabrina Lyn Zellars, and Karina Marquez.

The original show featured music by Frank Wildhorn, with lyrics by Steve Cuden, and was written in the late 1980s, but the show was not produced on Broadway. Leslie Bricusse rewrote the show and it premiered at the Alley Theatre in 1990.

"Jekyll and Hyde" opened on Broadway at the Plymouth Theatre in April 1997 and ran for more than 1,500 performances, closing in January 2001. It was the theater's longest-running show.

The Sturges production team, whose experience and background includes award-winning stage shows, television series and films, also includes musical director Sarah Ayotte, conductor Nolan Livesay, choreographer Jennifer Lee Crowl, projection designer KC Wilkerson; and set designer Timothy Mahoney

Other production team members are Nick Van Houten, lighting designer; Diane David, stage manager; Alayna Aguilera, sound design/engineer; Bryon Batista, hair/wigs/makeup; Misti Soper & Claudia Adelina, costumes, and Bethany Schwartzkopf, properties.

‘JEKYLL & HYDE'
WHEN: 8 p.m. Oct. 14-15, 2 p.m. Oct. 16
WHERE: Sturges Center for the Fine Arts, 780 N. E St., San Bernardino.
TICKETS: $19-$45, www.ticketmaster.com, or theater box office
INFORMATION/PURCHASE: 909-885-5152
ON THE WEB: www.sturgescenter.org