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Overview
Synopsis
Based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic thriller, Jekyll & Hyde is the gripping tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry, set to a powerful pop-rock score by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse. In an attempt to cure his ailing father’s mental illness by separating “good” from “evil” in the human personality, talented physician Dr. Jekyll inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil, dubbed Mr. Hyde, who wreaks murderous havoc on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for her betrothed, a prostitute, Lucy, finds herself dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll must race to find a cure for the demon he has created in his own mind.
Show Information
- Book
- Leslie Bricusse
- Music
- Frank Wildhorn
- Lyrics
- Leslie Bricusse
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- The Strange Case of Jekyll and Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1990
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1880s
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Some Dance
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- College/University, Community Theatre, Diverse Cast, High School, Large Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult Characters
Context
Jekyll & Hyde was a smash hit even from its 1990 trial run at the Alley Theater in Houston. It wasn’t until seven years later that the musical made its Broadway debut, but its 1,543 acclaimed performances at the Plymouth Theatre made it that venue’s longest-running show.
This show is a star vehicle for a powerful male lead with immense vocal stamina; he also must be a strong actor to be able to successfully portray both the brilliant Dr. Jekyll and the maniacal Mr. Hyde. The two main
to read the context for Jekyll & Hyde and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
ACT ONE
It is London, around the year 1885, and the events of the musical have recently passed. Dr. Jekyll’s lawyer, John Utterson, and Sir Danvers Carew, Jekyll’s future father-in-law, explain that the audience will be taken back in time as they recall the case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
The story opens in the dismal ward of a mental hospital, where Jekyll is gazing intently at a comatose old man strapped to a bed—his father. He assures him that he will find a way to help him
to read the plot for Jekyll & Hyde and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Non-singer, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken, Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Spoken |
Songs
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:
- "I Need to Know", sung by Jekyll, was added back in after "Lost in the Darkness".
- Reprises #1, #2 and #4 of "Façade" are cut, and so the third reprise becomes the only reprise.
- "Bring On the Men" replaces "Good 'N' Evil".
- "Streak of Madness" (originally titled “Obsession”) is reinstated.
- "Bitch, Bitch, Bitch!", an ensemble number, is placed after "Façade" in some productions.
- "Girls of the Night", a number for Lucy and the brothel women, is added in certain productions after "In His Eyes".
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
A version of a work modified from another medium or language, making it suitable for a new performance context.
An alter ego is a second self or alternate personality that differs from a character’s outward persona. In drama, it can be used as a dramatic device to explore internal conflict or duality.
An anti-hero is a central character who lacks traditional heroic qualities such as morality, bravery, or idealism. Often flawed and complex, anti-heroes appear frequently in modern drama and literature.
A historical asylum in London that symbolizes chaos or madness in theatre, often used metaphorically in dramatic works.
A vocal technique blending chest and head voice to create a strong yet flexible sound for higher pitches.
A theatrical genre mixing parody, music, and often sensuality, originating in the 19th century as satirical entertainment.
A form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, and drama, often performed in a nightclub or pub-style venue.
A character who contrasts with another, usually the protagonist, to highlight specific traits or themes.
A passionate, niche audience devoted to a specific play or performance style, often regardless of mainstream popularity.
A staple of musical theatre where the protagonist expresses a deep personal desire, setting the emotional tone for the narrative.
A struggle within a character’s mind or emotions that drives dramatic tension and character development.
A dramatic genre involving serious themes and the downfall of a protagonist, often evoking catharsis from the audience.
A protagonist whose downfall results from a fatal flaw, central to classical and modern tragedy.
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress
