I recently spoke to Tony-nominated ROCK OF AGES leading man about his new show, THE TOXIC AVENGER, and promised to hold this exclusive news before it was officially announced.
So, without further ado, here are Constantine’s comments on the completely reconceived new production of JEKYLL & HYDE with an eye towards Broadway.
You can read our complete InDepth InterView from a few weeks ago here.
This Is The Moment
PC: Is it true you may be doing another rock musical sometime soon - JEKYLL & HYDE? Frank Wildhorn said he had a certain name in mind when he did this column last year.
CM: It’s me. It’s definitely me. They want me to go on the road with it first in the Fall and then bring it in next Spring. Jeff Calhoun is directing and Jimmy Nederlander is producing, so it was an easy yes. Frank has become a good buddy of mine and I think that with Jeff directing and with some strong adjustments to the show and a whole new design and direction that it could be awesome. The one thing that tears me up is leaving behind as great a show as Toxic [which does not have confirmed plans to move to Broadway currently].
PC: Wouldn’t it be great if they used musical elements from the JEKYLL & HYDE: RESURRECTION?
CM: I think there will be elements of rock like that in it. I am actually planning on doing it more legit - pop, but a bit more of my legit voice in it that people might not have heard.
PC: Speaking of Wildhorn, it’s a shame about BONNIE & CLYDE closing so soon. It seems like the critics really relish tearing Wildhorn apart, it seems.
CM: It’s a shame that they have that relationship with Frank. I think he wrote some great songs for BONNIE & CLYDE - I mean, jeez! I’m not John Lennon, but I think there were some great songs in there.
What are you most looking forward to about taking on the dual roles?
As an actor I really enjoy the challenges of the work... finding the inner beast, but also the vulnerablity in both characters
Do you have a favorite amongst the previous recordings of the musical?
Believe it or not I am not that familiar with the recordings. Frank gave me some to listen to. He wrote about a hundred songs for the show and it will be nice to get the song list.
What was your first exposure to the show? Did you see any of its live incarnations or just the recording(s)?
I have never seen the show but my dear friend Jason Jurman was very into the show in school in Boston and would play bootlegs he traded online with people.
JEKYLL & HYDE is certain to be a prime opportunity for Constantine to wow audiences with his considerable chops!
