Sturges Center for the Fine Arts Announces JEKYLL AND HYDE Auditions

Open auditions for the Tony Award-nominated musical "Jekyll & Hyde," opening the 2011-2012 season at Sturges Center for the Fine Arts, have been announced for August.

Eleven major and minor roles, plus ensemble members, are open. A stipend for all roles is available.

Los Angeles auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 1, with sign-ups at 9:30 a.m. at Madilyn Clark Studios, 10852 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Call backs will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 2, also at Madilyn Clak Studios.

San Bernardino auditions are 6-10 p.m. Aug. 3 at Sturges Center, 780 N. E St., San Bernardino. Sign ups begin at 5:30 p.m. Call back auditions are 6-10 p.m. Aug. 4, also at Sturges Center.

Those auditioning are asked to bring a copy of their most recent headshot with attached resume, and have prepared 32 bars of a musical theater piece, reflecting the style of the show.

Actors auditioning for a specific role will be asked to sing a song from the show. An accompanist will be provided. Singers are asked to bring their sheet music in the correct key. Music and selected scenes from the show will be provided at the audition for the call back.

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, and leads to violence and murder wherever he goes.

Available roles are Dr. Henry Jekyll/ Edward Hyde (tenor); Lucy Harris, singer at The Red Rat (mezzo-soprano); Emma Carew, Jekyll's fiancée (soprano); John Utterson, Jekyll's lawyer and friend (baritone); Simon Stride, Jekyll's rival for Emma's affections (bass/baritone); and Sir Danvers Carew, Emma's father and chairman to the board of governors (baritone).

Other roles are Lady Beaconsfield/Nellie, only female member of the board of governors/mistress of The Red Rat (mezzo); Bishop of Basingstoke, member of the board of governors (baritone); Lord Savage, (member of the board of governors (baritone); Sir Archibald Proops, member of the board of governors (baritone); General Lord Glossip, retired army and member of the board of governors (baritone); and ensemble members.

Rehearsals will be Sept. 12 to Oct. 13 at Screenland Studios in Burbank. Performances are Oct. 14-16 at Sturges Center. The production is a presentation by the City of San Bernardino Economic Development Agency.

A production crew whose experience and background includes award-winning stage shows, television series and films has been assembled for the show.

Producing director is Jason James, with Sarah Ayotte, musical director; Nolan Livesay, conductor; Jennifer Lee Crowl, choreographer; Diane David, stage manager; KC Wilkerson; projection designer; Timothy Mahoney, set design; and Nick Van Houten, lighting designer.

Other team members are; Alayna Aguilera, sound design/engineer; Bryon Batista, hair/wigs/makeup; Misti Soper & Claudia Adelina, costumes, and Bethany Schwartzkopf, properties.

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.

For more audition information, please email questions and concerns to: production@sturgescenter.org.

 

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