Celebrating it’s 30th Anniversary, New World School of the Arts college music theater returns to the Colony Theater in Miami Beach this season to present the Tony award-winning musical Jekyll & Hyde, the music-horror drama based on the novel The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Conceived for the stage by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden, the musical is directed by New World School of the Arts theater faculty James Randolph, highlighting the talents of music theater college juniors and seniors, and the NWSA Symphony Orchestra students, led by Jeff Hess, Musical Director of the show.
“This work was written as the world was changing to more modern and scientific sensibilities,” explained director Randolph. “The concept of inner demons, split personalities violent tendencies still come under examination. The violence inherit in human behavior may never be fully understood, but this material allows more awareness and study of humanity.”
Frank Wildhorn’s hugely popular musical thriller Jekyll & Hyde is the classic struggle between good and evil. The tale of two men – a romantic doctor and a terrifying madman – and the two women who are both in love with the same man, unaware of his dark secret identities. With Wildhorn’s memorable music, this poignant tale has graced stages in the US since 1990 when it made its debut at the Allen Theatre in Houston to a sold-out house. Seven years later, the musical made its Broadway debut at the Plymouth Theater and enjoyed an almost four-year run, becoming the longest running show in the history of the Plymouth.
In his director’s notes James Randolph points out that the works and writings of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung brought forth the psychological complexities of the human animal, opening a framework of reference for new interpretations. In addition, Charles Darwin proposed the idea that the nature and character of man was not set in stone, but was instead a product of environment and circumstances.
“It is precisely in this interpretation of the story, the music and depiction of the world in which the story unfolds that we find the balance between current and past points of view,” explains Randolph, “but it still remains an incredible love story about struggle, survival, hope and sacrifice.”
About the NWSA Theater program: Theater and music theater students at New World School of the Arts hone their craft through acting technique, movement and speech classes, focusing on fundamentals of physical and emotional preparation. With performance at its core, training is based on the classical texts and the principles of drama as well as practical incursions into the contemporary and experimental edges of theater. Consequently, alumni are found performing onstage nationally and internationally and their talent and vision are recognized and highly regarded in the industry.
Jekyll & Hyde premieres on Friday, February 24; 7:30 PM at the Colony Theater. 1040 Lincoln Road, Miami Beach.
Follow-up shows are on Saturday, February 25; 7:30 PM and Sunday, February 26; 2:00 PM.
Tickets are $20 for general admission and $15 for students and seniors. Information at 305-237-3541. Tickets may be purchased nwsa.mdc.edu.
The Colony Theater
1040 Lincoln Road
Miami Beach, FL 33139
Ph:305.237.3541
nwsa.mdc.edu
Facebook | Twitter
