Jekyll & Hyde - Students Learning Under Pressure

"JEKYLL & HYDE, THE MUSICAL" – STUDENTS GROWING UNDER PRESSURE

Each year, Heartwood Theater and Lincoln Academy mesh resources, providing exceptional opportunities for students to learn the rigors and rewards of live performance, while being nurtured, encouraged and challenged both onstage and backstage.  This fall, the 11th annual youth collaboration will culminate on stage, as thirty plus Midcoast students present the Broadway musical, "Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical.”

Based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson, the epic struggle between good and evil comes to life on stage, in this musical phenomenon.  Featuring a thrilling score of pop rock hits from multi-Grammy and TONY nominated Frank Wildhorn & double Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse, this show has mesmerized audiences the world over.

The finished product will be seen and enjoyed by hundreds, but the real product will be a group of students who have been changed by their experience - learning in a safe environment, while working to meet the high expectations of peers, a challenging production schedule, and imminent public performances.

One LA graduate, Meg Lydon, who acted and worked tech on Heartwood and LA productions for several years, put it this way, “Theater focuses on professionalism.   It keeps you on your toes, pushes you to do your best work. You learn how to behave and how to interact with other actors so that the team functions at its best. I love the teamwork involved; it’s like playing a sport.”  (After graduating from Smith College in 2012, majoring in theater with a dual focus on acting and stage managing, Meg now works as stage manager at a major regional theater in Philadelphia.)

As the production develops and emerges over the weeks of rehearsals, a close corporate synergy grows between cast, crew and directors.  Mutual trust and confidence becomes integral to the final success of the project.

Students are involved in the technical elements of lighting, costuming and set building, as well as acting.  Several began working their musical solos in private lessons over the summer months, with  Vocal Instructor Beth Preston, Choral Director at LA and Vocal Coach for this production.

 Success is achieved by doing common things uncommonly well.  In the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy, these students are fully engaged in the basics, and success is certain to follow.

No theater production happens without much support from the community.  Heartwood is pleased to be sponsored again this season by Bath Savings Institution, and all season youth programming is sponsored by Damariscotta Hardware.  Show sponsors are: Colby & Gale and Supplies Unlimited, of Damariscotta, and Chesterfield Associates, of Westport Island.  First Advisors will be sponsoring intermission for all shows, this season.

Six evening performances and one matinee will be presented in the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy.  Evening performances begin at 7:30 on Oct 30, 31, Nov 1, 6, 7 & 8, and Sunday, Nov 2 at 3:00pm will be the only matinee.  Tickets are $8 for students, $16 for adults. Seating is unreserved, unless specially requested in advance.

Reservations very strongly recommended: 563-1373 or info@heartwoodtheater.org (please do not contact Lincoln Academy for reservations). For more details, visit www.heartwoodtheater.org.

Jekyll & Hyde is presented through special arrangement with Music Theater International (MTI).