Mrs. Morgan, the director of the performance, had a specific reason for choosing Jekyll and Hyde as the fall musical: “This year I really wanted to offer students an opportunity to think outside of the box—see a bigger and different world and do something they had never done before. Thus I choose to do a steampunk twist on a period piece. I knew that Brownell Talbot Theatre students would embrace the opportunity to create something new and unique and even create beyond expectations. They did- hats, lighting, costumes, set, detailing, and acting. I am beyond proud of all they achieved with this show.”

The journey of bringing the musical idea of Jekyll and Hyde to life began with auditions which were held on August 22 and 23, days filled with anticipation and excitement. Auditions marked the first steps towards transforming this idea into a vibrant production. Talented individuals from our school came together, showcasing their singing, acting, and dancing abilities for roles in the musical. As the auditions progressed, the casting decisions were made and official rehearsals began on Monday, August 28th. The dedication and passion of the cast, along with the guidance and vision of Mrs. Morgan, laid out a foundation for what would become an extraordinary theater show. From the first day of auditions, the energy and enthusiasm of the cast & crew was unmatched.

Set in the late 1800s, Jekyll and Hyde unfolds as a captivating exploration of the human psyche, rooted in Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale. Dr. Henry Jekyll, an ambitious and brilliant scientist, becomes consumed by the idea of separating the good and evil within the human soul. In his pursuit of scientific advancement, Jekyll develops a transformative potion that unleashes the sinister alter ego, Mr. Edward Hyde. Like Hyde, Jekyll succumbs to a darker nature, committing violent and malevolent acts that challenge the boundaries of morality. The musical intricately weaves a complex narrative as Jekyll grapples with the consequences of his experiments, leading to psychological and emotional turmoil. The love story between Jekyll and his fiancée, Emma Carew, adds a heartbreaking dimension to the tale, while the tragic figure of Lucy Harris, a gambling attendant entangled with both Jekyll and Hyde, further complicates the unfolding drama. The authorities become involved as Hyde’s deeds escalate, initiating a tense manhunt that drives the plot to an exciting climax. Ultimately, the musical explores profound themes of duality, morality, and the consequences of unchecked ambition as Jekyll fights to regain control and find redemption in the face of his monstrous creation. 

For this show, BT brought in guest director Chris Ebke for the orchestra and most of the music process. Music rehearsal for ensemble songs took the first two weeks of rehearsal, and we continued going through all of the songs throughout the show process to perfect them. The music for this show was very complicated and included lots of duets or small group pieces which are learned and worked on throughout the show.

The show was a massive technical undertaking and this is greatly reflected in the extensive and detailed set. The set itself consisted of three main pieces: a short platform, a tall platform, and a clock in the background. The set’s building process began in late August and was built by a team made up of mostly high schoolers but also Casey Garrigan and Jason Hartig as the leaders of the building. The process took several weeks, and many middle school and high school classes helped to paint the set and detail the pieces. From the dozens of hand cut styrofoam cogs showing the steampunk “underbelly” side of our set to the smallest gold details on the right side of the stage representing the rich, every piece of the set was covered in small and unique but important details.

Speaking of detail, the costumes and hats were the most complicated ones we have ever done. Mrs. Morgan wanted the costumes and hair styles to be as accurate as possible for the time period, some of which have been worked on since May. Each individual costume was unique to the character and the character’s job. One of the most impressive examples of it is the gardeners outfit, with the detailed outfit with flowers and plants on the dress and stunning lit up watering can hat.

Eighth grader Jasmine Oppliger was the head of costuming and said, “Working on costumes for Jekyll and Hyde was truly amazing. Our theater department is a very welcoming environment and I was glad to put in the work so that the actors could look their best on stage. Mrs. Morgan gave me her vision for the costumes and we all worked together to make the designs come to life. I’m so grateful to have had such a great opportunity to be head of costumes, and I can’t wait for future projects.” 

During the actual shows, there is a lot of work that goes on hours before people show up to the theater. If the show starts at 7:00pm then the actors and tech are called at around 4:00pm. When they come in, they get their hair, makeup, and costumes done before vocal warmups and microphone checks. We do mic checks to make sure that all the audio levels are as they should be, and our sound technicians try their best to work out any kinks in the system before the show. The process of putting on makeup can take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, depending on how complicated the makeup design is. Every character has their own personalized makeup design and chart for the makeup artists to follow.

Once the show begins, everyone is set in their assigned roles. The stage manager is in the light booth calling all the shots, the run crew is waiting for the shots to be called, and the dressing crew is on hand waiting for quick costume changes. Throughout Jekyll and Hyde, there were many costume changes and set changes that needed to be handled and our crew executed them with precision and ease. The week leading up to the show is when everyone gets a chance to practice these transitions which is why they almost always go flawlessly during a show. After the last show, all the cast and crew come together to help take everything down. This includes cleaning the dressing room, putting away all props, and deconstructing the set. The whole process takes around 3-4 hours, depending on how large the set is, but in the end, it’s satisfying to see everything we worked on for months come to an end.

The production of Jekyll and Hyde was a remarkable show that brought together talented people from various backgrounds in theater. Through the wonderful direction of Mrs. Morgan, the steampunk aesthetic added a unique and captivating element to the show. The dedication of Mrs. Morgan and Mr. Ebeke towards music rehearsals ensured that the performances were filled with emotion, precision, and impactful musical numbers. The extensive and detailed set, which was built with utmost attention to detail and creativity, provided a visually stunning backdrop for the incredible performance. The costumes, amazingly designed and crafted, brought authenticity to each character and truly immersed the audience in the late 1800s setting. Behind-the-scenes, the tech team, makeup artists, and crew worked tirelessly to ensure smooth transitions and flawless execution during the shows. From vocal warm-ups to strike, every aspect of the production was a testament to the commitment and passion of everyone involved. The production of Jekyll and Hyde not only gave the audience an engaging theater experience but also showcased the power of teamwork and dedication in bringing a musical from concept to reality.