Production, set to open April 4, includes cast of students, community members
IU Northwest School of the Arts announces the upcoming production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, a play adapted by Jeffery Hatcher, from the novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Audiences will be familiar with the plot: a scientist, who in the pursuit of the greater good creates a terrifying alter ego.
But the play has its unique twists that make it exciting to watch. In Hatcher’s version of the story, he pits Jekyll and Hyde against one another.
But the play has its unique twists that make it exciting to watch. In Hatcher’s version of the story, he pits Jekyll and Hyde against one another.
“I’m trying to have some fun with the notion that Jekyll and Hyde play a cat-and-mouse game with each other and with the question of just who we should be rooting for,” Hatcher said.
Associate Professor of Theatre Mark Baer brought this production to the Theatre Northwest stage after directing the same script at Commonweal Theater Company in Minnesota last summer. Directing the same script twice in one year is a first for Baer.
“This production benefits from the deep knowledge of the play I gained from the previous production,” Baer said. “But it’s remarkable how different two productions of the same script can be with a new cast, design team and performance space. This will be a whole new show.”
Collaboration with IU South Bend
For this production, Theater Northwest has partnered with Associate Professor of Theatre Jason Resler of IU South Bend, who serves as costume designer.
“This is a great collaboration between the two regional campuses,” Baer said. “It is our hope that IU Northwest School of the Arts can forge an even deeper partnership with IU South Bend for future projects, as we have successfully done with other theaters, like Gary’s West Side Theatre Guild.”
Cast and crew
The cast of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde will include a mix of students and community members. IU Northwest students include theater majors Gabriel Ashbach (Sir Danvers Carew/Inspector/Drunkard/Porter/Hyde) and Alexander Eddy (Poole/Sanderson/Old Woman/Hyde), as well as fine arts student Dashiana Bingham (Richard Enfield/Student 1/Maid/Hyde).
Community members include Grant Fitch (Dr. Henry Jekyll); Emily Dixon (Elizabeth Jelkes/Child/Student 2); Brandon Hearn (Gabriel Utterson/Hyde); and Rodney Thornton (H.K. Lanyon/Police Doctor/Hyde).
Performances of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
All performances will take place at the Arts & Sciences Mainstage Theatre on the IU Northwest campus
- April 4 at 7 p.m.
- April 5 at 7 p.m.
- April 6 at 3 p.m.
- April 12 at 7 p.m.
- April 13 at 3 p.m..
Admission is $5 to the general public, and free to IU Northwest students, faculty and staff with a valid ID. Reservations can be made online: https://northwest.iu.edu/theatre/forms/ticket-reservations.html
Disclaimer: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde has themes of violence and sexuality that are suited for mature audiences. Parental discretion is advised.