A strong show with a powerful message, "Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical" is Centreville High's Cappie's play. It will be presented in the school theater, Thursday-Saturday, April 26-28, at 7:30 p.m. each night, plus a 2 p.m. matinee on Saturday. (That night is the Cappie's show).
Tickets are $10 at www.TheatreCentreville.com. Due to mature content, the play is not advisable for young children, but everyone else will be in for something special.
It's based on the novel by Robert Lewis Stevenson, and Theater Director Mark Rogers is pleased that Centreville is the first, Fairfax County high school to perform this musical. "The whole story is about the struggle we all face in life regarding good choices and bad choices," he explained. "And what better place than a high school to talk about choices in life?"
The story takes place in 1888 London, and leading the cast and crew of 50 is junior Nate Betancourt, 16, as Dr. Henry Jekyll and his evil alter ego, Edward Hyde. Seniors Caroline Rushing and Maggie Burrus also play major roles.
Set designer Matt Karrenbauer, a senior, is especially proud of Jekyll's lab table that he built from scratch and loaded with electronics for special effects including bubbling and smoking beakers, glowing bottles and fire.
And senior Charlie Schneider, the lighting designer, says the musical will feature the special effects, color and patterns he's always wanted to have in a show.
<tgl> — Bonnie Hobbs