2008 Woodie Awards
Jekyll and Hyde underway
Maggie Te Grotenhuis
Issue date: 9/13/07 Section: A&E
- Page 1 of 1
"No, don't worry it was nothing like the American Idol auditions," said Rick Anderson, Kirkwood Community College's theatre director, about the recent "Jekyll and Hyde" auditions.
"Jekyll and Hyde" has been selected as the fall semester musical.
Lead actor Steve Wunderlich, Culinary Arts major, who will be portraying both the infamous "Jekyll and Hyde" characters, admits he wasn't exactly planning on landing such a huge role.
"I went into the auditions actually trying out for other lead characters but when they called me back to tryout for Jekyll and Hyde, I took the opportunity," said Wunderlich.
"The second day was callbacks, where we asked those who we felt would fit a particular character or a particular dancer, and we had them read through scenes as a certain character, or we had them dance to a specific song with more choreography," said Anderson.
With auditions and callbacks complete, the final decision was posted last Friday. Rehearsals were then set to start the following Monday.
"The cast this year is amazing. The music, the directors, all the actors. This show really has a lot of potential," said Wunderlich.
This particular adaptation of "Jekyll and Hyde" may be familiar, with the basic storyline of good vs. evil. The main character, Dr. Jekyll, creates a monstrous counterpart (Hyde) in an effort to find a cure for his father's mental illness. Jekyll's basic theory is that the cure for mental illness lies solely with the separation of man's evil nature from his good nature.
The music too, might sound a bit familiar. "Well first off the music is wonderful. It's a little pop-rock, a sound that kind of represents 1970's London. The music is very passionate, romantic and Gothic. It almost has an Andrew Lloyd Webber sound to it," said Anderson.
Songs, such as "This is the moment," "Someone Like You" and "Once Upon a Dream," are just a few on the "Jekyll and Hyde" playlist.
Anderson is a theatrical veteran of 27 years. A UNI graduate with a BA degree in theater, Anderson said he has seen and heard the good, the bad and the ugly.
Commenting on his best audition experiences, Anderson said, "Well, they were really all good in different ways." Commenting on his worst audition experiences he said, "Well I really don't get that many bad ones."
No juicy tales that could go down in theater history? Pretty hard to believe considering he has been doing this for nearly three decades.
With upcoming rehearsals well on their way, Anderson is ready for another great year of performances. Opening weekend is set for Oct. 26-28 and Nov. 2-4. On Nov. 2 a dinner theater matinee will be hosted by Kirkwood's Class Act, a student restaurant.
"Jekyll and Hyde" has been selected as the fall semester musical.
Lead actor Steve Wunderlich, Culinary Arts major, who will be portraying both the infamous "Jekyll and Hyde" characters, admits he wasn't exactly planning on landing such a huge role.
"I went into the auditions actually trying out for other lead characters but when they called me back to tryout for Jekyll and Hyde, I took the opportunity," said Wunderlich.
"The second day was callbacks, where we asked those who we felt would fit a particular character or a particular dancer, and we had them read through scenes as a certain character, or we had them dance to a specific song with more choreography," said Anderson.
With auditions and callbacks complete, the final decision was posted last Friday. Rehearsals were then set to start the following Monday.
"The cast this year is amazing. The music, the directors, all the actors. This show really has a lot of potential," said Wunderlich.
This particular adaptation of "Jekyll and Hyde" may be familiar, with the basic storyline of good vs. evil. The main character, Dr. Jekyll, creates a monstrous counterpart (Hyde) in an effort to find a cure for his father's mental illness. Jekyll's basic theory is that the cure for mental illness lies solely with the separation of man's evil nature from his good nature.
The music too, might sound a bit familiar. "Well first off the music is wonderful. It's a little pop-rock, a sound that kind of represents 1970's London. The music is very passionate, romantic and Gothic. It almost has an Andrew Lloyd Webber sound to it," said Anderson.
Songs, such as "This is the moment," "Someone Like You" and "Once Upon a Dream," are just a few on the "Jekyll and Hyde" playlist.
Anderson is a theatrical veteran of 27 years. A UNI graduate with a BA degree in theater, Anderson said he has seen and heard the good, the bad and the ugly.
Commenting on his best audition experiences, Anderson said, "Well, they were really all good in different ways." Commenting on his worst audition experiences he said, "Well I really don't get that many bad ones."
No juicy tales that could go down in theater history? Pretty hard to believe considering he has been doing this for nearly three decades.
With upcoming rehearsals well on their way, Anderson is ready for another great year of performances. Opening weekend is set for Oct. 26-28 and Nov. 2-4. On Nov. 2 a dinner theater matinee will be hosted by Kirkwood's Class Act, a student restaurant.
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