#1
Posted: 10/23/05 at 2:09pm
Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Jekyll and Hyde The concert on it's third tour stop at my school, and I must say that this is definitely something not to be missed. I sat so close that I could almost touch the people on the stage.
The new elements of the score were absolutely wonderful. The addition of more percussion and an electric guitar really took the music to a new level. I do not remember hearing an orchestra ever sound this amazing. I know that some engagements only have a 6-piece orchestra, but the 30-piece definitely made the sound so full, and at times added a creepiness to the music.
Everything was very simple. The orchestra and band behind the performers added a cool tone to the production. There were few props, but those used worked perfectly. The only scenery was a backdrop which made it look like the entire back wall of the theatre was made of old bricks. As for the lighting, it worked wonderful. Emma often had white over her shoulder, and Lucy red, and of course the normal switching of the light from one side of the stage to the other to show the Jekyll/Hyde transformation is there. The new Hyde mic effect works really well. When he laughs it feels like you're in a haunted house, but it works quite well. The costumes were perfect. Both ladies wore black. Emma's costume was of course more classy, and she had her hair back a little bit, while Lucy's dress was shorter, and her hair was a bit more wild (and shorter). Jekyll/Hyde has two of the same style of costumes from the regular show. The cast interaction was fun. While one of them was sitting on a stool as another sang, they would just sit there and enjoy the music, and applaud when the time was right. I really loved after "In His Eyes," Kate and Brandi just looked at each other and pointed and grinned....kind of like "damn, we just rocked!" haha.
Brandi Burkhardt was stunning as Emma, especially in her brand new song that did not exist when the concert first premiered. She made Emma her own.
Kate Shindle, my personal favorite was mesmerizing. She commanded the stage, and every time she sang, I could not take my eyes of her. One of the best female singers I have heard in a very long time. I loved her strong connection with the audience, and her cute mannerisms on stage. "Bring On The Men" was wonderful, with her smirks and her partially pulling her dress up. She was definitely the highlight of the show for me.
Rob Evan was the best Jekyll/Hyde I have ever seen or heard. His dedication to the role is beyond words. I have heard he was amazing in this role, but I really did not expect him to have this much talent. He surpassed every expectation I had, and he received standing ovations multiple times during the show. I loved the usage of both the body mic and stage mic, and how he would always connect with the other characters and the orchestra conductor. At one point, the electric guitarist came forward to play a solo, and Rob kind of just rocked out with him. It sounds like it would be kind of stupid, but it really worked well. I am very glad I got to see him in the role. It was a treat.
Afterwards, I got to meat the cast and get autographs/pictures. Kate Shindle has to be one of the nicest people in theatre I have come across. I must have talked to her for five minutes. I asked her when the recording was going to come out, but she said she did not know and that they were still mixing it. She told me to keep checking the website though (the record company is Global Records). She said the recording is slightly different from the actual concert, but it is still amazing. She want on to talk about the show, and how Emma's new song ("If You Only Knew") was amazing. I told her how much I loved that some of the old pre-Broadway songs were added back into the show, and she told me that Frank Wildhorn and Rob Evan sat down together and pretty much put the whole thing together. She said that they took the music and thought "What if Evanesence sung this song?" or "what would this song sound like if it were more R&B?" It was a very interesting conversation, and she was the sweetest person. She asked me about what I was doing in theatre, and it was fun to talk to her. I had my camera but nobody to take a picture, so she ran over to some girls and asked if one would take a picture of us! I didn't get to talk to Brandi and Rob as much because they had been there for a while, and I could tell that everyone wanted to leave, but everyone was very nice and gracious. I saw someone ask for an autograph from this man, and I looked over, and It was none other than Frank Wildhorn. So, I was pretty excited that I got to meet him and get his autograph!
You definitely do not want to miss this show if you have the chance to see it. It was candy for the ears.
The new elements of the score were absolutely wonderful. The addition of more percussion and an electric guitar really took the music to a new level. I do not remember hearing an orchestra ever sound this amazing. I know that some engagements only have a 6-piece orchestra, but the 30-piece definitely made the sound so full, and at times added a creepiness to the music.
Everything was very simple. The orchestra and band behind the performers added a cool tone to the production. There were few props, but those used worked perfectly. The only scenery was a backdrop which made it look like the entire back wall of the theatre was made of old bricks. As for the lighting, it worked wonderful. Emma often had white over her shoulder, and Lucy red, and of course the normal switching of the light from one side of the stage to the other to show the Jekyll/Hyde transformation is there. The new Hyde mic effect works really well. When he laughs it feels like you're in a haunted house, but it works quite well. The costumes were perfect. Both ladies wore black. Emma's costume was of course more classy, and she had her hair back a little bit, while Lucy's dress was shorter, and her hair was a bit more wild (and shorter). Jekyll/Hyde has two of the same style of costumes from the regular show. The cast interaction was fun. While one of them was sitting on a stool as another sang, they would just sit there and enjoy the music, and applaud when the time was right. I really loved after "In His Eyes," Kate and Brandi just looked at each other and pointed and grinned....kind of like "damn, we just rocked!" haha.
Brandi Burkhardt was stunning as Emma, especially in her brand new song that did not exist when the concert first premiered. She made Emma her own.
Kate Shindle, my personal favorite was mesmerizing. She commanded the stage, and every time she sang, I could not take my eyes of her. One of the best female singers I have heard in a very long time. I loved her strong connection with the audience, and her cute mannerisms on stage. "Bring On The Men" was wonderful, with her smirks and her partially pulling her dress up. She was definitely the highlight of the show for me.
Rob Evan was the best Jekyll/Hyde I have ever seen or heard. His dedication to the role is beyond words. I have heard he was amazing in this role, but I really did not expect him to have this much talent. He surpassed every expectation I had, and he received standing ovations multiple times during the show. I loved the usage of both the body mic and stage mic, and how he would always connect with the other characters and the orchestra conductor. At one point, the electric guitarist came forward to play a solo, and Rob kind of just rocked out with him. It sounds like it would be kind of stupid, but it really worked well. I am very glad I got to see him in the role. It was a treat.
Afterwards, I got to meat the cast and get autographs/pictures. Kate Shindle has to be one of the nicest people in theatre I have come across. I must have talked to her for five minutes. I asked her when the recording was going to come out, but she said she did not know and that they were still mixing it. She told me to keep checking the website though (the record company is Global Records). She said the recording is slightly different from the actual concert, but it is still amazing. She want on to talk about the show, and how Emma's new song ("If You Only Knew") was amazing. I told her how much I loved that some of the old pre-Broadway songs were added back into the show, and she told me that Frank Wildhorn and Rob Evan sat down together and pretty much put the whole thing together. She said that they took the music and thought "What if Evanesence sung this song?" or "what would this song sound like if it were more R&B?" It was a very interesting conversation, and she was the sweetest person. She asked me about what I was doing in theatre, and it was fun to talk to her. I had my camera but nobody to take a picture, so she ran over to some girls and asked if one would take a picture of us! I didn't get to talk to Brandi and Rob as much because they had been there for a while, and I could tell that everyone wanted to leave, but everyone was very nice and gracious. I saw someone ask for an autograph from this man, and I looked over, and It was none other than Frank Wildhorn. So, I was pretty excited that I got to meet him and get his autograph!
You definitely do not want to miss this show if you have the chance to see it. It was candy for the ears.
Your fupa is showing.
Updated On: 10/23/05 at 02:09 PM
