Miguel Montez, immediate past board president of Aloha Performing Arts Company, has been cast in the dual role of Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde in APAC’s fall production of the Gothic musical thriller “Jekyll and Hyde.” Montez has played many characters at the Aloha Theatre, including the King in “The King and I,” Jud Fry in “Oklahoma!” Toxie in “The Toxic Avenger,” and The Monster in last season’s “Young Frankenstein.” His leading lady, Emma Carew, will be played by the newly elected Aloha Performing Arts Company board president, Melissa Geiger Atwood. She has been an ensemble member in many recent productions, and played Auntie Em and Glinda the good witch in last year’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.” Emma’s father, Sir Danvers Carew, is played by David Fero, and the role of John Utterson, Jekyll’s best friend, is taken by Matt Mohi. Fero and Mohi were recently seen in supporting roles in “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Roxanne Fox will appear as Lucy Harris, a nightclub singer who inadvertently gets involved with both Jekyll and Hyde, and is murdered by the latter. Victor Pisauro, who appeared as Lucky in “Waiting for Godot” in June, is Spider, the owner of the nightclub. Simon Stride, Emma’s jilted suitor, is Sam Valenti; Bisset, the apothecary, is Miles Lugo; and Jekyll’s butler, Poole, is Aloha Performing Arts Company newcomer Nick Kern. The governors of St. Jude’s hospital, who all become victims of Hyde, are played by Bill Cottle, Jackie Kalani, Kelly Drake, Topher Mann and Victor Lugo. Others who are members of the ensemble and play various roles are Christina Boyko, Jason Heady, Kelly Ann Miles, Leah Vines, Malia Lugo, Mark Murdock, Marylei Drake, Mia Kriebl-Bruno, Paula Cornwell, Renee Monell, Sage Hecht, Tiffany Kutsunai and Tracey Fosso.
“Jekyll and Hyde” will be presented Oct. 10 through Nov. 2 at Aloha Theatre in Kainaliu, with Friday and Saturday performances at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. The show is loosely based on “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by Robert Louis Stevenson, with lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and music by Frank Wildhorn.
Aloha Performing Arts Company’s production is directed by Jerry Tracy, assisted by Melissa Geiger Atwood. Dale Ross is music director, and will be at the helm of a small orchestra. Choral and vocal direction is by Kelly Ann Miles, dance choreography by Nora Frank, and fight choreography by Juanita Finkenberg. Designers include Gerald Lucena, set; Bob Gage, lighting; Carol Conner, costumes; David Fero, props; Gill Pecceu, sound; and Newton Koshi, hair and makeup. Producers are Sara Hagen and Ken Ross, with Kerry Matsumoto as box office manager and Cameron Bailey as house manager. Gill Pecceu also serves as technical director, and Suzanne Murdock is operations director. Tickets are $22, $20, or $10, and are available 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday by phone, online at alohatheatre.com, or at the theater box office beginning one hour prior to performance time. Early ticket purchase is recommended for best seat selection. For tickets or more information, call 322-9924.