A Musical Obsession

Staging his take on the musical production of "Jekyll and Hyde" has been a labor of love 10 years in the making for Ragtag Entertainment's Andrew Wright.

He has been obsessed with the musical sort of in the same way Dr. Jekyll was obsessed with creating the potion that ultimately turned him into the maniac, Mr. Hyde. So perhaps it's no surprise that Wright sees in Jekyll a kindred spirit.

"I can relate to Jekyll's drive for achievement," says Wright, who is serving as artistic director for the musical. It debuts at the Onyx Theatre, 953 E. Sahara Ave., on Friday. "I'm an extraordinarily driven person, I'm always thinking about how I could have done something better. And when I used to perform, it was this character that really spoke to me."

Wright first saw the Frank Wildhorne musical on Broadway in 1997 and was immediately taken with the music as well as the role of Jekyll/Hyde. Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's novella, "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," the musical follows a doctor seeking to create a cure for his father's illness. Believing that the key is to separate his father's good side from his evil one, Jekyll works on a potion that he tests on himself. The potion releases his own dark side, Edward Hyde. Tragedy ensues with Hyde rampaging through 19th century London. Along the way, Jekyll and other characters sing "This is the Moment", "Someone Like You" and "A New Life," among other songs.

Wright's version of the musical has been pared down to two hours and features music from the stage version, as well as the touring version of "Jekyll and Hyde."

Wright's friend, Giulio Scatola, a casting director for Cirque du Soleil, will direct the show.

Tickets cost $25 for Friday and Saturday, when the show starts at 8 p.m. The show continues at 8 p.m. July 30 and 31, when tickets will be $10, with all proceeds going to support the GLBT Center of Southern Nevada. On Aug. 1, the show starts at 5 p.m. and tickets will cost $10. Proceeds for that day also will go to the GLBT Center of Southern Nevada.

To purchase tickets, visit onyxtheatre.com or call 732-7225.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.