Idle Muse Theatre Company is proud to announce the cast for its world premiere production of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, adapted by Idle Muse Company Member Michael Dalberg+ and directed by Morgan Manasa*, September 22 - October 23 at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. The performance schedule for The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde includes two preview performances Thursday, Sept. 22 and Friday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. Press night is Saturday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. General admission tickets are now on sale for $20, $15, students and seniors and $10 for Thursday Industry Nights at IdleMuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company Box Office, 773.340.9438.
Notions of class, gender, intimacy and violence collide in this new adaptation of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, inspired by the original novella of the same name by Robert Louis Stevenson. Dr. Henri Jekyll (Brandi Jiminez Lee*) struggles to endure in Victorian England, the cards are heavily stacked against her: with her father gone and professional prospects sabotaged, she finds herself isolated and trapped. Forced to look inward for reprieve, she manifests her own savior in Mr. Edward Hyde but finds the road to salvation is paved with ruin.
The cast includes Brandi Jiminez Lee*, (Dr. Henri Jekyll); Jack Sharkey+, (Mr. Edward Hyde); Joel Thompson+, (Dr. Hastie Lanyon); Shane Richlen+, (Gabriel John Utterson); Timothy Griffin+, (Sir Danvers Carew/Poole); Ian Saderholm+, (Enfield); Hanna Beth Mitchell*, (Maid); Whitney Ann Bates*, (understudy/Jekyll and maid) and Chris Sylvie+, (understudy/Lanyon).
The creative team includes Michael Dalberg+/~, (playwright); Morgan Manasa*,(director); Libby Beyreis*/~, (fight choreographer); Samantha Kaufman*, (intimacy designer); Courtney Abbott* (assistant intimacy designer);[ Laura Wiley*/~, (lighting & projection designer); Kati Lechner*/~, (covid compliance officer); L.J. Luthringer+, (music & sound designer); Jessie Gowens*, (costume designer); Tristan Brandon+/~,(properties designer/literary manager/dramaturg); Stina Taylor* (scenic designer); Carrie Hardin*, (speech and dialect coach); Elizabeth MacDougald*/~, (dramaturg); Becky Warner*/~, (stage manager); Beth Bruins*(assistant stage manager) Shellie DiSalvo*/^/~, (production manager); Evan Jackson*/~ (artistic director); Mara Kovacevic* (treasurer / box office manager) and GinaMarie Hoskins* (marketing).
~Connotes Idle Muse Theatre Company Member
ABOUT MICHAEL DALBERG+, ADAPTOR
Michael Dalberg is an ensemble member with Idle Muse Theatre Company where he was the playwright behind The Idle Musings of Sherlock Holmes. He is the co-literary manager with Theatre Above the Law and resident playwright with Three Brothers Theatre. Dalberg got his start as a playwright in London and the performance of his play Family Values(Ghostlight Theatre Group) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. This fall, Chicago area audiences may find more of his work with Grimm (Theatre Above the Law) and Alice in Wonderland (Three Brothers Theatre).
ABOUT MORGAN MANASA*, DIRECTOR
Morgan Manasa is a graduate of the Chicago College of Performing Arts and Theatre Conservatory at Roosevelt University and has been a theatre maker in Chicago for the past 20 years. Manasa returned to the Idle Muse stage in its recent spring production of Upon This Shore: A Tale of Pericles and the Daughters of Tyre (Captain/Bawd). She has been in Idle Muse’s Best for Winter (Time, and other roles) and directed In The Next Room (or The Vibrator Play). Manasa is an ensemble member of Babes With Blades Theatre Company where she’s been seen in their production of Henry V (Fluellen) and Witch Slap(Goody Blunt). She has directed a handful of one acts and 10 minute play festivals, but made her mainstage directorial debut with Arthur M. Jolly’s The Lady Demands Satisfaction (Jeff Recommended) with Babes with Blades.
ABOUT IDLE MUSE THEATRE COMPANY
Idle Muse Theatre Company’s mission is to produce theatre that is transporting, timely and true. The company was established in 2006 by theatre artists interested in exploring the relationship between individuals and the worlds they inhabit. Seeking to create production opportunities for themselves and other artists, they established a modern ‘guild’ of players and environment where theatre artists of different experiences and backgrounds could develop their craft. Today, IMTC remains focused on the following core values:
- Transporting: We believe that great theatre removes both audience members and artists from their respective reality and transports them to another world.
- Timely: We believe that human connection can be accomplished through meaningful, relevant, and accessible storytelling here and now.
- True: We believe in unflinching honesty in the playing and storytelling.
In 2022, Idle Muse Theatre Company also began a profit share model with artists and team members for each production. In addition to any stipend or payment for services, a full 50% of all box office revenue is reserved and divided evenly among the cast and production team.
COVID policy: Masks are to be worn at all times while in The Edge Off-Broadway Theatre when patrons are not actively eating or drinking. Idle Muse is continuing to monitor the evolving public health situation and will update this guidance as necessary to protect the safety of our audience, cast and production team.
Idle Muse Theatre Company is proud to announce the cast for its world premiere production of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, adapted by Idle Muse Company Member Michael Dalberg+ and directed by Morgan Manasa*, September 22- October 23 at The Edge Off-Broadway Theater, 1133 W Catalpa Ave. The performance schedule for The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde includes two preview performances Thursday, Sept. 22 and Friday, Sept. 23 at 8 p.m. Press night is Saturday, Sept. 24 at 8 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Tickets are now on sale and are $20, general admission; $15, students and seniors and $10 for Thursday Industry Nights at idlemuse.org or the Idle Muse Theatre Company Box Office, 773.340.9438.
Idle Muse Theatre Company is partially supported and funded by generous grants from The MacArthur Funds for Arts and Culture at The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation.
The Edge Theater Off-Broadway has paid street parking and is wheelchair accessible with complimentary assisted listening devices available. It is located near the Red Line Bryn Mawr stop and is on the 36 Broadway bus route.
Top Row (L to R): Michael Dalberg+, (Playwright); Brandi Jiminez Lee*, (Dr. Henri Jekyll); Jack Sharkey+, (Mr. Edward Hyde); Joel Thompson+, (Dr. Hastie Lanyon)
Middle Row (L to R): Shane Richlen+, (Gabriel John Utterson); Timothy Griffin+, (Sir Danvers Carew/Poole); Ian Saderholm+, (Richard Enfield)
Bottom Row (L to R): Hanna Beth Mitchell*, (Maid); Whitney Ann Bates*, (understudy/Jekyll and maid) and Chris Sylvie+, (understudy/Lanyon)
Pronoun Key: + (he/him/his); * (she/her/hers); ^ (they, them, theirs); = (any with respect)