BTE Presents East Coast Premiere of “Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy”

The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble will present an East Coast premiere as the final show in its 29th season. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy will have audiences rolling in the aisles from April 19th through May 13th at the Alvina Krause Theatre in Downtown Bloomsburg.

Don’t look for deeper meaning in BTE’s hilariously madcap and macabre retelling of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy. Murderous scientists, surly Scots, evil twins, dueling dowagers, dumb cousins and ripe debutantes – who will win the war between the good and evil in our natures? Who cares as long as it’s funny! Sit back and try not to get hit by flying frying pans, fire pokers and syringes. Enjoy the bad fun!

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy is sponsored by PPL and the Berwick Hospital Center. Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble’s 29th season is sponsored by the Pine Barn Inn, WNEP and the Press Enterprise.

Playwright Lauren Wilson graduated from the Dell’Arte School for Physical Theatre in 1994 and worked for many years as an ensemble member and teaching artist with the Dell’Arte Company. Past productions of her work include: The Golden State, The Rag and Bone Shop, In the Land of the Grasshopper Song, and Bluff (Dell’Arte Company), Chemical Imbalance (Exit Theatre, San Francisco), A Comic Strip (Touchstone Theatre) as well as many plays for young actors produced at the Blue Heron Youth Theatre in Washington State. Her children’s comedy Chateau La Roach was published by Pioneer Drama in 2001 and has subsequently been performed in over 400 schools nationwide. Her play Wedding Diet will appear this spring in the Viking anthology Laugh Lines: Short Comic Plays.

Appearing in the cast are Ensemble members James Goode as Dr. Henry Jekyll/Mr. Hyde, Elizabeth Dowd as the society matron Euphronia Jekyll and recent Bloomsburg University graduate Megan Ridge as her daughter Ambrosia. Ensemble member Andrew Hubatsek plays Henry’s cousin Xavier, and Bloomsburg University graduate Renee Fawess plays the eligible Rosamunda Dewhistle. In a loving portrayal, Ensemble Director Gerard Stropnicky dons a dress as dowager Lady Throckmortonshire, and guest artist Erin McMonagle plays her twin daughters Calliope and Penelope. Rounding out the cast are Ensemble member Cassandra Pisieczko as Ivy the maid and frequent guest artist Samantha Phillips as Plodgett the cook.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy is directed by Associate Ensemble member Seth Reichgott, who leads a team of talented designers: recent Bloomsburg University alumnus Zak Knoll (lighting), season set designer Ellen Lenbergs (set), and Rebecca Ermisch (costumes). Bloomsburg University alumnus MaryAgnes Brown is the Production Stage Manager and current Bloomsburg University student Monica Johnson serves as the Assistant Stage Manager.

Due to overwhelming requests from area schools, one matinee has been added to the performance calendar: Thursday, May 10th at 10:00a.m. Educators are encouraged to contact Paula Henry, School Programs Director at 570-458-4075 or phenry@bte.org as soon as possible. Seats for this special school matinee are filling up fast!

Pay What You Wish Night for Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy starts at 6:30 p.m. on April 19th with a curtain time of 7:00 p.m. Following the performance, BTE will pay a $1.00 to audience members who stay for a short talkback. Both April 19th and 20th are reduced price preview performances. All are encouraged to enjoy light refreshments with the cast and crew at a lobby reception following the Opening Night performance April 21st.

Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy can be seen Thursdays at 7:00 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 3:00 p.m., April 21st through May 13th. Tickets are $22.00 for adults, $14.00 for seniors 60 and over, $9.00 for students and children, and just $4.00 for Bloomsburg University students with valid ID. Group discounts are always available, please call the Box Office. The preview performances on April 19th and 20th at 7:00pm are $8.00 general admission. Tickets and information are available anytime, online at www.bte.org. The Box Office may be reached at (570) 784-8181 or toll free at (800) 282-0283.

The Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble is a non-profit, professional theatre located in the heart of Downtown Bloomsburg. Founded in 1978, BTE is enjoying its 29th Season of bringing quality entertainment to Northeastern Pennsylvania. For more information on BTE, please visit our website at www.bte.org.

Calendar Listing for: Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde: A Strange Comedy

Thursday, April 19 @ 7:00 p.m. Preview, Pay What You Wish Night
Friday, April 20 @ 7:00 p.m. Preview
Saturday, April 21 @ 8:00 p.m. Opening Night, lobby reception following
Sunday, April 22 @ 3:00 p.m. Family Day Out
Thursday, April 26 @ 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 27 @ 8:00 p.m. Talkback
Saturday, April 28 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 29 @ 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 3 @ 7:00 p.m.
Friday, May 4 @ 8:00 p.m. Talkback
Saturday, May 5 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 6 @ 3:00 p.m.
Thursday, May 10 @ 7:00 p.m.
Friday, May 11 @ 8:00 p.m. Talkback
Saturday, May 12 @ 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 13 @ 3:00 p.m.