Jekyll and Hyde, anyone?

I was going to include this with my Round II posting of this year's Halloween events, but the number of dates and special events occurring in conjunction with the Bangor Opera House production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is hefty enough to warrant a post of its own, so no one gets confused in the process. Besides the performance run of the play, a book discussion will be held 10/26, the 1920 film will be shown with live accompaniment on 10/30(see below), and there will be a special screening of a new local ghost hunting group's latest work.

WHAT: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
WHERE: Bangor Opera House, 131 Main Street, Bangor, ME
FMI: For tickets or more information, phone the box office at (207)942-3333, or visit penobscottheatre.org
WHEN: Performances will be held on:
October 20, 2010 at 7:00 PM
October 21, 2010 at 7:00 PM
October 22, 2010 at 8:00 PM - OPENING!
October 23, 2010 at 5:00 PM
October 24, 2010 at 3:00 PM
October 27, 2010 at 7:00 PM
October 28, 2010 at 7:00 PM
October 29, 2010 at 8:00 PM
October 30, 2010 at 8:00 PM
October 31, 2010 at 3:00 PM
November 4, 2010 at 7:00 PM
November 5, 2010 at 8:00 PM
November 6, 2010 at 3:00 PM
November 6, 2010 at 8:00 PM
November 7, 2010 at 3:00 PM
COST: $20-35 (all Wednesday show tix are $20)

Penobscot Theatre, Bangor’s professional theatre company, continues its 2010-2011 season with a surprising, inventive, and provocative theatrical production of Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Celebrated playwright Jeffrey Hatcher’s adaptation is in performances at the Bangor Opera House between October 20 and November 7.

“This is a dark, sexy and shocking production of the story you think you know,” says Producing Artistic Director Scott RC Levy. “In one of the most theatrically inventive tellings I’ve come across in a long time, our production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is sure to get under your skin.”

On the fog-bound streets of Victorian-era London, Henry Jekyll's experiments with exotic "powders and tinctures" have brought forth his other self — Edward Hyde, a sensualist and villain free to commit the sins Jekyll is too civilized to comprehend. When Hyde meets a woman who stirs his interest, Jekyll fears for her life and decides to end his experiments. But Hyde has other ideas, and so the two sides battle each other in a deadly game of cat-and-mouse to determine who shall be the master and who his slave. With multiple Hydes portrayed by members of the cast, this new and shocking version of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic tale of depravity, lust, love and horror is a perfect adult treat this Halloween season.

Penobscot Theatre’s production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is written by Jeffrey Hatcher whose work was last presented in Bangor in 2007 (Tuesdays With Morrie). The ensemble includes Allen Adams as Dr. Jekyll and Christie Robinson as Elizabeth Jelkes. Bernard Hope, Jeri Misler, Arthur Morison and Drake Andrew (in his Penobscot Theatre debut) portray all of the other characters, including Hyde. Directed by Producing Artistic Director Scott RC Levy, the production is designed by Erik Diaz, Jonathan Spencer and Jimmy Johansmeyer.

Penobscot Theatre is also thrilled to announce a number of additional events surrounding the production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde:

· FREE NIGHT OF THEATER – For the third year in a row, PTC is taking part in this national initiative and giving away 50 tickets to each of the first 5 performances of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Designed to re-introduce people to the wonder of live theatrical performance, information can be found at www.freenightoftheater.net

· HALLOWEEN WEEKEND – PTC will host a full day of activities on Saturday, October 30th, to coincide with other Halloween events in downtown Bangor.
.....At 2:00PM, PTC continues its Humanities Series with a screening of the silent film version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde starring John Barrymore. This screening will feature live piano accompaniment by Harry Weiss.
.....At 5:00PM, the East Coast Ghost Trackers will hold the premiere screening of their pilot television episode, featuring ghost tracking at Fort Knox in Bucksport. The East Coast Ghost Trackers will be on hand to talk about their experiences, including the ghosts of the Bangor Opera House.
Tickets are free, but require a reservation.
Additional activities, including downtown trick or treating and costume parades are still being developed.

· BOOK READING AND DISCUSSION GROUP – Facilitated by Esther Rauch, professor of English at the University of Maine, PTC will hold a free discussion of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde at the Bangor Opera House on Tuesday, October 26th from 6-7:30 PM. Free copies of the novella are available on a first-come, first-served basis, by calling 942-3333 or emailing Marcie@penobscottheatre.org

Tickets for all performances and events to Penobscot Theatre’s production of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde are available for purchase through the theatre’s website (www.penobscottheatre.org), by phone at (207)942-3333, or in person at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main Street, downtown Bangor.

Performances begin October 20th and run November 7th. Tickets range between $20 and $35.

***NOTE: NEW THIS SEASON: $20 Wednesdays - Tickets to all performances on Wednesday evenings are $20