The engagement marks a rare and exciting transfer from a nonprofit Chicago theatre company to a prestigious downtown venue, and it comes on the heels of a production that earned an extraordinary 10 nominations at the 2025 Jeff Awards. JEKYLL & HYDE will be included in the next Broadway In Chicago season package, on sale this April.
A Phenomenon That Took Chicago by Storm
When Kokandy Productions first staged JEKYLL & HYDE last year at the Chopin Theatre, it was the musical's first professional production in Chicago in more than 15 years. What followed was nothing short of a sensation. The run sold out completely and had to be extended multiple times to meet overwhelming demand, with audiences packing the intimate Chopin Theatre night after night.The production features a thrilling score of pop rock hits from multi-Grammy- and Tony-nominated Frank Wildhorn and double-Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse, based on the classic story by Robert Louis Stevenson. Murder and chaos are pitted against love and virtue in this sweeping gothic musical that explores the epic struggle between good and evil.
Set in 1888 London, the story follows Dr. Henry Jekyll, a brilliant physician who becomes consumed by his research into the duality of human nature. When the hospital's Board of Governors rejects his radical proposal to separate good from evil within a human subject, Jekyll takes matters into his own hands - experimenting on himself and unleashing the terrifying Edward Hyde, a merciless killer who embarks on a deadly campaign of retribution. Caught between Jekyll's two worlds are the women in his life: his devoted fiancee Emma Carew and the enchanting Lucy Harris, a dancer who looks to Jekyll for salvation only to find herself in Hyde's crosshairs.
Critics Raved
When the production opened at the Chopin Theatre, Chicago critics took notice in a big way. Reviewers widely praised the production's powerhouse vocals, with several noting that the singing was among the most thrilling heard on a Chicago stage that year. The lead performance in the demanding dual role was lauded for its vocal precision and the ability to shift seamlessly between the gentle, intellectual doctor and his sinister alter ego, using little more than acting skill and dramatic lighting to create the illusion of two beings inhabiting one body.The two leading women drew particular acclaim as well. The portrayal of Lucy Harris was hailed as a breakout star turn - a vocally electrifying performance that stopped the show cold on multiple occasions, drawing mid-show standing ovations that are almost unheard of in Chicago theatre. The actress playing Emma Carew was praised for unearthing unexpected depth in a role that can often feel secondary, making the character feel fully realized and emotionally compelling.
Critics also celebrated the production's full 15-piece orchestra performing original orchestrations under expert music direction, a rarity for a company of Kokandy's size that gave the score a lush, Broadway-caliber sound. The inventive choreography, atmospheric gothic scenic design, and moody lighting that bathed the stage in deep reds and cool blues all contributed to what multiple reviewers described as a spellbinding theatrical experience. One critic called it possibly the best non-Equity production they had ever seen in Chicago. Another described it simply as near-perfect.
The consensus was clear: Kokandy Productions had taken a beloved cult musical and delivered a production that matched or exceeded anything audiences might see on a national tour - and the intimate staging only made it more electric.
The Entire Original Cast Returns
The entire original cast will return for the Broadway Playhouse run, including Jeff Award nominees David Moreland (Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde), Ava Lane Stovall (Lucy Harris), and Emily McCormick (Emma Carew). The production is directed by Producing Artistic Director Derek Van Barham with music direction by Nick Sula and choreography by Brenda Didier. The full design team and orchestra are expected to return, with specific production elements for the Broadway Playhouse to be announced at a later date.A Collaboration That Showcases Chicago's Theatre Community
The partnership between Broadway In Chicago and Kokandy Productions represents the kind of collaboration that makes Chicago's theatre scene one of the most vibrant in the country.Lou Raizin, President and CEO of Broadway In Chicago, said, "This collaboration with Kokandy Productions reflects what makes Chicago's theatre community so powerful - artists and institutions working together to elevate bold storytelling and expand access to exceptional live performance. JEKYLL & HYDE is a thrilling example of the depth of talent in our city, and we are proud to bring this acclaimed production to the Broadway Playhouse for a broader audience."
Scot Kokandy, Executive Producer of Kokandy Productions, added, "To say we are excited is an understatement. Last year's production of JEKYLL & HYDE was the most ambitious production we have attempted to present, and we are ecstatic and honored to partner with Broadway In Chicago to bring it back this fall."
Derek Van Barham, Producing Artistic Director of Kokandy Productions and Jeff Award-nominated Director of JEKYLL & HYDE, noted, "We were overwhelmed by the initial response to our JEKYLL & HYDE. Clapping, cheering, standing ovations in the middle of the show - it was like being at a rock concert for everyone's favorite band. Directing this amazing cast at the Broadway Playhouse and seeing our production grow on this stage means the world to me. And that it's returning during the Halloween season makes it a wickedly delicious treat for Chicago."
Don't Miss It This Time
If you missed JEKYLL & HYDE during its sold-out run at the Chopin Theatre, this is your chance. And if you were lucky enough to see it the first time around, the move to the Broadway Playhouse promises an expanded experience with the same extraordinary cast and creative team that made the original production unforgettable. With a fall run that stretches right through Halloween season, this gothic masterpiece couldn't be more perfectly timed.JEKYLL & HYDE plays the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.), September 8 - October 25. The production will be included in the Broadway In Chicago season package, on sale April 2026.