October 13-22, 2023
Jekyll & Hyde
Glows like a newly lit sparkler in the autumn darkness ... to be hailed and seen.
Jekyll & Hyde is so far the only ballet performance (or performance I've seen on stage anyway) that has evoked feelings of fear and terror in me. Emotions ran wild almost as wildly as the dancers themselves on stage, and time passed far too quickly.
A tale of a dark mind and shady streets
A North American Premiere
Witness the psychological torment and self-destruction of Henry Jekyll, a morally upright and well-mannered doctor, as he struggles against the vile urges of his alter ego Edward Hyde in Victorian England. This North American premiere of Val Caniparoli’s newest ballet focuses on the eternal struggle of good versus evil as it plays out within one man.
Parental discretion is advised.
Val Caniparoli’s choreography had its world premiere at the Finnish National Ballet in 2020.
Video courtesy of Thomas Freundlich and Finnish National Ballet.
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Choreography
Val Caniparoli
Score
Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Górecki, Wozjciech Kilar, Henryk Wieniawski, and Frédéric Chopin
Music compiled, edited and arranged by Ramona Pansegrau
Music
Kansas City Symphony
Scenery and Costume Design
David Israel Reynoso
Lighting Design
Jim French
Dramaturg
Carey Perloff
Supporting Sponsors
Media Sponsor
The Story Of Jekyll & Hyde
The Story Of Jekyll & Hyde
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is a novella written by Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, first published in 1886.
The ballet’s story follows Dr. Jekyll’s pursuit of unleashing the hidden underbelly of the human experience and his descent into his evil twin, Mr. Hyde. The ballet features themes of duality, temptation, and the struggle between good and evil, and explores the consequences of Dr. Jekyll’s experiments.
The ballet’s narrative is framed as a feverish hallucination of Robert Louis Stevenson himself, as he imagines the tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. As the story progresses, the lines between reality and fiction become blurred, with the world of the mental hospital returning and Stevenson realizing the dark side of human nature that he has unleashed into the world through his writing.
Meet the Dancers
We make it look easy, but it takes dozens of talented people to put together a stunning performance and train the next generation of professional dancers.
Pre-Curtain Talks
Free for all ticketholders, arrive early and hear about the show you are about to see. Learn how music, special effects, and costumes all make magic on stage by attending the pre-curtain talk, Belger Footnotes, hosted by Artistic Director Devon Carney.
Held at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts one hour prior to curtain. No reservation is necessary.
Artist Conversations
Dance Speaks: Jekyll & Hyde
Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
5:15-6 p.m. | Jekyll & Hyde rehearsal
6-7 p.m. | Dance Speaks Panel
Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney invites Dance Speaks patrons to join him and guests (TBD) in an engaging conversation inspired by the ballet Jekyll & Hyde. Get a sneak peek beforehand of a company rehearsal of Jekyll & Hyde and gain inside information about the production. The program includes an audience Q and A. Tickets are only $12.
KCB Dancer Chat: Jekyll & Hyde
Wednesday, October 4, 2023, 6:30-7:15 p.m.
Virtual on Facebook LIVE
KC Ballet Dancer Chats, a FREE community engagement and education series, is designed to provide the broader public an opportunity to engage with and learn more about professional dancers from Kansas City Ballet. This dancer chat features three KCB company dancers chatting about their roles in KCB’s production of Jekyll & Hyde and sharing interesting aspects of their life journey and dance experiences. This relaxed, informal conversation will be moderated by a Kansas City community professional. All dancer chats take place on Facebook LIVE. www.facebook.com/kcballet
Frequently Asked Questions
Gallery
All photos courtesy of Finnish National Ballet
