Western Reserve music director embraces power of pop-rock 'Jekyll & Hyde' musical

Bradley Wyner, making his music director debut at Western Reserve Playhouse in Bath, feels right at home working on the musical "Jekyll & Hyde," which has a '90s megamusical flair.

"It's very '90s, Celine Dionesque-type pop," he said of the pop-rock score by Frank Wildhorn. "It's like Andrew Lloyd Webber but with a little more brains as far as the music."

The musical, which opens at the 95-seat Bath Township theater Friday, features a cast of 20 under the direction of Dawn Sniadak-Yamokoski and music direction of Wyner. Sixteen of the actors are new to the WRP stage.

In this 1990 musical drama, based on on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic thriller, talented physician Dr. Jekyll mistakenly creates an alternate personality of pure evil, Mr. Hyde, who wreaks murderous havoc on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma grows increasingly fearful for Jekyll, prostitute Lucy becomes dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego.

As demonic as the story stounds, the musical, with lyrics and book by Leslie Bricusse, is actually a romantic melodrama full of pop ballads, Wyner said.

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The pianist, who has lived in Akron since 2010, has focused for years working as a music director in Cleveland, at Blank Canvas Theatre, Cain Park, Cleveland Public Theatre, Cleveland Play House and more. Now, he's making an effort to do shows closer to home in Akron, where he lives with his husband, Troy.

When Sniadak-Yamokoski called him to ask about what musicals he'd like to do, he told her "Jekyll & Hyde" is among his favorites that he'd never gotten to do. His other favorite musicals are "Once on This Island," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and "School of Rock," which he did last summer at Cain Park.

"It's a little bit of a guilty pleasure," Wyner said of the theatrical musical that features pretty music and big voices.

"It's always been just a favorite score. The music's glorious. It's this really romantic, minor key stuff," he said. "It's like if Yanni wrote a musical ... flowy and pretty."

Back in the '90s, the show developed a cult following of "Jekkies" with two concept albums before it made it to Broadway in 1997. A national tour in the mid-'90s also preceded the Broadway production.

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'Jekyll & Hyde' stars at Western Reserve

WRP's cast stars Mason Stewart as Jekyll/Hyde, Jennie Nasser as Emma Carew and Braelin Andrzejewski as Lucy Harris.

"We're working on peeling the point off of the room with our voices," Wyner said. "That's the thing about doing melodrama with good music: You can't overdo it."

Wyner, 46, grew up in University Heights and Orange. He played in a dueling piano act, Piano Loco, at Sweet Caroline's in New York from 2001 to 2002 before returning to Northeast Ohio.

He's also worked at youth theater programs at Stagecrafters Youth Theatre in Orange and Playmakers Youth Theatre at the Mandel Jewish Community Center in Beachwood.

Wyner's as well versed in rock as he is in musical theater, as a member of the Cleveland band Diamond Dogs, a Bowie tribute band; and having performed with the Jason Donovan Band's a "Rocky Horror" live tribute concert.

As a freelance musician, he ran a choir program for kids in foster care for Bellefaire child service agency, which led to working with the arts as life enrichment for people with disabilities. Those programs led to his current, second career as a dual diagnosis specialist for people with developmental disabilities and mental health issues, now working at Milestones Autism Resources in Cleveland.

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Next up: Playing Horton in 'Seussical'

Wyner continues to make sure he does music on the side. His work at WRP will continue, in the acting realm: He'll play Horton the elephant in "Seussical" Oct. 6-21.

"This is my first time acting without an instrument to hide behind," which has included an onstage actor/musician role in "Cabaret" in the past.

The character Horton, who must protect the tiny Whos from the naysayers who can't hear them on a speck of dust, presents a parallel to the work Wyner does helping others understand how nonspeaking people with autism communicate.

"It's easy because he's very similar to me," Wyner said of Horton. "The fact that he gives everyone the benefit of the doubt, (a) big heart, really believes in everyone, can hear things that other people can't hear and can see that people have things to contribute that other people can't see."

Arts and restaurant writer Kerry Clawson may be reached at 330-996-3527 or kclawson@thebeaconjournal.com.

Details

Musical: "Jekyll & Hyde"

Where: Western Reserve Playhouse, 3326 Everett Road, Bath Township

When: Opening 8 p.m. Friday, continuing through Aug. 26, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 2 p.m. Aug. 20

Onstage: Starring Mason Stewart, Jennie Nasser and Braelin Andrzejewski

Offstage: Dawn Sniadak-Yamokoski, director; Bradley Winer, music director; Brittany Bizub, stage manager

Cost: $25

Information: thewrp.org or 330-620-7314

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 'Jekyll & Hyde' at WRP: Musical director embraces pop-rock musical