[Kyle]

I was just wondering what everyone's opinion was: what song do you think should open the show? Personally, I like opening with "I Need to Know," as in the Fullerton version. It introduces Jekyll right away, and makes the opening exciting. The Broadway version opened with a short prologue and scene, and then went into the slow lullaby "Lost in the Darkness," which didn't really work for me. I've heard of other regional productions that open with "Facade." That might work, but I think I'd have to actually see it live to judge. So what does everyone else think? If you choose "Other," please specify what other song you'd choose.

[B-way SDIB]

I'm quite content with the MTI version that opens with the "prologue", has Jekyll sing "Lost in the Darkness" to his father, leave the hospital singing "I Need to Know" and then having the cast sing "Facade". It's a complete opening in itself.

[Louis]

I like having both, really.

I don't like opening with "Facade," nor do I really see how it could work to great effect (unless the concept version were used, in which case it would be vaguely possible, because at least Sir Danvers and Lisa are introduced).

[Kyle]

Just to clarify:

Both "I Need to Know" and "Lost in the Darkness" are included in the Fullerton version, just in the opposite order of what the original MTI script contains.

Jekyll begins the show right off with "I Need to Know." Then there's a blackout, and the first scene is set in the mental ward of St. Jude's hospital, as in the Broadway version. There's the short scene (with just Jekyll and Sir Danvers, I believe, Utterson doesn't take part), and then Jekyll sings "Lost in the Darkness" to his father, which leads into "Facade." It may sound like a rather odd way of piecing the show together when reading it put on paper, but it works breathtakingly on stage. I like it a lot better than any of the other openings.

[B-way SDIB]

That actually sounds a lot better than the others. Will it be done in the new staging at TUTS??? And while on the subject does anyone have any new information regarding that production???

Jonathan

[andintime]

I did a production of J&H with "Facade" as the opener. I think it worked really well. Maybe because I'm partial to big ensemble opening numbers. It was staged as if the townspeople were outside the hospital gossiping. Toward the end, Jekyll walked onstage and into the hospital. At the end, as the final cast member alone on stage sang "Look behind the facade" the set turned around revealing the interior of the hospital and the good doctor kneeling by his father.
The lyrics were not from the concept version, but many of the main characters made appearances (walked on or by) throughout the number. I think it worked really well.

My gripe: personally, I think act I should end at the end of "Alive" and pick up with "His Work Nothing More." but that's just me.

[BroadwayBoy2007]

I agree with all of those ideas! They're all great! Just to mix things up (respectively), and come in a little different...I thought a great opening line could be "When this all began...we knew there'd be a price to pay..." Just ideas...

[magic8ball1017]

NM

[Talissa]

[magic8ball1017]

NM

[Gennybelle]

im not really a big fan of "I need to know"..it was one of the openers when i did the show but it is a boring song if u ask me...then again im not really a fan of many of the song Jekyll sings by himself...but i love "this is the moment"...when done right it is amazing!!!

[crying_emo_girl]

I like the way it is on the '94 Concept Cast Recording. Small Prologue and right into I Need To Know.

[actress4life]

I like "this is the moment" where it is, and i think the show should begin wit "lost in the darkness" coz it describes how jekyll feels, wit his father in an asylum.

[delinquent]

I think having LOST IN THE DARKNESS and I NEED TO KNOW clumped into one big great scene is ridiculous. In matter of fact, doing it ANYWAY DIFFERENTLY than the set-up from the '94 concept album is either clumsy or wrong. It just doesn't work. It's either I NEED TO KNOW or it's nothing. That's how I feel

[dancing_soprano]

I saw a production where the show was opened with "I need to know" and then went directly into "Lost in the darkness."
The whole prologue dialogue in the Broadway production did nothing for me and just made the show drag on and on.
And when doing a show make sure that you use "Bring on the men" it's a better song vocally for lucy.

[Bill Sykes]

I like Magic8balls idea about moving I Need to Know to right before the transformation. But what about TITM right before Jekyll gets married (I think somone suggested this before but i'm not sure)? It would make the audience think he is fine and then the transformation back to Hyde would be even more of a surprise.

I totaly understand where 8ball is comming from though, I feel the same way about King Herod's Song in JCS. Great song, but kills the mood of the show.

[Master Thespian]

I like it the way it is now. I was actually pleasantly suprised they brought back I Need to Know in the show when I saw my old high school perform it this past weekend (which was absolutely awesome by the way), cause when I saw it on Broadway they just had LID only.

[SlayerRob]

I used to be biased, but "I Need to Know" gets the show off on a much better pace.

"Lost in the Darkness" should either be moved until after it, altered, or deleted.

[delinquent]

Cut LOST IN THE DARKNESS altogether. It's crappy

[MagPie]

I love I need to know. But I think the show is more affective when it opens on such a laid back, mellow note.

[MBoy]

I saw a regional production that opened w/Facade, which I thought worked well . . . actually the music for Facade started and I thought I missed the beginning of the show haha. But it worked. It then proceeded to follow the Broadway pattern w/Lost in the Darkness, but instead of having Facade where it is usually, it went right to the Board of Governors. Right after Jekyll and Utterson's part (but still the fact remains, those bastards hold the reins . . . ) it went into I Need to Know for Jekyll. It worked really well in my opinion.

[Luce]

I liked it how it was done in Bremen/Germany. There was the the prologue, the curtain rose and Jekyll was tending to his ill father. He sang "Lost in the Darkness" which made so much sense regarding his father also being on stage. Then he went right on with "I need to know". It was not ridiculous, it felt right to me, because he stepped closer to the audience while the set behind him vanished.

This was changed in Vienna/Austria and Cologne/Germany. The show started with the prologue and then INTK.

It was totally different in Spain and Denmark, though.

[Lucy Harris]

In the production I was a part of, it went: Prologue, Lost in the Darkness, I Need to Know, and then Facade.

[Janni]

I liked the german way too...I hated "Lost in the darkness" as replacement for "INTK", but when I saw that they combined both and gave "INTK" the background of Jekyll helping his father I thought this was the best possible way for the show to open. It gives alot of depth to his motives.

[CabaRob]

In the production that I did - we opened as Broadway except it was just Utterson who did the prologue and dialogue - Sir Danvers wasn't there. Then "Lost in the Darkness"; "Facade"; "Board of Governors". and "I Need To Know" replaced "Pursue The Truth". It worked quite well.

[WeeblCat]

"I Need To Know".

[jcstar]

Lost In The Darkness is beautiful... when sung by a competent singer.

I think the opening should go:
Overture (does it have one?)
Prologue/Lost In The Darkness
I Need To Know
Facade 1
Board Of Govenors
Facade 2/Engagment Party

... and what exactly is wrong with Jekkyl's father, anyway?

Andy.

[RainyCrystal]