Month: April 2022

First taste of Ladino: an exclusive meal by Chef Berty Richter

Richter to partner with Chef John Brand for Ladino preview dinner on April 19; proceeds to benefit the San Antonio Food Bank. Photo: Ladino, used with permission.

For one-night only, the highly anticipated restaurant from Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, Ladino will be hosting a sneak peek ticketed dinner in the Elephant Cellar at Hotel Emma on Tuesday, April 19 at 6:30p.m. Executive Chef of Ladino, Berty Richter is partnering with Chef John Brand to create a pre-fix menu featuring some of the dishes that will be at Ladino, which is slated to open in summer 2022. A portion of proceeds from the dinner will go to San Antonio Texas Food Bank. (Ladino, 2022)

Tickets are $225 and will include wine pairings. The menu is as follows (please note items are subject to change):

WELCOME DRINKS
Raki Cocktail

DIPS
(served with warm pita)
Zaalouk- fire roasted eggplant
Spiced green tahini
Muhamarra
Spicy whipped feta
Hummus
Schug, Amba

COLD MEZE
Fennel/Pomelo salad
Apio- Celery root in orange and olive oil

HOT MEZE
Saganaki- greek style fried cheese
Shishbarak- beef and chard dumplings, smokey tomato

MAIN
Lamb Shawarma- Roasted shoulder (think middle eastern “barbacoa”)
Fish Kebabs
Chicken-Halloumi Kebabs

Condiments
Onion Parsley sumac salad
Rocket
Beef fat “kaymak”

DESSERT
Knafe- with salted cream and smoke

Hotel Emma at Pearl
136 E Grayson St
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 448-8300

The team behind Emmer & Rye, the Austin-based, nationally renowned hospitality group, is excited to announce their latest concept and first concept for San Antonio, Ladino. Led by Executive Chef Berty Richter, Ladino will pay homage to Berty’s Sephardic roots with a menu centered around the charcoal grill which plays a lead role in the Middle Eastern and Balkan cuisines. Described as a Mediterranean Grill House, Ladino will be a celebration of all the cultures combined, starting from the decor, the ambiance and the music, to the beverages and food. Using a wood burning oven, Ladino will feature freshly made pita and other regional specialties accompanied by an abundance of Mezze, vegetables, spices, and herbs that are playful and bold. Ladino will be located in the Pearl at 200 E Grayson St #100, San Antonio, TX 78215 and is slated to open in summer 2022.

Discover warm weather in Colorado with Auberge Resorts Collection

Hotel Jerome in Aspen, Colorado. Photo: Auberge Resorts Collection, used with permission.

Colorado is an amazing vacation destination year-round, and summer is no exception. Auberge Resort Collection’s luxury Colorado properties are unveiling new, immersive seasonal activities and offerings; from Via Ferrata to Aspen Food & Wine. (Auberge Resorts Collection, 2022)

Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection (Aspen, CO)

  • Aspen Food & Wine x Hotel Jerome Epicurean Passport: Hotel Jerome is giving guests unprecedented access to one of the most exclusive cultural happenings in town, the highly anticipated Aspen Food & Wine Festival.  With the Hotel Jerome Epicurean Passport**, guests receive insider access to an array of exclusive events and curated programming from June 16 -19, including:

○      Black on Black Dinner in the Garden

○      Black on Black After Party at Bad Harriet

○      La Grande Dame Lunch in the Garden

○      La Grande Dame Garden Lounge

○      Death & Co (TBC)

○      Bartender Bash at Bad Harriet

○      Casa Dragones Cocktail & Caviar Lounge

○      Madre Mezcal After-Hours Speakeasy

  • Theatre Aspen Summer Cabaret Series: This summer season, take in performances by top performers as Hotel Jerome’s Grand Ballroom transforms into a Summer Cabaret. Enjoy a seated chef’s dinner followed by a special Theatre Aspen production.
  • Aspen’s Hottest Speakeasy, Bad Harriet: Nestled beneath the historic Aspen Times building, discover Hotel Jerome’s newest bespoke cocktail experience, now featuring a refined menu of small bites and cocktails inspired by powerful women throughout history, the destination offers master alchemists and a lively, dynamic atmosphere.
  • Miron Crosby x Hotel Jerome, VIP Experience: Send a message of absolute adoration to the person you love most with a stay at Hotel Jerome and a pair of custom Miron Crosby boots. This summer season, the highly coveted bespoke cowboy boots from Highland Park Village, in Dallas, TX will walk the streets of Aspen, and Hotel Jerome guests will have the opportunity to engage in a truly unique experience. Pen a handwritten message that the Miron Crosby team transcribes onto leather for that special someone. The Miron Crosby message box will be waiting in the room with a bespoke invitation to bring their message to the (brand new) Miron Crosby studio for a private consultation to choose and customize their perfect boot, with the message sewn into the liner for the ultimate gift (and heirloom to treasure forever).

Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection (Telluride, CO)

  • Private Fishing & Picnic: Gain access to the pristine and secluded wilderness of Telluride. Among the most naturally gifted stretches of the entire Dolores, Lightenburger Ranch is an angler’s dreamscape of spectacular fly fishing and picture book ambiance. Guests will enjoy a private fly fishing lesson followed by an exquisite picnic lunch prepared by the Madeline culinary team.
  • 2nd Annual Alpine Cookout: Madeline Hotel & Residences invites epicureans to celebrate the spirit of Southwestern cuisine at Taste of Auberge: Annual Alpine Cookout at Madeline on July 2, 2022. The second annual event will draw visiting culinary icons, such as Salt Lake City celebrity Chef Viet Pham, Texas all-star Chef Dean Fearing, Phoenix famed chef Mark Tarbell, and Santa Fe legend Mark Kiffin, who will collaborate with Executive Chef Bill Greenwood on a mouthwatering menu, including Chef Pham’s famed Pretty Bird signature hot chicken sandwich.
  • Blues x Brews Multi-Course Dinner: The Telluride Blues & Brews Festival Brewers Showcase will kick off in style on Thursday, September 15 at 6p.m. with an evening of brews, world-class fare and, of course, music. This culinary experience will pair six courses of curated, modern mountain cuisine from Executive Chef Bill Greenwood with unique craft beers and conversation with brewers. Stay tuned for the menu, brewery lineup and pour list, along with additional event information.
  • Madeline x RESET: The property has debuted an exclusive partnership with RESET Telluride, a private, ultra-luxury wellness and trekking retreat launching in May 2022.

○      Madeline x RESET Retreat: This first-of-its-kind private retreat combines ultra-luxury wellness with guided backcountry trekking in the stunning beauty of the San Juan mountains. Three personalized pathways empower every RESET guest to challenge and indulge in equal measure, while experiencing boundless hospitality, in the greatest outdoors. Break out of tired patterns and tap into your highest potential.

○      Madeline x RESET In-Room Meditation: Take a moment to unplug and recharge with a five-minute guided sleep meditation to promote a restful night in partnership with RESET.

Easter specials and items from San Antonio restaurants

Bakery Lorraine’s Chocolate Nest Tart. Photo: Bakery Lorraine, used with permission.

As Easter approaches, two of San Antonio’s beloved restaurants are offering holiday deals and special offers. (Bakery Lorraine, The Jerk Shack, 2022)

Bakery Lorraine – Multiple locations
Bakery Lorraine will begin offering special Easter themed pastries and baked goods at their locations. Guests can pre-order their items online now. The last day for pre-order is Wednesday, April 13 at noon. Orders can be picked up on Saturday, April 16 or Sunday, April 17 during business hours.

Their Easter menu includes:
General Pastries: Lemon Cake, Opera Cake, Cheesecake, Lemon Blueberry Frangipane Tart, Seasonal Fruit Tart

Bunny Tart, $6
White chocolate mascarpone mousse and strawberry centers on dark chocolate shortbread

Chick Tart, $6
Tangy lime mousse on vanilla cake (still pending the jam it will sit on, blueberry or strawberry)

Easter Moonpies, $4
Fluffy honey marshmallow sandwiched between house made graham crackers

Chocolate Nest Tart, $6
Salted caramel and dark chocolate ganache in a vanilla pastry shell topped with chocolate eggs nested in chocolate phyllo

7” Carrot Cake, $65
Made with pineapple, coconut, walnuts and generously layered with cream cheese frosting
*The Carrot Cakes are available for pre-order only.

The Jerk Shack
10234 TX-151
San Antonio, TX 78251

The Jerk Shack is offering family packs to make Easter prep easy. The family packs include 14 pieces of Fried or Jerk Chicken, or Mixed Chicken for a $3 add on, choice of 3 shareable sides, and an order of plantains. Family packs are available for $65. The Jerk Shack’s hours on Sunday are 11a.m. to 4p.m. Orders can be placed online for drive-through pickup or can be ordered in store.

Easter Brunch at Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails

Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails serves up Easter brunch at Hotel Contessa with specially curated apps, entrees, bubbles, and more. Photo: Jessica Giesey & Hotel Contessa, used with permission.

Ambler Texas Kitchen + Cocktails, located inside Hotel Contessa, is excited to announce that they will be hosting Easter brunch next Sunday, April 17 from 7a.m. to 3p.m. Ambler has curated delectable apps, entrées, bubbles, and more for the arrival of Spring this Easter. The brunch will be available for all guests to reserve a table online here or by contacting the restaurant at (210) 229-9222. (Hotel Contessa, 2022)

Full brunch menu below.

Appetizers include the following:

  • Greek Yogurt Parfait – topped with mixed berries and grist mill pecan granola
  • Deviled Eggs – contains bacon, cheddar, and green onions
  • Crab and Guacamole – incorporates charred onions and peppers
  • Avocado Toast – comes with a pickled egg and Fresno chilis 
  • Sliced Pineapples and Berries

Brunch entrées consist of the following:

  • Farm Fresh Eggs – served with your choice of house potatoes or fresh cut fruit and berries
  • Eggs Contessa – poached eggs with Canadian bacon, an English muffin, and green chili mornay sauce
  • The Alamo Omelet – chicken apple sausage, mushrooms, tomatoes, and queso fresco 
  • The Texan Omelet – smoked bacon, jalapeño, cheddar cheese, and fire-roasted tomato salsa 
  • Egg White Frittata – spinach, asparagus, and pico de gallo
  • Steak and Eggs – 6oz. filet mignon and over easy eggs
  • Lobster Benedict – poached eggs, Canadian bacon, butter-braised lobster, and lemon hollandaise

Griddle options are between the following:

  • Cinnamon French Toast & Pork Belly – includes pickled Fresnos and maple butter
  • Buttermilk Pancakes – topped with fresh berries and maple syrup
  • Belgian Waffle – topped with berries, whipped cream, and maple syrup
  • Breakfast Burger – includes a sunny side up egg, bacon, brioche bun, and a side of fries
  • Beef Short Rib Hash – made with a sunny side up egg, avocado, and fingerling potatoes
  • Chicken & Waffle – made with buttermilk chicken and cinnamon butter maple syrup

Ambler will also be highlighting their tableside mimosa kit for only $42. The mimosa will consist of La Marca prosecco and choice of two juices from options of orange, grapefruit, pineapple, blood orange, and watermelon. Additional bubbles and drinks include the following items: 

  • French 77 – La Marca prosecco, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, St. Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and cold-pressed lemon juice
  • Strawberry Beret – strawberry-infused aperol, La Marca prosecco, and Icelandic sparkling water
  • Espresso Martini – Tito’s Handmade Vodka, caffe del fuego, and espresso syrup
  • What’s Up Doc – Tito’s Handmade Vodka, carrot juice, pineapple-ginger syrup, and lemon

Ambler Texas Kitchen & Cocktails
306 West Market Street
San Antonio, TX 78205
Phone: (210) 229-9222

 

Television adaptation: ‘Station Eleven’ by Emily St. John Mandel

The limited series adaptation of ‘Station Eleven’ is available on HBO Max. Photo: amazon

Emily St. John Mandel is a Canadian novelist and essayist. She has written numerous essays and five novels, including “The Glass Hotel” and “Station Eleven,” which was a finalist for a National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and has been translated into thirty-five languages. “Station Eleven” has been adapted into a limited series, which premiered on December 16, 2021, on HBO Max. It is an audacious, darkly glittering novel set in the eerie days of civilization’s collapse—the spellbinding story of a Hollywood star, his would-be savior, and a nomadic group of actors roaming the scattered outposts of the Great Lakes region, risking everything for art and humanity. (amazon, 2022)

“Station Eleven” – Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end. Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. When they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. As the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

Excerpt is available here.

Celebrate National Poetry Month at the Briscoe Western Art Museum

The Briscoe Western Art Museum presents The Poetry of Art: National Poetry Month Celebration and Reading. Photo: Briscoe Western Art Museum, used with permission.

Celebrate National Poetry Month by enjoying an afternoon of poetry inspired by art as the Briscoe Western Art Museum hosts “The Poetry of Art:  National Poetry Month Celebration and Reading” in honor of San Antonio’s 2022 Ekphrastic Poetry Contest on Sunday, April 10, 2p.m. – 4p.m. The free reading and celebration is part of National Poetry Month San Antonio and will be held in the Briscoe’s McNutt Sculpture Garden, 210 W. Market Street, San Antonio. Admission to the reading is free. (Briscoe Western Art Museum, 2022)

Showcasing poetry inspired by select artworks at the Briscoe Western Art Museum, the McNay Art Museum, Ruby City, the San Antonio Museum of Art, and the Witte Museum, “The Poetry of Art” will feature local poet laureates reading their work and Jim LaVilla-Havelina, San Antonio’s National Poetry Month Coordinator, as well as adult and youth winners of San Antonio’s 2022 Ekphrastic Poetry Contest. Former San Antonio poet laureate Carmen Tafolla will read a poem inspired by a piece of art from the Briscoe, while other San Antonio poet laureates will be on hand to read their poems based on works from other local institutions. The pairings featured in this year’s ekphrastic poetry effort include Jenny Browne, the McNay Art Museum; Jim LaVilla-Havelin, San Antonio Museum of Art; Octavio Quintanilla, the Witte Museum and current San Antonio Poet Laureate, Andrea Vocab Sanderson, Ruby City.

An ekphrastic poem is based on a piece of art, taking an existing piece of visual art and using written words to describe and expand on the theme of that work of art. Many of these poems explore hidden meanings or an underlying story. Each local art institution selected one work from their collection to feature in the 2022 Ekphrastic Poetry Contest for adult and youth poets.

The featured works include:

  • The Briscoe Western Art Museum, With No Roof but a Resistol, Bruce Greene.
  • The McNay Art Museum, The Sole Sitter, Willie Cole.
  • Ruby City, Hub, 3rd Floor, Union Wharf, 23 Wenlock Road, London N1 7ST UK, Do Ho Suh.
  • San Antonio Museum of Art: Landscape of Four Seasons, Unkoku Togan.
  • The Witte Museum, Carretta Wheel from a Tejano Freighter.

From its McNutt Sculpture Garden to the museum’s beautifully restored historic home inside the former San Antonio Public Library building, the Briscoe’s collection spans 14 galleries, with special exhibitions, events and a fantastic Museum Store, providing art, culture, history and entertainment. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.

Preserving and presenting the art, history and culture of the American West through engaging exhibitions, educational programs and public events reflective of the region’s rich traditions and shared heritage, the Briscoe Western Art Museum is located on the San Antonio River Walk at 210 W. Market Street in the beautifully restored 1930s former San Antonio Public Library building. Named in honor of the late Texas Gov. Dolph Briscoe Jr. and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, the museum includes the three-story Jack Guenther Pavilion, used for event rentals and programs, and the outdoor McNutt Sculpture Garden.

Book of the week: ‘Hyphened-Nation: Don’t Check the Box’ by Nicole Draffen

‘Hyphened-Nation’ focuses on ways the United States and our global community differ culturally, and steps citizens can take to create a non-hyphenated coalitional nation. Photo: Nicole Draffen, used with permission.

As a builder, a fixer, and a challenger, I love tearing things apart to understand them, and then try to prove or disprove their merit. This allows me to move through life with an air of certainty about what I know, and also what I do not know. So naturally when I lived abroad, the social and cultural consciousness of the people I met, and the things I observed inspired my natural inclination to understand and study the value of cultural norms. The more I traveled overseas, the more I grew to understand certain aspects of the American perception of culture. My journeys inspired me to write a book. ‘Hyphened-Nation’ by Nicole Draffen focuses on ways the U.S. and Europe differ culturally via media and how a bridge might be created. (Nicole Draffen, 2022)

‘Hyphened-Nation: Don’t Check the Box’ is an honoree of three prestigious Literary Awards, The Independent Authors Network (IAN) Book of the Year Award, the indieBRAG B.R.A.G. Medallion, and The Wishing Shelf Book Awards. The author’s travels overseas and time spent living in the United Kingdom inspired ‘Hyphened-Nation.’ Living abroad was an eye-opening experience; she grew to understand certain aspects of American culture better the longer she lived overseas. This book is about her insights, and experience of being treated as an American, rather than a hyphenated one. The difference was startling and lead her on a journey to understand why The United States is one of the only, if not the only country, that hyphenates its citizens by ethnicity before nationality. It is a journey of discovery in understanding that those same boxes we allow ourselves to be placed into as hyphenated-Americans, limit economic, educational, societal, and cultural growth. Her story focuses on ways the United States and our global community differ culturally, and steps citizens can take to create a non-hyphenated coalitional nation.

** Read a review here.**

PP

Heart of Texas Concert Band presents the music of Robert Russell Bennett

The Heart of Texas Concert Band will be performing music composed or arranged by Robert Russell Bennett this Sunday April 10, 2022. Photo: Heart of Texas Concert Band, used with permission.

Robert Russell Bennett will always be close to the top of the most influential American musicians. His association with the greatest figures of the 20th century including Richard Rodgers, George Gershwin, Igor Stravinsky, and Sergei Rachmaninoff is well documented. The Heart of Texas Concert Band has scheduled a performance consisting entirely of music either composed or arranged by Robert Russell Bennett, including “Suite of Old American Dances,” “Four Preludes,” “Rose Variations,” and “The Sound of Music.” This concert will be held this Sunday, April 10, 2022 at 3p.m. at Johnson High School. (Heart of Texas Concert Band, 2022)

Admission is free, no tickets are needed. Venue is wheelchair accessible.

Johnson High School 
23203 Bulverde Rd 
San Antonio, TX 78259

Other concerts coming up:
May 8- Mother’s Day Concert
In the British Isles

July 4 – “The Sounds of Freedom”
With the San Antonio Chorale Society and the River City Ringers

Please subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see our newest posts there. To make your secure online PayPal donation, visit Heart of Texas Concert Band.

For a mail-in contribution:
HTxCB
4128 Warm Winds
San Antonio, TX 78253

Mission:

  • To provide challenging performance opportunities for adult musicians of all ages.
  • To provide opportunities for qualified young musicians to enrich their musical education by playing in an adult ensemble.
  • To stress the importance of music as an integral part of the community culture and to actively pursue better integration and heightened awareness of the arts.
  • To interact in a cooperative spirit with all cultural organizations in the community.
  • To cooperate with the local schools and community organizations in planning all activities.

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‘Carmen From Mexico’ returns to the Guadalupe Theater

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Teatro Salon announces the return of ‘Carmen From Mexico’ this April 15 and 16. Photo: Anthony Garcia, used with permission.

The Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center’s Teatro Salon proudly announces the return of Anna De Luna’s original solo performance of ‘Carmen From Mexico.’ Scheduled for April 15 and 16, 2022 at the Guadalupe Theater, 1301 Guadalupe St., curtain is at 8 p.m. with general admission of $12. ‘Carmen From Mexico’ was presented as a world premiere at the historic Guadalupe Theater in 2021 to sold out audiences. Tickets are available here. Teatro Salon is a project of the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center that showcases and helps develop new work by theater artists. (Teatro Salon, 2022)

‘Carmen From Mexico’ is an original solo multimedia play with live musical accompaniment that reflects the playwright’s own personal family history of her mother’s “illegal” immigration from Mexico to South Texas. Playwright Anna De Luna portrays her mother Carmen (in several stages of her youth) in this powerful true story of survival, struggle and yet sometimes comical experiences of adapting to South Texas racism and prejudices.

“We are so excited to bring back Anna De Luna’s wonderful and powerful one-woman show, and especially thrilled knowing that our production of Carmen From Mexico has been selected to tour the stage of Denver’s own Su Teatro Cultural & Performing Arts Center scheduled for April 22 and 23, 2022.” – Jorge Piña, Guadalupe Theater Manager.

“I am so honored to back at the Guadalupe Theater stage, having presented this production as a world premiere at this historic theater last year.” – Anna De Luna.

De Luna has performed in various leading roles at the Guadalupe Theater and Jump-Start Performance Company.  She also appeared at the Public Theater in ‘Anna In The Tropics,’ for which she received the San Antonio Globe Award for Best Actress.  She produced her original solo plays ‘Chicana Atheist,’ ‘The AIDS Lady,’ and ‘My Arab Fall’ with sustaining success.  In 2016 De Luna was selected Creative of the Month by the City of San Antonio Department for Culture and Creative Development.  ’Carmen from Mexico’ was first presented as a short 20-minute work-in-progress at the Luminaria Contemporary Arts Festival in 2018 and at Jump-Start Performance Company in 2019.

Photo: Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, used with permission.

Theater review: ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ at the Camille Playhouse

‘Jekyll & Hyde’ is now playing at the Camille Playhouse in Brownsville. Photo: Camille Playhouse

Now playing at the Camille Playhouse is ‘Jekyll & Hyde,’ based on Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic thriller. After a successful opening night, it continues this weekend for the final three performances on Friday, and Saturday at 8p.m. and Sunday at 2p.m. Tickets are $25 for general admission and are available online. Jekyll & Hyde was conceived for the stage by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn with book & lyrics by Leslie Bricusee, music by Frank Wildhorn, orchestrations by Kim Scharnberg and arrangements by Jason Howland. ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ is the gripping tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry, set to a powerful pop-rock score by Frank Wildhorn with book and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse.

‘Jekyll & Hyde’ begins with the introduction of John Utterson (Raul Lozano), Jekyll’s lawyer and best friend and Sir Danvers Carew (Bobby Torres), Jekyll’s future father in law. They take the audience back to a time when Jekyll (Anthony Ruiz) is in an insane asylum singing of his comatose father “Lost In the Darkness.” Jekyll believes that the evil in his father’s soul has caused his illness and tells the audience how he wants to find out why people are both good and evil and about his attempts to separate the good from the evil in the human personality. When the Board of Governors of St. Jude’s Hospital denies him a research proposal to test his formula on a human subject “Board of Governors,” the undeterred Jekyll decides to test the formula on himself “This Is the Moment.” He inadvertently creates an alternate personality of pure evil, named Mr. Hyde, who inflicts murderous devastation on the city of London. As his fiancée Emma (Evany Jackson) grows increasingly fearful for her betrothed, a prostitute, Lucy (Jocelyn Michelle), finds herself dangerously involved with both the doctor and his alter ego. Struggling to control Hyde before he takes over for good, Jekyll races to find a cure for the demon he has created in his own mind.

This production is different than the past ones this season at the Camille Playhouse. With themes including violence, lies and deceit, repression, and mankind’s duality (good vs. evil), it is darker than most audiences are used to but is well worth experiencing. The talented cast, which includes Anthony Ruiz as Dr. Henry Jekyll/Edward Hyde, Evany Jackson as Emma Carew, and Jocelyn Michelle as Lucy Harris, does an impressive job of bringing this classic but relevant story to life on the local stage. The vocal talent is some of the best seen this season, especially Evany Jackson, whose scene stealing portrayal of the loving but long suffering Emma Crew is outstanding. Unfortunately, the sound system did not cooperate on opening night but hopefully this has been fixed. Anthony Ruiz does an excellent job depicting both the timid but brilliant Jekyll and the aggressive and murderous Mr. Hyde. He effortlessly switches between the personalities and manages to elicit the audience’s sympathy up to his tragic end. The costumes are gorgeous and the brilliant use of red lighting when Jekyll is transforming into Mr. Hyde, “First Transformation,” shows the darkness of the moment, especially at the end when he is struggling between both personalities. Show highlights include “Take Me As I Am” which emphasizes the strength of Jekyll and Emma’s relationship, “Bring On the Men” by Lucy and the prostitutes that temporarily lightens the mood, and “This Is the Moment” when Jekyll decides to throw caution to the wind and test the formula on himself. Overall, ‘Jekyll & Hyde’ is an intense and tragic tale of man’s constant struggle with his inner demons; it is a definite must-see production.

Rating: 4 out of 5.