‘Rocky Horror’ appears in two NOLA spots, with ‘Jekyll’ and ‘Toxic’ | Entertainment/Life

Seasonal sensations are the theme of a series of upcoming productions, perfectly tailored to the stages of the metropolitan region.

Which one will win?

Will it be the scientist or the evil alter ego? Audiences will have the chance to find out when the Jefferson Performing Arts Society tells the story of “Jekyll & Hyde,” premiering October 25-November 25. 3 at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metairie.

The musical, based on the story by Robert Louis Stevenson, is about a brilliant doctor who hopes to develop a formula to separate the good from the evil in a person, but tests it when the result creates a murderous alter ego he the drug to himself. The show, first performed in the early 1990s, has gone through a number of changes since opening on Broadway and has become a touring favorite, with memorable hit numbers like “This is the Moment” and “In His Eyes”. ” and “Alive”.

Ken Goode takes over the JPAS production direction, with Ken Leach taking over the musical direction. Maestro Dennis Assaf leads the 23-piece live orchestra.

Taking on the title role(s) is Kansas City native Tyler Walls, a veteran of several national tours, including “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Into the Woods.” Emma and Lucy’s love interests are Monique Abry Knoepfler and Stephanie Abry. The cast also includes Luke Sirinides, Lalanya Gunn, Adriel Aviles, Paul Bello, Nathan Long, Barry Acosta, Wayne Gonsoulin, Michael Smith, Ty Robbins, Peter Gabb, Andrew Butler, Jacob Huffty, Virginia Borne, Danny Rubio, Sasha Munchak and Ryan Kelly Moore, Nathan Parrish, Ti Zampino, Gabrielle Santalla, Zane Syjansky, Shelby Wynne, Maggie Jaunet, Victoria Cantrelle, Allee Peck, Abbey Murrell and Rachel Gagnard.

The show runs Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at the 6400 Airline Drive Theater. Tickets start at $20. jpas.org.

A Jersey superhero

Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts is producing “The Toxic Avenger,” a New Jersey-accented musical comedy based on the cult Lloyd Kaufman film, playing October 25-November 25 at the Kenner Playhouse. 10.

A do-gooder from New Jersey runs afoul of the mayor’s henchmen as he tries to clean up his town. He is immersed in a vat of “radioactive, poisonous water” and turns out to be a 7-foot-tall mutant with superhuman strength who targets the city’s blind librarian. With music by Bon Jovi’s David Bryan (a Jerseyite), the show features just five players taking on all the roles.

Keith Warren is the title character, with Katie Bancroft as Sarah and Laurie Reinagel as the mayor. Kirkland Green and Adam Breaux fill the gaps – all the gaps.

Gary Rucker is the director, Jennifer Eastland serves as musical director and Belle Tudor serves as choreographer.

The show runs Fridays through Saturdays and Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. at 325 Minor St. in Kenner. Tickets start at $41. rivertowntheaters.com.

“Oh, Rocky!”

On either side of Lake Pontchartrain, there are two ways to take the “Leap to the Left,” each with a live cast and one with the original film and a surprise entrant for “The Rocky Horror Show.”

Patricia Quinn, the original “Magenta” in the play and film, will be in attendance when the iconic film opens at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts on October 24, celebrating its 49th anniversary. Quinn portrayed one half of the brother-sister duo, alongside series creator Richard O’Brien. Fans will have the opportunity to meet and chat with Quinn.

Part of the Rocky Horror experience is the “shadow casting” that plays the show in front of the screen, a tradition that dates back to the beginning of the juggernaut that the midnight movie has become. The Well-Hung Speakers, who perform regularly at the Prytania Theater, will perform at Mahalia with Cayla Smith as Dr. Frank-N-Furter, Emily Henry as Janet Weiss and Milo Malone as Brad Majors. The additional cast includes Bri Huber, Hope Gann, Taylor Feingold, Audrey Pugh, Lucy Grissom, Saxon Ball, Serena Allure, Ivana Cry, Noah Deutsch, Sunday Mayer, Macie Barrios, Lizzy Crigler, Stephen Gunther, Bev Van Pelt, Jesse Venable and Keara Sparks and Ruby Rae Levin.

Over at the Frankenstein House

On the North Shore, Cutting Edge Theater has established a tradition of its own, staging a tribute to the original show each year with a special “twist” to the production.

Under the new name “Cutting Edge Center of the Arts,” the Slidell theater company now presents its “fresh take” on “The Rocky Horror Show,” running Friday through Oct. 26 at 767 Robert Blvd. is opened.

The 2024 interpretation “delves into the dark, deep and mysterious elements that have captivated audiences for decades, giving fans everything they loved about the original but with an exciting twist,” the promotional material says. “Get ready for an exciting experience that reinterprets the iconic story and combines nostalgia with innovation.”

Dakota Billiot takes on the title role, with Chris Grimwood as Frank-N-Furter, Sean Noggerath as Brad and Meagan Augistine as Janet, Becky Diagrepont and Sara Tweedy as narrator, with Earl Poole, Chloe Hansen, Mike Tanner, Marley Monahan and Missy Avery, Dallas Perry and Elizabeth Wheat.

The show takes place Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $30. Cuttingedgetheater.com.

Stranger Tennessee?

A taste of the macabre and joyous comes Saturday at 7:30 p.m. when the Tennessee Williams Theater Company hosts its “Strangers’ Ball II – A Little Death” at 1239 Baronne St.

The evening is a heady mix of séance, service and soiree and includes tarot readings, a silent auction, a masquerade buffet, the medium Ozellar, the all-knowing one, music and a séance show, as well as entertainment from Debbie with a D, Bella Blue, Styxx and more.

“Dress decadently” is the order of the day and a mask will be provided to those in need.

Tickets start at $100. twtheaterola.com.

Opening this week from October 17th to 23rd

“LITTLE SHOP OF HORROR”: Opening Thursday to Saturday 7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 2:00 p.m.; River Region Performing Arts and Cultural Center, 15146 River Road, Norco. Set in Skid Row in the 1960s, River Region Drama Guild tells the story of an unfortunate orphan working and living in a penniless flower shop who finds a strange plant that grows into a talking, blood-sucking, mind-controlling threat. With a rocking songbook, the dark comedy is a strange evening of spooky fun. Tickets start at $15. rrpa.org.

“OVERRIDE”: Opening October 24 at 7:30 p.m. select nights through November 9, with matinee at 2 p.m. November 3; New Orleans African American Museum, 1418 Gov. Nicholls St. The NOLA Project presents an interpretation of Samuel Beckett’s legendary tragicomedy Waiting for Godot by Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu. The show shows two young men standing on a corner, passing time and longing for change. A stranger comes in and thwarts their plans. Tickets start at $10. nolaproject.com/passover.

In production October 17th

“GIRL FROM THE NORTHLAND”: Thursday 7:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8:00 p.m., Saturday 2:00 p.m. and Sunday 1:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.; Saenger Theater, 1111 Canal St. The show interprets 20 of Dylan’s songs in a 1930s guest house in Minnesota populated by “wayward travelers.” Through the singing, the audience is privy to their lives and their hopes. Tickets start at $30. neworleans.broadway.com.

“MURDER FOR TWO”: Thursday to Saturday 7:30 p.m. and Sunday 3:00 p.m.; Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, 616 St. Peter St. Ricky Graham directs the comedy, which features the talents of Max DoVale and Mark Schenfisch in what is described as a “funny and tongue-in-cheek homage to old-fashioned crime stories” in which the Duo takes on the roles of all suspects and detectives for a total of 14 roles. And they also play the piano. Tickets start at $17. lepetittheatre.com.

“MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS”: 8:00 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2:30 p.m. Sundays until October 27th; 30 by Ninety Theater, 880 Lafayette St., Mandeville. Based on Agatha Christie’s classic crime novel, the play takes place aboard a snow-covered train as the tycoon is impaled in his locked compartment after midnight. But as luck would have it, super detective Hercule Poirot is on board and will find the solution to the “slice and dice” situation from the bizarre collection of passengers. Tickets start at $20. 30byninety.com.