Constantine Maroulis, Deborah Cox are Broadway bound with ‘Jekyll & Hyde’

TORONTO – Constantine Maroulis had never seen the long-running Broadway production of “Jekyll & Hyde,” and when he was cast in a remake of the show he had no interest in revisiting the popular original.

“This is a new version … we’re approaching it from a fresh perspective and we wanted to keep it as organic as possible,” the one-time “American Idol” contestant said while preparing for “Jekyll & Hyde”‘s upcoming Toronto run.

“We learned it organically from what’s on the page. (We) didn’t watch videos, I think that’s a poisonous part of someone’s process.”

Based on the famed Robert Louis Stevenson novella “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde,” the musical — by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn — ran on Broadway from 1997 to 2001.

The new version, co-starring Toronto-born R&B star Deborah Cox, is headed to the Great White Way in April after the current North American tour.

Maroulis and Cox say the pre-Broadway run, which began earlier this month, has allowed them to fine-tune the show before it lands under the harsh New York media spotlight.

“It’s always a process,” says Maroulis. “The early response was tremendous but you can’t really get caught up in that yet.”

Added the performer, who was nominated for a Tony Award for “Rock of Ages”: “If you become complacent and very satisfied with the work too early on in the process, that’s like a death sentence.”

Whatever the critics might say, Maroulis has already found an avowed supporter in Cox.

“I’m a fan of Constantine’s voice and his passion and his focus,” says the three-time Juno Award winner, adding that local relatives have already been hitting her up for tickets.

“He really plays both characters completely differently … It’s amazing.”

While both have experience on Broadway (Cox in the Tim Rice, Elton John production “Aida”), they acknowledge that the return of “Jekyll” to Broadway brings a certain degree of pressure.

“This is an epic title, it’s known all over the world … the show ran for many years … I think that sure, there are some expectations,” said Maroulis.

“Of course, people are going to look to try to, I don’t know, maybe pass judgment on it before it even opens. But we’re very confident in our work.”

Maroulis has been buoyed by the reaction from young fans, who seem to relate to the story of Dr. Henry Jekyll — who experiments on himself and transforms into the evil Edward Hyde.

“It’s wonderful to see how young people have responded. If you look at some of our fan videos (they’re) so articulate about the duality of man and the battle between good and evil,” said Maroulis.

“It seems to resonate with people.”

“Jekyll & Hyde” runs at the Ed Mirvish Theatre from Nov. 14-18.

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