Each year, Heartwood Theater and Lincoln Academy (LA) mesh resources, providing exceptional opportunities for students to learn the rigors and rewards of live performance, while being nurtured, encouraged and challenged both on-stage and backstage. This fall, the 11th annual youth collaboration will culminate on stage, as 30-plus Midcoast students present the Broadway musical, "Jekyll & Hyde, the Musical.”

The show is based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic novel of the epic struggle between good and evil. Featuring a thrilling score of pop rock hits from multi-Grammy and TONY nominated Frank Wildhorn and double Oscar and Grammy-winning Leslie Bricusse, this show has mesmerized audiences the world over.

The finished product will be seen and enjoyed by hundreds, but the real product will be the students, changed by the experience of working to meet the high expectations of peers, a challenging production schedule and their imminent public performances.

One LA graduate, Meg Lydon, performed and worked tech on Heartwood and LA productions for several years. After graduating from Smith College in 2012, majoring in theater with a dual focus on acting and stage managing, Lydon now works as stage manager at a major regional theater in Philadelphia.

“Theater focuses on professionalism. It keeps you on your toes, pushes you to do your best work,” Lydon said. “You learn how to behave and how to interact with other actors so that the team functions at its best. I love the teamwork involved; it’s like playing a sport.”

Students are involved in the technical elements of lighting, costuming and set building, as well as acting. Several began working their musical solos in private lessons over the summer months, with vocal instructor Beth Preston, also choral director at LA.

Six evening performances and one matinee will be presented in the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy. Shows at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 31, Nov. 1, 6-8, and Sunday, Nov. 2 at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $8 for students, $16 for adults. Seating is unreserved, unless specially requested in advance.

Reservations very strongly recommended: 207-563-1373 or info@heartwoodtheater.org (do not contact Lincoln Academy).

For more details, visit heartwoodtheater.org.