On Jan. 3, 1999, the Broadway musical Jekyll & Hyde will lose its original Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Robert Cuccioli will depart the production after nearly 900 performances. The show opened on April 28, 1997, but Cuccioli has been playing the role on and off since 1994, when he created the part in Houston. Rob Evan will take over the title role Jan. 5, according to a spokeperson at the casting agency Hughes-Moss. Thanks to the show's matinees, Evan has already played the role more than 300 times.
Cuccioli's co-star Christiane Noll will also leave the show on Jan. 3, 1999. No replacement has been announced.
Original star Linda Eder screamed her last scream in Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde Aug. 30; Luba Mason now stars.