The Hunchback of Notre Dame at SOPAC

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2. The Hunchback of Notre Dame

To close the season in the summer, LONJ presents Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s soaring masterpiece, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, directed by Jeffrey Fiorello with musical direction by Stephen Fox and choreography by Michael Scannelli. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo and songs from the Disney film, Hunchback showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell’s new book blends the adapted story from the film with more sections of Hugo’s gothic novel to tell the gripping tale of Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame, and his dreams for love and freedom. Kept locked away from society by the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, Quasimodo plans to escape for the annual Feast of Fools festival. When he is discovered in the streets, Quasimodo is humiliated in the town square and saved by the brave gypsy Esmeralda. Frollo is taken by her beauty, but when Esmeralda rejects his advances, Frollo becomes determined to destroy the gypsies living in Paris. Quasimodo must choose between the safety of his bell tower and saving Esmeralda and her people. Bring all your friends to be inspired by this classic story of love, hope, and redemption. Performances will be July 13, 14, 20 and 21, 2018 at 8pm and July 15 and 22, 2018 at 2pm at South Orange Performing Arts Center, 1 SOPAC Way, South Orange, NJ 07079.

Playing the title role, Will Carey stars as Quasimodo. Making their LONJ premiere performances are Erica Nadera as Esmeralda, Michael Barthel as Phoebus De Martin, and Dante Sterling as Clopin Trouillefou. Ken Garcia, who gave a commanding performance as Sweeney Todd in LONJ’s award-nominated production last summer, returns to the stage as Dom Claude Frollo. The talented ensemble of characters includes Ethan Lynch as Lieutenant Frederic Charlus, Jonathan Wells as Father Dupin, Dan Malloy as Jeahan Frollo, Ally Borgstrom as Florika, and Kevin Ohlweiler as the Tribunal. Choreographed by Michael Scannelli, the gypsy dance ensemble includes Kevin Farrelly, Christopher Centinaro, Samantha Kaplan, Susan Ramirez, Tracey Lynne Haskell, and Anna Lovallo. One of the unique demands of this musical piece is a full choir to bring Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s ethereal music to full realization. Singing in the choir and creating LONJ’s signature “wall of sound” are Barbee Monk, Teresa Carlomagno, Laura Farmer, Caroline Brazelton, Carly Hatcher, Andrea Thibodeau, Anchal Dhir, Joanna Hoty Russell, Christina Eliades, Meg Fry, Julie Galorenzo, Jodi Maloy, Bill Corson, Troy Giel, Ron Buesser, Zachary Morehouse, Steve LaMaita, Heath Weisberg, Changkuo Hsieh, Jason Cilento, Robert Allan, Cardarious Bonner, and GianMarco Scotti.
LONJ is a premier operetta, opera, and musical theater company founded in 1995 by William Corson, Executive Director, and Lauran Corson, Artistic Director. To learn more about upcoming productions, visit www.lonj.org.

Authors

• Anthony Scully
• Byron Janis
• Elmer Hawkes
• Everett Quinton
• Hal Hackady
• Mark Bennett