Dorothy McGuire News

La Jolla Playhouse presents the U.S. premiere production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, featuring a score by the multiple Academy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning team of composer Alan Menken (Newsies, Little Shop of Horrors) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), book by Peter Parnell (The West Wing, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) and direction by Scott Schwartz (Playhouse's Jane Eyre, Broadway's Golda's Balcony). Produced in association with Paper Mill Playhouse, by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions, The Hunchback of Notre Dame begins tonight, October 26, and runs through December 14, 2014 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

D23 spoke with star of La Jolla Playhouse's upcoming produciton of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, Patrick Page, about why he was drawn to the project and the role of 'Frollo' and what to expect from the premiere. Scroll down for some excerpts from the interview!

Due to popular demand, La Jolla Playhouse announces a week-long extension for its U.S. premiere production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, featuring a score by the multiple Academy, Grammy and Tony Award-winning team of composer Alan Menken (Newsies, Little Shop of Horrors) and lyricist Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), book by Peter Parnell (The West Wing, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) and direction by Scott Schwartz (Playhouse's Jane Eyre, Broadway's Golda's Balcony). Produced in association with Paper Mill Playhouse, by special arrangement with Disney Theatrical Productions, The Hunchback of Notre Dame will now run October 26 - December 14, 2014 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Karen Carpenter, a producer, director and teacher, a theater-maker for more than 30 years, has been appointed the interim Artistic Director of the William Inge Center for the Arts and the 34th Annual William Inge Theatre Festival. The Inge Festival is the Official Theater Festival of the State of Kansas, hosted on the campus of Independence Community College, which houses the William Inge archives.

La Jolla Playhouse presents the world-premiere production of Kingdom City, by Sheri Wilner, directed by Jackson Gay. The production runs tonight, September 4, through October 5 (press opening on Friday, September 12 at 8pm) in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its upcoming world-premiere production of Kingdom City, by Sheri Wilner, directed by Jackson Gay. The production runs September 4 - October 5 (press opening on Friday, September 12 at 8pm) in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre, and tickets are available at LaJollaPlayhouse.org or by calling (858) 550-1010.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its upcoming Without Walls (WoW) production of El Henry, adapted from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One by Culture Clash's Herbert Siguenza, directed by San Diego REPertory Theatre Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse. Presented in association with San Diego REP, El Henry will run June 14 - 29 (press opening: Friday, June 20 at 7:30pm) at SILO, in the vibrant new East Village neighborhood of Makers Quarter.

Following its hugely successful Without Walls (WoW) Festival last October, La Jolla Playhouse announces the latest production in its acclaimed site-based theatre series: El Henry, written by and starring Culture Clash's Herbert Siguenza, directed by San Diego REPertory Theatre Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse. Presented in association with San Diego REP, the show will run June 14 - 29 at SILO in downtown San Diego's Makers Quarter. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30pm.

La Jolla Playhouse announces a new production for its 2014/2015 season: The Darrell Hammond Project, written by Saturday Night Live star Darrell Hammond and Elizabeth Stein and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley. Performed by Hammond, this world-premiere, one-man show will run February 6 - March 8, 2015 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the casts and creative teams for its upcoming productions of The Orphan of Zhao and Ether Dome. Tickets for both productions are available by calling Playhouse Patron Services at (858) 550-1010 or at LaJollaPlayhouse.org.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast and creative team for its upcoming Without Walls (WoW) production of El Henry, adapted from Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part One by Culture Clash's Herbert Siguenza, directed by San Diego REPertory Theatre Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse. Presented in association with San Diego REP, El Henry will run June 14 - 29 (press opening: Friday, June 20 at 7:30pm) at SILO, in the vibrant new East Village neighborhood of Makers Quarter.

La Jolla Playhouse has announced Circle Circle dot dot (CCdd) as its 2014/2015 resident theatre company. Spearheaded by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, the Resident Theatre Program aims to encourage the artistic development of performing arts organizations, while advancing and contributing to the San Diego theatre scene as a whole. The program provides a temporary home each year to one of the many local companies without a permanent venue.

For two weeks in April, television audiences will be treated to an unprecedented collection of inspirational movies and mini-series when UP once again presents 'The Greatest Stories of The Bible' in honor of the Easter season. America's favorite network for uplifting entertainment will mark the holiday for a second year with an Unforgettable programming schedule. Starting today, April 7 and continuing through Easter, Sunday, April 20, UP will air 21 classic stories from the New and Old Testaments (11 never-before-seen on UP), plus one all-new UP Original Movie during prime time, totaling more than 123 hours of programming.

For two weeks in April, television audiences will be treated to an unprecedented collection of inspirational movies and mini-series when UP once again presents “The Greatest Stories of The Bible” in honor of the Easter season.

Following its hugely successful Without Walls (WoW) Festival last October, La Jolla Playhouse announces the latest production in its acclaimed site-based theatre series: El Henry, written by and starring Culture Clash's Herbert Siguenza, directed by San Diego REPertory Theatre Artistic Director Sam Woodhouse. Presented in association with San Diego REP, the show will run June 14 - 29 at SILO in downtown San Diego's Makers Quarter. Performances run Tuesday through Sunday at 7:30pm.

La Jolla Playhouse is the recipient of three prestigious and highly-competitive grants to support its world-premiere production of The Who & The What, by 2013 Pulitzer Prize winner Ayad Akhtar, directed by Kimberly Senior, running February 11 - March 9 in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre. The grants include the Edgerton Foundation New American Plays Award, as well awards from The Laurents/Hatcher Foundation and The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation Theatre Visions Fund.

La Jolla Playhouse presents its final production for its 2013/14 season: the world premiere of The Who & The What, by Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright for Disgraced and author of the acclaimed novel American Dervish, directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced), running tonight, February 11 - March 9, 2014 (press opening: Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30pm) in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse announces its final production for its 2013/14 season: the world premiere of The Who & The What, by Ayad Akhtar, Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright for Disgraced and author of the acclaimed novel American Dervish, directed by Kimberly Senior (Disgraced), running February 11 - March 9, 2014 (press opening: Wednesday, February 19 at 7:30pm) in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre.

La Jolla Playhouse announces four shows for its 2014/2015 season, boasting numerous Tony Award-winning playwrights, directors and actors. The season kicks off with a Page To Stage workshop production of Chasing the Song, a jubilant new musical by the team behind the Tony Award-winning musical Memphis, featuring book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music and lyrics by David Bryan and directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley.