Just P.M. me.
Stand-by Joined: 2/7/06
It was a huge set in a brand new huge theater. There were no theaters with the depth needed for the set designed as it was in Berlin in New York. The set was so big that the show needed more people on stage. Extra's were brought in for the crowd scenes such as Topsy Turvey and the Finale, but only 4 (2 women and 2 men) per show.
The set and the use of projections were cutting edge in 1999, but now the projections seem a bit laughable.
Some suggested making A Guy Like You a production number a la Be Our Guest (with the rest of the ensemble making up all the OTHER gargoyles around Notre Dame) to make the number more exciting and fun, which it wasn't in Berlin.
No doubt a lot of the humor/wit that was in the movie will be put back in the New York version.
I think make the show more upbeat by making the gargoyles more humorous, but keep Esmerelda's death. Balance is out. I also heard something about a scaled-down version? I really hope that's false - this needs to be Les Miz epic.
The orchestra on the German CD is huge, I hope the producers keep the epic feel, though it will be expensive.
i saw this small non-equity production of dennis deyoung's version of "hunchback" a few years ago at bailiwick rep in chicago. loved it's music much better than the disney version; and the actors were great! here's a couple videos, in case you have seen them:
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpmZKFvO2y4[/url]
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mwpss_OazjQ[/url]
Updated On: 8/28/13 at 11:11 AM
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/69
That would be very unfortunate if they scale down the orchestra too much. The orchestrations used in the film (by Michael Starobin) are wonderful and give it the "epic feel" Eurotrash mentioned.
I hope they use a huge choir for the Latin sections as well.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/12
What theatre would this play The palace?
Edit: I wonder if they would bring in Danny troob to write new orchestrations?
Updated On: 8/28/13 at 05:18 PM
Stand-by Joined: 2/7/06
A large orchestra was used for the Berlin run of the show.
For the original cast recording, however, even more musicians were brought in.
The ensemble sung all the Latin. There was no canned singing at all (other than
Quasimodo's screams).
With a trend towards downsizing orchestra's as much as possible in New York (as much as the union's will accept), I would be surprised if there was an especially large orchestra as there was with South Pacific. However Disney has the money so maybe they will flip the bill for a large lush one.
Very Exciting!!
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Auditions-Announced-for-HUNCHBACK-OF-NOTRE-DAME-Stage-Adaptation-Developmental-Lab-20131025
Broadway Star Joined: 5/28/13
I could not be more excited to hear this. I just about died when i saw it on twitter.
I would prefer this over the Les Mis revival. I could go on and on about how much I love this musical, but I'll just keep it simple: don't fck this up.
Broadway Star Joined: 3/25/12
"A type of 'story theatre' with an intimate staging..."
OH NO. PLEASE, GOD NO.
"A type of 'story theatre' with an intimate staging..."
Hmm, I always sort of pictured this as being gigantic.
And set in a circus, probably.
I can picture it with story theatre. I mean, the beginning has Clopin telling the story through puppets. That's a pretty good refrence to that.
The story theatre premise sounds like "Hunchback Jr." I really hope Disney doesn't mess this up. With "Newsies" and "Aladdin," they're seemingly back on track. Hopefully this does well. It's one of their best films!
My cast...
Quasimodo-An unknown
Frollo-Brian Stokes Mitchell
Esmeralda-Jackie Burns
Phoebus-Josh Young
Clopin-Christian Brole
This new approach to the material incorporates a "story theatre" style of dramatization in an intimate staging. The epic tale is set in late 15th century Paris.
EPIC and INTIMATE should not be in the same description of the show. Intimate is completely the wrong direction they should be pursuing.
And really, how much can we expect when the director is the composer's son?
"And really, how much can we expect when the director is the composer's son?"
Yeah that worries me. Disney should just play it safe and get Trevor Nunn or Rob Roth to direct. hehe.
Broadway Star Joined: 12/31/69
The cathedral at the center of the story is massive, gothic building and any adaptation should reflect that aspect. I feel like the epic nature of some of the numbers would have to be reworked for a smaller production, likely with a scaled down orchestra.
That being said, it's a very interesting concept for this and if they do it well I actually think it could be pretty good it its own right.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/12
How much do you bet that Quasimodo will be played by Josh Strickland or Andrew Keenan Bolger. Updated On: 10/26/13 at 01:46 AM
Broadway Star Joined: 7/7/07
Josh Strickland has basically had the job for about five years, hasn't he? Disney trot him out to sing Made Of Stone at conferences and expos regularly, and it's not like he has anything else to do.
"Disney will hold a developmental lab of a new stage adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, based on the 1996 animated film and classic Victor Hugo novel, which will take place in New York City in early 2014, according to an Equity casting notice."
Link
It has a new book by Peter "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" Parnell?
Oh no...
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/23/05
Oh hush, the lot of you! I bet if it was a big grand spectacle, you'd probably still complain that it was overproduced.
Videos