Glenn Casale's The Hunchback of Notre Dame

He is a VERY good director. I saw the Little Mermaid when it premiered at Paper Mill and did a good job at reshaping it. Excellent choice in casting too. Leslie Margherita is my favorite actress and she is going to do an amazing job as Esmeralda

Or, you know, an actual Romani actress.

Interesting. Casale is directing Hunchback at Music Circus in Sacramento with performances August 23 – 28. Music Circus has been lousy at announcing casts over the last few years. I'm thinking we at least have an hunch on the possible Hunchback leads. Exciting.

Music Circus has been holding off on announcing casts as of late because Actors can drop out of a show with a two week notice ( which is standard with most AEA Contracts). In the past few years they have announced leads ( big Broadway names ) in shows having to replace them weeks before a show causing ticket buyers and season tickets holders to get angry. They know hold off until about 3-4 weeks before the season begins.

As for Hunchback being a co-production, at this time I heard that it is not ( It would be hard to share production costs on a show in the round and proscenium when they are two completely different venues ). Although sharing of costumes and certain set pieces might happen they are not sharing production costs. Glenn does like to cast the same leads so I am hoping to see Tom Hewitt in Sacramento! The deaf actor playing the Hunchback in Sacramento already announced on his twitter that he is cast and that is going to be awesome! I am truly looking forward to what Glenn Casale is going to do with the script for this! His Little Mermaid and Mary Poppins ( streamlined the script and some of the score, which is now the official version licensed by Disney ) were both spectacular in the round!

Updated On: 4/21/16 at 08:40 PM

Good info, AEA SM. Thanks.

I'm seeing this in September!!! I'm a little confused though, is it going to be the same version that was at Paper Mill?

mormonsandglindas said: "I'm seeing this in September!!! I'm a little confused though, is it going to be the same version that was at Paper Mill?



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It is being directed by a different director who has become famous for reinventing Disney shows.

As far as Queen Lesli's ethnicity, Esmeralda is actually half-French in the novel. So I don't think her casting is some atrocity.

Thanks, OP for posting this link. I didn't know anything about Casale's work, but now I'm planning to make the trek to La Mirada to see this. I saw the original production in Berlin many moons ago and was rooting for it at Paper Mill. Maybe this will be the shot in the arm it needs!!

Updated On: 4/25/16 at 09:18 PM

Someone will have to record the show so I can see how Leslie handles the score!

All of the American Regional Productions are just that - original productions based on the book and score licensed by Disney - just like if any regional theater wished to do My Fair Lady. At this time, I assume, there is still no plan for Disney to produce this on Broadway or commercially in the United States.

I have no idea if this is true but I heard that this show is being revamped for Broadway via these upcoming productions with Glenn Casale