Hunchback at La Jolla and Papermill Songs- Page 2

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 12:32am

Hm, it is interesting to note that on both logos there is no proclamation that it's "Disney's Hunchback Of Notre Dame" as one would expect.

I've always assumed the reason they've been so reluctant to stage it here is the marketing crisis.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 12:56am

RippedMan, it seemed to work out quite well for Newsies, which was also considered a relatively risky venture for Disney since it didn't have a huge name. It tried out at Paper Mill, was a sell-out there, and then transferred to Broadway for a nice, healthy run and I'm sure will now make a killing in licensing and on tour.

I could see Hunchback following a similar track. The Paper Mill does have some advantages by being close to New York. If the show is high profile enough, virtually every paper will send critics, which gives a show far more exposure than the average regional production. There's also lots more chatter and excitement among producers and investors since the show is so close to New York that it can be easier to get people to finance the transfer. Furthermore, we all know every show these days needs tourists to really survive and I would hazard a guest that not a single person who treks to NJ 45 minutes outside the city to see a show in a regional theatre is a tourist. Many people who see it at Paper Mill are either NJ residents, subscribers, or theatre nerds who are probably even more likely to want a repeat viewing since they will get to see all the changes made once it transfers.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 12:58am

That's true! I'm not saying it's a terrible idea or anything, just risky. Remember, in the case with Newsies, Disney had every plan to just tour the show. It wasn't being planned as pre-Broadway, etc. That's why it the design was the way it was. It was designed for a touring production.

Hunchback seems different. It seems like Disney is grooming it for a Broadway bow, if only because of the caliber of the cast. I can't imagine they would do a "tour" of the show.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 1:08am

Regarding production values, wasn't this supposed to be really scaled down? More like Peter and the Starcatcher than the German version of the show. Sounds like it really is being marketed more to an adult audience than to kids, especially with the choral ensemble.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 1:43am

There's also lots more chatter and excitement among producers and investors since the show is so close to New York that it can be easier to get people to finance the transfer.

Isn't Disney Theatricals typically the sole investor outside of Mary Poppins being produced with Cameron Mackintosh? I know Disney was one of the producers of Peter and the Starcatcher but that wasn't really one of their properties was it? What producers and investors would they be seeking out to finance a transfer of Hunchback? With the production values being what they are it seems like it would be pocket change for them. Similar to the 5 million that it cost to put up Newsies.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 2:02am

Peter and the Starcatcher was a Disney venture. They are the original books publisher, and they also produced the original workshop. However, Disney ended up licensing the project off to a group of independent producers for the Broadway run. This is discussed briefly in the recent behind the scene Newsies book. Which talks greatly about the processes of projects that are done in house at Disney. I highly recommend it.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 10:08am

I know a lot of California actors are in the La Jolla production of Hunchback right now so i doubt the whole cast will be transferring to Paper Mill. Also, many critics see out of town tryouts, it just so happens that paper mill is really close to NYC.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 10:12am

A scaled down production of Hunchback? Seems like the wrong direction.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 10:30am

Just because the actors are California actors doesn't mean they wouldn't be able to transfer over for the spring, but they could always opt out. It all depends on what is in their contract. I imagine the choir will be a new set of vocalists, but there's a good chance that the rest will come over to Papermill. Regional theatres share casts all the time.

[Nateben2]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 11:26am

the production is not scaled down. different director, different production. it's not the german production at all.

i would imagine the reason for two different co-pros is to split the cost between two theaters for the production.

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 11:44am

I've always thought the german production wasn't big enough for Broadway. Speaking of the director, is anyone else worried that Stephen Schwartz's son is directing this?

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 11:53am

What exactly is the "choir" for this show?

[RW3]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 12:19pm

Set and Props Pictures

[Nateben2]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 1:38pm

Also, Aladdin had four out of town stops, besides Seattle and Toronto, Utah and St. Louis

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 2:35pm

As reported before the production features a 32 voice choir.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 2:54pm

"Also, Aladdin had four out of town stops, besides Seattle and Toronto, Utah and St. Louis"

The Utah and St. Louis productions were licensed productions. There were many licensed productions of the show around the world to massage the book prior to Broadway. Only Seattle and Toronto were directly related to the Broadway production.

[Phillypinto]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 4:08pm

what does the choir do?

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 4:31pm

From what I've read, they function the same way as the choir in the film did- a "second ensemble" of voices singing explicitly choral harmonic music as counterpoint to the action.

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 4:48pm

The choir adds those glorious "AAAAH AH AAAAAH, AAAAH AAAH AAAAH"s that enhance the film soundtrack so wonderfully! They also sing all the latin stuff in the background.

I do wonder how they will be situated onstage however?

On another note, I really like the set design. It's on the small scale but hints effectively at the epicness of the story and its setting.

Updated On: 10/14/14 at 04:48 PM

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 5:13pm

Yeah, I'm a bit surprised that Bob Crowley isn't doing the sets, I guess he was too busy!

[Wildcard]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 5:50pm

It looks like there are some stadium seats in the back of the set. I suppose those would be for the choir

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 5:58pm

I don't love that floor. Gives me a headache compared to the wood of the set. I don't mind the actual set, but it seems to miss the grandeur of the film. The town square, Quaz looking down on the people.

[brandonhardy.art]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 6:29pm

The floor actually matches that of the cathedral, but you're right, it does look pretty intense in that photo. Hopefully the real deck will be less distracting with paint or lighting (that photo is of the set model).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 6:38pm

Oh gotcha. Yeah it just seems to class and cause a bit of a headache, but maybe it'll be toned down.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 6:43pm

Sounds like the chorus is pre-recorded.

From the site:

Featuring Choral Ensemble: SACRA/PROFANA