Hunchback at La Jolla and Papermill Songs- Page 3

[Essie4]

Posted: 10/14/14 at 7:00pm

^^Absolutely not. The chorus will be performing live at every show.

[A1st]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 12:35am

Did the link to the set pictures get taken down???

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 10/15/14 at 7:20pm

Yeah? I couldn't see them either.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 12:30pm

So for those of you who are familiar with the Berlin production, what are your favorite additional songs from it?

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 12:41pm

Definitely "someday". I just love how they staged it in Berlin. Starting the song in jail and then ending it with Esmeralda at the stake about to be burned with the chorus of people around her singing those beautiful harmonies. It was very powerful.

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 12:48pm

Balancing Act is one of my favorites. I love how it flawlessly introduces the "Esmeralda" theme and really introduces the audience to the lives of the gypsies on top of just being an awesome song.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 12:58pm

Balancing Act, Esmeralda, Out of Love + reprise, and Made of Stone are my Favorites!!!!

[ShakinBaconGirl]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 12:59pm

I sadly did not like the set either. Hopefully it looks better in person.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 2:30pm

I LOVE the finale ultimo on the cast recording from the Berlin production, so I'm hoping that isn't changed too much for the American production (this might be too hopeful, though, as I'm not sure they'll be keeping the darker ending -- although I would love it if they do).

[HBP]

Posted: 10/18/14 at 9:57pm

The set images aren't opening for me. Does anyone have a separate link or could someone post them?

[twotrey]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 6:15am

La Jolla Playhouse posted a "Know Before You Go" PDF of the official program on their site, linked below. A couple of interesting articles about the development of this incarnation and the set design (with photo), but to me what was most interesting was the musical number listing, and the dramatic alterations that can be gleaned from that. In bullet points (spoilers ahead)...
.
.
.
.
.
.
*Gargoyles gone, and of course "A Guy Like You." If they do appear (and Parnell's comments suggest they survive in some capacity, although clearly in a much diminished one), it's likely just as random chorus members, not actual characters. Maybe the on-stage choir will represent inanimate gargoyles that Quasi speaks/sings to?
*"The Court of Miracles" restored, as is the cut-from-film-but-not-added-in-Berlin song "In a Place of Miracles."
*Surviving additions from Germany: "Sanctuary," "Rest and Relaxation" (though the way it's listed suggests it's folded into "Topsy Turvy" somehow), "Top of the World," "Esmeralda," and "Made of Stone"...
*...which, in a change that makes me wonder, is now placed *after* "Someday" and before "Finale Ultimo." I loved how "Someday" seamlessly led into "Finale Ultimo" without an applause break in Berlin. Wondering what this means for the dramatic momentum, and wondering if the removal of the gargoyles-as-characters and whatever changes to the ending motivated the order swap.
*Apparently gone from Germany: "Balancing Act," "City Under Siege," "Out of Love," and "Dance of the Gypsies" (though that last one was an easily predicted cut)
*New in La Jolla: "Rhythm of the Tambourine" (which also looks to be folded into "Topsy Turvy"--guessing this is an extended intro number for Esmeralda), "The Tavern Song," "Flight into Egypt"
*"God Help the Outcasts" listed as sung by Esmeralda and congregation only, so I guess they cut Quasi's additional bits in Germany (which I loved). And, of course, any songs previously featuring the gargoyles, like "Top of the World," obviously have to have been rewritten. (in one of the articles, Menken and Schwartz mention there being a lot of rewritten lyrics throughout the show)

Now I'm even more eager to see this... and wondering just how far they'll take the ending. There seems to be a whole "de-Disneying" with this production: no Disney logo on the poster; they're only listed in fine print as "special arrangement"; and, most tellingly, the official credits it reads "based on the novel by Victor Hugo with songs from the Disney film." Hmm...

Know Before You Go

[DeNada]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 7:32am

Thanks for the info twotrey!

I suppose they can make some of the gargoyle stuff work if they're inanimate - Made of Stone can just be a solo, for instance. Perhaps the choir will fill in the harmonies in Sanctuary for instance?

Is it possible Rhythm of the Tambourine could take the place of most of Balancing Act? I suppose the only important thing musically is to introduce the Esmerelda leitmotif.

In A Place of Miracles can take the place of Out Of Love I suppose, even though it's ridiculously cheesy. The songs play very similar roles.

I cannot wait to hear more about this production!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 8:46am

Wow, I see that Disney knows that everyone hates the Gargoyles, so they heed to everyone's request by removing them completely.

But **** yes: IN A PLACE OF MIRACLES!!!!!

[Justin D]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 10:09am

set pic reminds me of the one they use to do at MGM, but more realistic, I think it could work well, just need to ditch the chess board floor

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 12:00pm

Very interesting. Thank you so much for that document!

My thoughts/questions:
-Will "bells of notre dame" be expanded? considering Jehan was no where in the Disney film nor the Berlin production and it says that he appears before Quasimodo. I read the book several years ago so I somewhat forget exactly what his role is in the plot. Also is Ferika Quasimodo's mother?
-Maybe "Rhythm of the tamobrine" is an equivalent to "Belle" from Notre Dame de Paris where Quasi, Phoebus, and Frollo all realize their love Esmeralda because they are listed next to the song
-Any ideas on who Saint Aphrodisius' character is or just what "Flight to Egypt"
-I hope that the expand Court of Miracles. I feel like it would be really cool if it was darker and explored the hidden lives of the gypsies a little more.
-WIth "In A Place of Miracles" I hope they make it into a trio between Phoebus, Esmeralda and Quasimodo. I don't think the gypsies would stop for a toast when they know Frollo is attacking at dawn with a thousand men. Also, I would love if they added the little reprise of "Heaven's Light" for Quasi because it is just so beautiful. At least in the drawings from the deleted clip, it would appear as if Quasi is okay with losing Esmeralda by the end of the song and I don't think that works, especially coming before "Made of Stone"
-I'm slightly confused as to why there's no congregation listed for "Someday" the choral arrangements were so amazing.
-From the interviews it definitely sounds like the gargoyles could be portrayed through the choir as the voice of notre dame in a way

And there is a set model picture in the pdf!

Updated On: 10/20/14 at 12:00 PM

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 12:05pm

Also the entr'acte seems like it could essentially be "City Under Seige" just without Clopin as the choir sings the majority of the song.

And could "the tavern song" lead into the whole "twenty pieces of silver for the gypsy Esmeralda" bit. As that is where the scene was located in Berlin and that's really the only interaction I could see Frollo directly having with the gypsies and Esmeralda. Updated On: 10/20/14 at 12:05 PM

[twotrey]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 1:13pm

In the interview with Menken, Parnell, and the two Schwartzes in the PDF, it is mentioned that "The Bells of Notre Dame" is heavily reworked with some new music in addition to lyrics (and it's suggested that a lot of existing songs got the same treatment), so it probably is expanded.

And I can't see them losing the "Heaven's Light" reprise since it's such a heartbreaking highlight in both the film and Berlin. I assume it just didn't get a formal listing since it's just a few lines.

Updated On: 10/20/14 at 01:13 PM

[finebydesign]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 3:08pm

Looks a lot like the themepark set.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 3:08pm

[finebydesign]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 3:09pm

[finebydesign]

Posted: 10/20/14 at 3:09pm

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/28/14 at 5:05pm

Okay so I have to know from anyone who has scene it: how do "The Tavern Song" and "Flight into Egypt" fit into the plot line of the show?

[dramaguy11]

Posted: 10/28/14 at 7:40pm

That picture of the set does not show the beautiful Saint statues that are stacked 3 high on each side of the set. They look great. Also, the checkerboard floor lights up in the front for several effects to work.

[dramaguy11]

Posted: 10/28/14 at 7:49pm

Also, they bring in a little curtained stage and drop in a giant maypole for the "Topsy Turvy," "Rhythm of the Tambourine" section. The Court of Miracles has two giant stone pieces that fly in and are pushed together to form a circle to cover the cathedral and a drop and giant circular stone entrance that covers the stained glass window area are flown in.