Hunchback of Notre Dame Broadway

[ukactor19842]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 8:16pm

With Aladdin on the way, its exciting news that Hunchback is on the way. If this article is correct the developmental workshop took place last month...

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Auditions-Announced-for-HUNCHBACK-OF-NOTRE-DAME-Stage-Adaptation-Developmental-Lab-20131025

Has anyone heard anything about this and if it did indeed go ahead? I'm sure they'll keep it hush hush but wondered if there was anyone with inside info?

Updated On: 2/8/14 at 08:16 PM

[ukactor19842]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 8:20pm

Trailer for the 1992 German production - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iikv3uIdRI

It's being redeveloped but I think if they got it right it could be a Disney musical with depth and possibly the best one ever done.

[lambchop2]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 10:19pm

I haven't heard anything about the workshop, but the La Jolla website is describing the production as an "intimate retelling."

http://www.lajollaplayhouse.org/the-season/2014-2015-season

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/8/14 at 10:29pm

I saw the Berlin production. It was good, but ultimately unsatisfying. I love the animation and I think it is an exceptionally beautiful score, so I'm very excited about this production, but I'm glad they are redeveloping the piece and not just bring us the German production.

My favorite live production of Hunchback was, Festival of Fools, which ran at Disneyland for several years. It was brilliant and gorgeous and immersive. I realize that the environment and abridged version they created for Disneyland would be impossible to successfully bring to New York, but there might be a lot to learn from that production.

[whatever2]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 1:22am

I also saw the Berlin production. I was fully satisfied.

Chacun a son gout.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 2:39pm

I saw the Berlin production as well and was bored with the staging about 15 minutes in. Score and costumes were lovely. But I too was ultimately unsatisfied.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 2/9/14 at 6:07pm

Thanks for the support, Mister Matt. And, I completely agree that the score and costumes stood out and were lovely. The set was interesting, but needed additional pieces. The elevators and projects were cool, but got old. It could have worked, but it needed additional dressing particularly with the gypsies and one or two more big set piece(s).

[RippedMan]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 12:54am

Are they expanding the score or what? Hm. I'm not sure I'd want to this show to be "intimate" at all. Maybe they're aiming more for an adult musical as opposed to Aladdin, which is going for the family/kids crowd.

[oasisjeff]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 9:32am

How serious can they be about this, though, if they haven't put up a website with no information and the opportunity to join a mailing list?

[RW3]

Posted: 2/10/14 at 12:44pm

Yeah, having a website with no information or mailing list is weird, but maybe Disney might release one over the summer or as it gets closer to the opening in La Jolla.

[ukactor1984]

Posted: 2/18/14 at 7:20pm

They never put up an official website for Aladdin when it played Seattle. At that point it was supposedly being developed for regional theatre licensing.

They only put the website up when a Broadway production was announced.

I assume they are testing the waters with this in much the same way.

I really hope that this is the most mature of the Disney musicals offered. It is a dark story and it could give Disney a production with real weight and substance behind it if they did it well.