Posted: 4/7/15 at 11:45am
Why is everyone complaining about and apparently so offended by the tragedy of the story. Sure it's dark and sad but it is also extremely beautiful and passionate. An audience doesn't give a standing ovation, before the last note ends at any show. I certainly did not have the same experience as the rest of you did in which the audience was completely and utterly depressed after seeing it.
Posted: 4/7/15 at 1:46pm
"Why is everyone complaining about and apparently so offended by the tragedy of the story. Sure it's dark and sad but it is also extremely beautiful and passionate. An audience doesn't give a standing ovation, before the last note ends at any show. I certainly did not have the same experience as the rest of you did in which the audience was completely and utterly depressed after seeing it. "
I definitely didn't have a depressed audience experience either - all three times I went, I heard nothing but good things being said around me. Not sure when everyone else went, but it seems like I saw a completely different show.
Oh, and I was at the last show, when they did get that standing ovation before the last note ended 
Posted: 4/7/15 at 8:49pm
Esmeralda dying and Quasimodo choosing to live life in the face of adversity was a sad but touching ending. Quasimodo choosing to commit suicide by burying himself alive and spooning with a corpse is just vile
Posted: 4/8/15 at 12:39am
I think the ending with Quasimodo commiting himself to die with Esmeralda's corpse is wistfully romantic and beautiful.
Updated On: 4/16/15 at 12:39 AM
Posted: 5/10/15 at 1:36pm
Any updates of what's next? What happened to Chicago or France?
Posted: 5/10/15 at 1:41pm
I think the Chicago rumor was just blowing smoke. I could see it doing well in France though. Disney always does this when one of their show fails and they have to put up a tough front and say the show is onto "better things" like a national tour or going to some country. Disney needs to take a breather, assess what went wrong with this production and hopefully re-tool it in another area for a Broadway opening at some point in this future. It has so much potential to be great.
Updated On: 5/10/15 at 01:41 PM
Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:35am
I've only read good reviews for it from what I've seen (media outlets), so what went wrong?
Posted: 7/14/15 at 10:52am
It ended up being relentlessly bleak. The set was too cramped and the staging was really weak.
It needs to be re-thought, but I think this may be the version they're keeping.
I don't think it would last very long on Broadway.
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:03am
The darkness was actually fine by me, but then they would have a weirdly humorous scene that did not fit with the rest of the tone. So it was uneven, and the audience was unsure whether to laugh or not.
The staging did need some work. Parts of the set were great (the bells, for one) but then things like Quasimodo's dramatic rescue at the end were almost laughable.
Another issue that's been mentioned is the giant chorus. I think it was 44 people. It was wonderful to have, especially for songs like the opening and Hellfire, but would be tricky on a long term show.
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:11am
I pretty much agree with all of those criticisms.
The chorus was crazy big, especially since playing area was so constrained by the set.
And yea, Quasi's final save-the-day moment was ridiculous.
I actually can't recall one humorous bit.
I love the score though. And Arden was excellent.
Updated On: 7/14/15 at 11:11 AM
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:17am
I know, I feel like the music is so good it can't even matter that the book sucked.
Posted: 7/14/15 at 11:25am
Alan Menken confirmed that this is NOT going on Broadway, mostly likely not at all.
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Interview-Alan-Menken-Get-His-Wish-for-DUDDY-KRAVITZ-Musical-Talks-Broadway-Goals-Hunchback-and-More-20150710
Posted: 7/14/15 at 2:33pm
Well he confirmed that this rendition isn't going anyways.
Posted: 12/8/15 at 3:46pm
Anyone by chance have a recording of this at papermill? I have been looking everywhere to no avail 
Posted: 12/8/15 at 3:55pm
There are a few audio and video recordings floating around online. Can't point you directly to one, but I know I've seen them around.
Posted: 12/8/15 at 4:14pm
Thanks, yah, I know they exist, but just not where I can actually get one. I've never done bootlegs before so have nothing to trade unfortunately.
Posted: 12/9/15 at 7:13pm
On a similar note, the album is officially up for pre-order on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/Hunchback-Notre-HUNCHBACK-STUDIO-RECORDING/dp/B018RZ7TJO/
Posted: 12/9/15 at 7:37pm
But still no track list. This is getting ridiculous.
Posted: 8/11/16 at 10:37pm
Uhhhhhhh....this is 50,000x better than what got spewed up the last two years
http://www.playbill.com/article/see-disneys-hunchback-of-notre-dame-with-outdoor-staging
Posted: 8/11/16 at 11:18pm
disneybroadwayfan22 said: "Uhhhhhhh....this is 50,000x better than what got spewed up the last two years
http://www.playbill.com/article/see-disneys-hunchback-of-notre-dame-with-outdoor-staging
"
Yeah but the horrid redone script is still there...this certainly looks wonderful, and hope it's blocked well, but that doesn't hide the horrid rewriting they did.
Posted: 8/12/16 at 11:28am
this story speaks for itself
http://www.playbill.com/article/what-ever-happened-to-hunchback
Posted: 8/13/16 at 11:15pm
the papermill production is going to the Tokyo production this fall/winter.
regional theaters are mounting their own productions.
there are talks of a European tour, and perhaps the west end. The show will need to be tinkered to fit a traditional commercial theater model . . . if you want the chorus, what do you give up.
Posted: 8/14/16 at 3:29am
Give up the choir. That's a stupid concept for a commercial production. Just cast some strong singers and you'll be okay. The book is, honestly, the worst part of the show. The narration needs to go.
Posted: 8/14/16 at 10:47am
I don't really understand the need for the chorus. An ensemble of 20 singers, with the addition of vocal sweetening if they really wanted a bigger sound, would have worked just fine but now if they do that they'll be criticized.
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