The Hunchback of Notre Dame on Stage

[DisneyFan09]

And I thought my depression had destroyed all my emotions!

I'm sorry to hear about your depression. I went recently through a deep depression myself. I know how hard it is. How are you now? If you don't mind if I'm asking.

[disneyprincess11]

Confirmed by Erik Liberman on his twitter:

Broadway may be deprived of this beautiful show + astonishing performances but you can still come to @Paper_Mill for our last two tomorrow.

[DisneyJedi]

Confirmed by Erik Liberman on his twitter:

Broadway may be deprived of this beautiful show + astonishing performances but you can still come to @Paper_Mill for our last two tomorrow.

What?! So that means we'll NEVER see this on Broadway?!

[Prince Edward]

Let's hope for the best! My main concern is: Will Disney release a cast recording or not. Living in Norway, I most likely will not see this production live anyway. I want to listen to the new songs in the comfort of my own home, and I would like such great songs to be saved for posterity.

[rubyslippers]

Confirmed by Erik Liberman on his twitter:

What?! So that means we'll NEVER see this on Broadway?!

It means that the cast was told there are no plans for a Broadway transfer. But that doesn't mean "never." We were told Aladdin wasn't headed for Broadway/was just for regional licensing, after all, then a few years later it popped up again.

Let's hope for the best! My main concern is: Will Disney release a cast recording or not. Living in Norway, I most likely will not see this production live anyway. I want to listen to the new songs in the comfort of my own home, and I would like such great songs to be saved for posterity.

I don't know... it wouldn't be the first time an off-Broadway production got a cast recording (Heathers or Carrie, anyone?) but AFAIK Disney has done so.

[Disney's Divinity]

I don't know... it wouldn't be the first time an off-Broadway production got a cast recording (Heathers or Carrie, anyone?) but AFAIK Disney has done so.

It's too bad. I mean--after all this work assembling a cast/show, a cast recording would be nothing but gain, wouldn't it? There's no doubt Hunchback and Menken both have their fanbases.

[PatrickvD]

Aladdin seems to be doing well. I'm guessing they want to keep it until Frozen is ready.

Just business.

[Disney Duster]

I'm sorry to hear about your depression. I went recently through a deep depression myself. I know how hard it is. How are you now? If you don't mind if I'm asking.

Well, life for my mind and feelings sucks, but things like Cinderella and this Hunchback show really are lights in my life. And people like you asking about me. Thank you. Didn't you go through depression because of your brother's suicide? How are you?

[DisneyJedi]

Aladdin seems to be doing well. I'm guessing they want to keep it until Frozen is ready.

Just business.

Hmm... That depends if Aladdin is doing amazing business right now. They wouldn't get rid of it just like that just to make room for an adaptation of their highest grossing animated film if Aladdin was still doing great business.

[rubyslippers]

Aladdin seems to be doing well. I'm guessing they want to keep it until Frozen is ready.

Just business.

Hmm... That depends if Aladdin is doing amazing business right now. They wouldn't get rid of it just like that just to make room for an adaptation of their highest grossing animated film if Aladdin was still doing great business.

Aladdin is still doing extremely well! Most weeks it's bringing in over 100% of its potential gross, and it has broken some box office records for Disney. It's currently the #3 show on Broadway, after the Lion King and Wicked. The current leads (which is most of the original cast, minus Kassim's actor) are contracted until at least February 2016 as well. I can't see Disney letting Aladdin go when it's this successful.

[Disney Duster]

I wonder, when Quasmido says, "There lies all I ever loved", if he is just referring to Frollo, who raised him, or also to Esmeralda. But he was looking down at Frollo. I just think he could have been referring to both since she was lying near him, too.

[DisneyFan09]

Well, life for my mind and feelings sucks, but things like Cinderella and this Hunchback show really are lights in my life. And people like you asking about me. Thank you. Didn't you go through depression because of your brother's suicide? How are you?

Aaaaw, you're welcome

My depression was most likely caused by my brothers suicide. While I can't say that I'm completely over it, I'm still better than I used to be. Fortunately I have good moments and days, but I know that deep depression is hard to fight. So I wish you the best and take care.

[Disney Duster]

Yes, thank you, I wish you all the best, too, and to also take care. We can find happiness, we may not be the same as we were but we are better, and we are not alone, there is so much in this world.

[DisneyFan09]

Yes, thank you, I wish you all the best, too, and to also take care. We can find happiness, we may not be the same as we were but we are better, and we are not alone, there is so much in this world.

Thankyou so much for kind words

Btw, some recent clips have been uploaded on YouTube and I've seen them. To be honest, I thought the new addition of Jehan Frollo's backstory in "Bells of Notre Dame" was a little superflous. It apparent that Arden is portraying Quasimodo as he was somewhat autistic (no offense, thought). But he got a standing ovation for "Made of Stone" and deservedly so.

So it also means that Claude Frollo is a priest on this version?

Btw, have anyone seen the German stage production which is on YouTube?

[Disney Duster]

Btw, some recent clips have been uploaded on YouTube and I've seen them. To be honest, I thought the new addition of Jehan Frollo's backstory in "Bells of Notre Dame" was a little superflous.

I found it to be a good fleshing out of his character. It explains how he feels later in the show.

It apparent that Arden is portraying Quasimodo as he was somewhat autistic (no offense, thought). But he got a standing ovation for "Made of Stone" and deservedly so.

So it also means that Claude Frollo is a priest on this version?

Btw, have anyone seen the German stage production which is on YouTube?

I didn't think he was autistic so much as not mentally all sound, that his deformities also affected his mind. Or that he was just a really child-like and naive man. He is supposed to be a very "good" character, even when harming or killing others, it is for "justice".

Frollo was the Archdeacon in this version. He rose up through the ranks as he and his brother were raised in the church.

I wish I could see the whole original German version, subtitled.

[DisneyFan09]

I didn't think he was autistic so much as not mentally all sound, that his deformities also affected his mind. Or that he was just a really child-like and naive man. He is supposed to be a very "good" character, even when harming or killing others, it is for "justice".

True, but Tom Hulce managed to depict Quasi as very innocent and boyish, while Arden's Quasi sounds more "deformed" and tragic. No offense.

I wish I could see the whole original German version, subtitled.

Here it is; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP8cM6QRkA4 I haven't seen the whole show yet, but I will.

[Disney Duster]

True, but Tom Hulce managed to depict Quasi as very innocent and boyish, while Arden's Quasi sounds more "deformed" and tragic. No offense.

I take no offense. I think you're right that he is deformed in his mind. I just don't think it's autism.

Here it is; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP8cM6QRkA4 I haven't seen the whole show yet, but I will.

Thank you! I will watch that when I have time, I guess.

[DisneyJedi]

I think the reason why it's not going to Broadway so soon is because...

What's the proper way to put it?

The show itself carries a too heavy atmosphere of drama that outweighs the humor. Not saying too little humor is a bad thing, but this is a Disney production. And usually when you hear the name "Disney", you don't expect anything of theirs to be too heavy in the drama department.

I'm not saying that they should remove the drama and replace it all with humor. However, it does need to lighten up a bit. I wouldn't care if they made the ending happier (Esmeralda not dying and Quasi actually saving her from Frollo), I just hope they can fix the show's issues.

See, in the film, Quasimodo gains acceptance by not only rescuing Esmeralda, he shows that despite his freakish appearance, he's a really good person at heart and he learns that the only thing dark and cruel about it is people like Frollo. The show mainly shows that the world is only filled with cruelty and wickedness.

[Disney Duster]

It showed that the world was full of good in Esmerelda and Phoebus.

I love the show's ending.

The only problem I have with the show is it told things too much instead of showed things enough.

Otherwise, it's a masterpiece, and I can see that as a Disney show chances are it would need to "lighten up" (and by the way humor is not the only positive thing you can put in a show besides drama, I mean The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast aren't comedies), but I hope it could make it to Broadway as it is, just with showing things more than telling things and having the gargoyles. Perhaps something closer to the Berlin production.

[DisneyFan09]

he learns that the only thing dark and cruel about it is people like Frollo.

Eeeeh...

Frollo was indeed cruel and wicked, but the townspeople weren't particularly kind to Quasi either. Remember Frollo's guards were the ones who started the mockery of Quasi and the townspeople were calling Quasi mean things.

Otherwise, it's a masterpiece, and I can see that as a Disney show chances are it would need to "lighten up" (and by the way humor is not the only positive thing you can put in a show besides drama

Very true.

Beauty and the Beast aren't comedies

While "Beauty and the Beast" has indeed it's fair share amount of drama, depth and substance, I will say that it's still quite comedic and light. It's not to say that it's a comedy, cause it isn't. But not as grave and serious as "The Lion King". But that's my subjective opinion, though You're allowed to disagree