Music Behind the Hunchback of Notre Dame

(The)

The production–with music from Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), lyrics from Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin), and book from Peter Parnell–The Hunchback of Notre Dame, embarks in a marvelous journey of love, redemption, injustice, and cruelty. The original cast features Michael Arden (The Times They Are A-Changin’, Big River) as Quasimodo, Patrick Page (Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, The Lion King) as Frollo, Ciara Renée (Pippin, Big Fish) as Esmeralda, Andrew Samonsky (Little Miss Sunshine, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as Phoebus, and Erik Liberman (Lovemusik) as Clopin (Blank).

(Alan)                                                      (Rühmeier)
The story begins “as the bells of Notre Dame resound through the famed cathedral in” 1482 Paris (“The”). Where Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer, contemplates all of Paris from the heights of the bell tower. He yearns to be out there and is desperate to be amongst the people–to be normal. On the day of the Festival of Fools, Quasimodo is “held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda” (“The”). While Frollo, Phoebus, and Quasimodo fight for her attention, Frollo is determined to eliminate what he believes is the evil in the world, the gypsies.
       

 

 

 

 

 

(Bells)                                                                                                                            (Dalia)

Based on the novel by French novelist and poet, Victor Hugo (Les Miserables) and the 1996 Disney Oscar nominated animated feature, this musical tells a story that is so tragic but yet portrays so much light. The score was composed by award winning composer–Alan Menken, and lyrics was written by award winning lyricist–Stephen Schwartz. The movie, they said, was like a musical waiting to happen (Rothstein). For the score to fit the musical, songs were added and music was adjusted, to make the musical closer to the 1831 novel. Compared to the animated movie, this production provides a much darker atmosphere and tragically poetic ending. 

 

(Dalia)                                                       (Esmeralda)

 

 

In Making of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” Studio Cast Recording the actors expressed their sentiment towards the score: “The lyrics are incredibly smart, funny, witty, and painfully honest at times; and the music, I would venture to say is Alan’s best score…I really enjoyed my collaboration with Alan Menken…we get into the room and things happen that surprised both of us…(“Someday”) it sounds like it may have been written a thousand years ago. It’s so hauntingly human…we were doing the finale and I think everyone, including our conductor and listening to it and the rest of the cast, I caught myself, I can’t help but cry when I hear it” (Making). The score takes you on a spiritual journey, one that is so inspirational and “ultimately is a story about choosing to do the right thing and choosing to stand up for the outcasts…and teaches people how to choose love over fear” (Making).

(Murphy)                                                                                                        (Dalia)

WORKS CITED

Alan Menken. Digital image. Playbill. Playbill, 11 Oct. 2014. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

Bells of Notre Dame. Digital image. Alexander Dodge Design. Alexanderdodgedesign, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016

Blank, Matthew. “PHOTO CALL: A First Look at La Jolla Playhouse’s Hunchback of Notre Dame, Starring Michael Arden and Patrick Page.” Playbill. Playbill, 6 Nov. 2014. Web. 30 Oct. 2016.

Dalia, Jerry. Michael Arden as Quasimodo. Digital image. Pinterest. Pinterest, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

Dalia, Jerry. Quasimodo. Digital image. Pinterest. Pinterest, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

Dalia, Jerry. Quasimodo and Esmeralda Finale. Digital image. Pinterest. Pinterest, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

Esmeralda Rhythm of the Tambourine. Digital image. Variety. Variety, 10 Nov. 2014. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

Making of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” Studio Cast Recording. Perf. Michael Arden, Alan Menken, Andrew Samonsky, Erik Liberman, Stephen Schwartz, Peter Parnell, Patrick Page, and Ciara Renee. Disney On Broadway. Youtube, 22 Jan. 2016. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

Rothstein, Mervyn. “Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz Turn Hunchback Into a Stage Beauty.” Playbill. Playbill, 11 Oct. 2014. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

Rühmeier, Ralf. Stephen Schwartz. Digital image. The Huffington Post. Huffingtonpost, 14 Apr. 2016. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

“The Hunchback Of Notre Dame.” Music Theatre International. Mtishows, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2016.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Paper Mill Playhouse.Perf. Michael Arden, Andrew Samonsky, Erik Liberman, Patrick Page, and Ciara Renee. Paper Mill Playhouse. Youtube, 12 Mar. 2015. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Stage. Digital image. Alexander Dodge Design. Alexanderdodgedesign, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

Murphy, Matthew. Ciara Renee as Esmeralda. Digital image. Broadway.com. Broadway, n.d. Web. 24 Oct. 2016.

How and which plays revolutionized the theatre industry?

As we all know, theatre has been part of this world since ancient times. From early Greek and Roman theatre to entertainment for medieval royalty; from Shakespeare’s famous plays to mid-20th century’s golden age. When someone refers to the theatre, we all think of a play with music, dancing, and constant movement all around. Well, it wasn’t always like that–believe it or not–but all they needed was a little push in the direction to change for the better.

Through time, the theatre industry progressed into new ideas that were not traditional. The most famous and successful plays worldwide are Shakespeare’s works. Shakespeare introduced a wide variety of genres and styles of theatre; however, he left a vast legacy of works that gave the world a whole new way expressing dialogue–almost a new language. William Shakespeare was born in 1564, at that time, theatre was an organized organization or company. No, at that time, it hardly existed “Troupes of actors roamed the countryside, performing in courtyards or in the great halls of noble houses…they lived precariously by presenting crude native tragedies, bawdy interludes, or adaptations of the classics, in exchange for a meal, a bed, or a few coins” (“Shakespeare’s”). Theatre became the thriving industry London was known of around the seventeenth century. Shakespeare’s style of theatre definitely made a significant statement, since he conveyed the visualization–mostly scenery or setting–of his plays through language instead with the usage of props, sets, or costumes (“Shakespeare’s”). In addition, Shakespeare created almost a whole new language that had an enormous impact in drama and the English language. His use of words presented compelling plots, complex characters, in different genre. His use of the soliloquy went beyond the conventional plot description to explore his characters’ thinking and state of mind” (Timmons).

(William)

As it is known, musicals were not always present. The very first performance to be considered a musical was a Broadway show that contained music, dancing, and had a complete plot–The Black Crook. The Black Crook was introduced in 1866, the play “ran for sixteen months, a tremendous success in the 1860’s” (“Musical”). The Black Crook revolutionized theatre and created an entirely new genre for theatre, which opened so many doors that lead to the development of American musicals (Kenrick). On the other hand, a play known by the name of Oklahoma!, is considered to be the “first fully integrated musical play, using every song and dance to develop the characters or the plot” (Kenrick). It is considered that Oklahoma! was the musical that marked the start of the “golden age” of Broadway musicals (“Musical”).

(Black)

(Oklahoma!)

There is one more play that created a big statement amongst theatre; it is the story we all know and love–Peter Pan. Peter Pan is a play that was written by Sir. J. M. Barrie (James Matthew Barrie), a famous, Scottish playwright and novelist. Barrie’s inspiration for his masterpiece, were the children of Sylvia Llewellyn Davies. The time he spent and the games he played with the Davies children are what, eventually, lead to the creation of Neverland, Peter Pan, Tinkerbell, Captain Hook, among others (“J.”). Barrie had written in 1928, “I suppose I always knew that I made Peter by rubbing the five of you violently together, as savages with two sticks produce a flame. That is all he is, the spark I got from you” (Norman). Once this play was presented, in 1904, it created a sense of security in one’s creative mind. Playwrights were encouraged to take more risks in what their plays were, meaning they could go outside their comfort zone.

(Bedford)

WORKS CITED

 

Bedford, F. D. Peter and Wendy. Digital image. Wikipedia. En Wikipedia, 11 Sept. 2016. Web.

30 Sept. 2016.

Black Crook – 1866. Digital image. Playbill. Playbill, 18 July 2016. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

“J. M. Barrie.” Encyclopaedia Britannica. Encyclopaedia, 30 Mar. 2015. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

Kenrick, John. “Musicals On Stage: A Capsule History.” Musicals101. Musicals101, n.d. Web.

30 Sept. 2016.

Oklahoma! Digital image. Game-ost. Game-sot, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

“Musical Theatre Part 1.” Ganeseo. Ganeseo, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

Norman. “Peter Pan Turns 100.” Smithsonian. Smithsonianmag, Dec. 2014. Web. 30 Sept.

2016.

“Shakespeare’s Theater.” Brooklyn College. Academic Brooklyn Cuny, 12 Mar. 2009. Web. 30

Sept. 2016.

Timmons, Greg. “William Shakespeare’s 400th Anniversary: The Life & Legacy of The Bard.”

Bio. Biography, 21 Apr. 2016. Web. 30 Sept. 2016.

William Shakespeare. Digital image. MIT. Shakespeare Mit, n.d. Web. 30 Sept. 2016. Allen,