Three questions with Hunchback's Nathan Tilton

Nathan Tilton, a sophomore at Lincolnway East, plays Frollo in the upcoming production of Hunchback of Notre Dame at LWE, April 27-29

Tickets available for $10 at lwemusic.org

Nathan , the role of Arch Deacon Frollo is pretty dark. Is it your first time playing the “bad guy”? Who was your inspiration?

Well actually I played the Beast (Beauty and Beast) last summer, which was also a somewhat dark role, especially in Act I. It is a bit of a tough transition, because darker roles have deeper characters and it’s more work to get into them. To play the villain, you really have to throw out your own morals and live within the character. You have to act and behave in a way that is in direct conflict with your own better judgement. For my AP English book project this year, I read Richard III. This character, who murdered innocent children just to be King, helped provide me with a true villain’s perspective.

It seems that it’s a complex set of emotions at play as Frollo struggles with his own feelings, desires and beliefs. How do you convey that?

Frollo’s a main character with complicated feelings, but in some ways his character’s struggle with right and wrong, desire and morals, is symbolic for the entire dramatic arc of the story. He’s a bit of an antihero: how he kept Quasimodo confined for his own good was probably “correct” in that time period. I think his hatred for the gypsies and his conflicted feelings for Quasimodo come from the way he blames them all for the death of his brother Jehan. When he falls for Esmeralda, he has to deal with the conflict of hating and loving what someone is, what they represent, simultaneously. He abuses his own power to manipulate the King and burn the city of Paris just to get to Esmeralda. This is part of the dramatic arc of the story: showing who Frollo is from beginning to end , and how he wraps himself around the lives of those in his path in a love/hate grip of death, much like an Anaconda. He’s never not gotten what he wants, and his desire and fiery ambition (symbolized in the burning of Paris) drive him to fight for it in ways that are in direct conflict to his own moralistic upbringing.

It’s going to be interesting watching you convey all that later this month. What’s next for Nathan Tilton after Hunchback closes?

More of the same: working to become a better vocalist and actor, a better student and a better person.

We look forward to seeing you in this and future endeavors, Nathan. Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame will be at Lincoln-way East High School, 201 Colorado, Frankfort , IL on April 27 and 28 at 7pm, April 28 at 1pm, and April 29 at 3pm. Tickets at lwemusic.org or at the door one hour before show time.