The Hunchback of Notre Dame - NH Premiere This Weekend

The Community Players of Concord, NH will proudly present the New Hampshire premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, on Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18, at 7:30 pm, and on Sunday November 19 at 2 pm, at the Concord City Auditorium (“the Audi”), 2 Prince St., Concord, NH. This powerful new musical, with book by Peter Parnell and a lush and sweeping score by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, tells Victor Hugo’s iconic tale of Quasimodo, the tormented, bell-ringing hunchback, set in 15th century Paris. The show features the songs from Disney’s 1996 animated movie version of the tale, but this musical embraces the story’s darker themes, with particular focus on the inner anguish and resulting cruelty of Paris’s most powerful cleric, Archdeacon Claude Frollo, Quasimodo’s uncle and reluctant caretaker. Thus, this stage version of Hunchback is similar in tone and scope to Hugo’s other classic that was brought to the stage, Les Miserables. Director Bryan Halperin frames the story as a priest’s sermon being delivered during a service in an 18th century, gothic cathedral. The sermon comes to life as dozens of congregants become storytellers who portray principals, townspeople, and gypsies. Gargoyles and statutes become animated, figments of Quasimodo’s imagination, revealing the beleaguered hunchback’s thoughts. The cast of 51 includes a 24-voice choir that remains onstage throughout the show, providing a sweeping and emotional choral backdrop. A 10-piece orchestra adds to the immensity of the sound.

The large scale and “newness” of the show are particularly appropriate this year, as 2017-2018 is the Players’ 90th Anniversary Season, being celebrated with the theme of “90 Years NEW!” Consequently, all three of the group’s Main Stage shows for this season were chosen specifically because they are terrific shows that will be new to most audiences. A special 90th Season program book has been created to commemorate the anniversary, and other season-long celebrations are in the works. One such anniversary treat is a much-anticipated raffle of two pair of excellent tickets to Hamilton, An American Musical, for the Broadway touring production that will be presented at the Boston Opera House in the fall of 2018. Tickets will be sold at every Players’ production during the 90th Season, and through Players’ members, as long as they last. Only 500 tickets will be sold, with the drawing to be held at the Players’ Annual Meeting in June, 2018. The 90th Season program book can be viewed at the Players’ website, where information about the Players’ 90-year history and the Hamilton ticket raffle is also posted.

Tickets for The Hunchback of Notre Dame cost $20/$18 each, though tickets purchased online prior to November 15th receive a $2 per ticket discount. The Audi Box Office hours are Wednesday-Saturday, November 15-18, from 4:30–7:30 pm, and Sunday, November 19, noon-2:00 pm. Online ticketing and further information may be found at www.communityplayersofconcord.org.