Havertown Residents Taking Stage In 'Hunchback Of Notre Dame'

HAVERTOWN, PA – Eight Havertown residents will take the stage this weekend and next weekend to star in the Philadelphia region's premier production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" which opens this weekend in Upper Darby.

Havertown residents Tristan Horan, Scott Berkowitz, Jared Gross, Charlotte Hamburg, Allison Magee, Tess Mallon, Jeremy Parmet, and Gianna Penezic will be performing in the regional premier.

The show opens at 7:30 p.m., Friday, July 28 at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center.

Shows will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 29, Friday, Aug 4 and Saturday, Aug 5. Matinee shows will be held on Sept. 29 and Aug. 5 at 1:30 p.m.

Horan, who is cast as Captain Phoebus, weighed in on his participation in the pre-Broadway version of the show.

"What makes the characters in 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' and specifically the character of Phoebus so unique, is their strikingly real struggles, motivations, and personalities." Horan said, "As an actor, this allows me to really enjoy the talents of my fellow cast mates as we tiptoe the line between believable and sensational. I think this story will absolutely rock people to their core and leave them curious and eager for more."

Based on Victor Hugo's powerful novel and adapted from the Disney film, audience members will be moved by the story of the deformed bell ringer and beautiful gypsy who shows him one moment of compassion.

Set in 15th-century Paris, Quasimodo (Patrick Walsh of Aldan), the deformed bell ringer longs to escape the cathedral walls to experience “One day out there.” Holding him back is the devious Claude Frollo (Chris Monaco of Wallingford), Quasimodo’s reluctant caretaker. Quasimodo flees the cathedral, encountering the beautiful gypsy, Esmeralda (Sierra Wilson of Upper Darby) on the Feast of Fools. Quasimodo is abused and shunned but Esmeralda comforts him and he feels love for the first time in his life. As Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the gypsies, Esmeralda becomes entangled in a love triangle and is at the center of this dramatic tale.

It is a dramatic tale of complex relationships, featuring a gorgeous, spine-tingling score created by musical legends Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz.

Adding to the spectacle is an onstage choir of Summer Stage alumni bringing the onstage voices to almost 90 strong. The Mainstage production is not a children's theater show and is geared towards anyone who loves high quality musical theater. Audiences members throughout the years have compared Upper Darby Summer Stage Mainstage productions to professional productions.

Tickets cost $13 to $17 and are available online here or by calling the box office at (610) 622-1189.

The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center is located at 601 N. Lansdowne Ave., Drexel Hill.

Pictured above is Tristan Horan of Havertown rehearsing for the upcoming production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame"

Image via Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, Photo by Rachael Lombardo