The Bethlehem Summer Music Festival will hit the stage this weekend with “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Unlike the original movie, the stage version offers more music.
“Alan Menken, who wrote the music for the Disney movie, he and Stephen Schwartz kept wanting to make a Broadway musical,” said John Hines, who returns as co-director along with Cori Baxter. “They pushed for it and Disney said go ahead, keep writing more music.”
Hines describes the music as “huge and dramatic.” He said it has an intense musical score, one that’s catchy and leaves viewers singing it even after they’re done listening to it.
With several new songs, on top of the seven or eight from the original movie, the balance is about 70 percent singing and 30 percent dialogue. The ratio has made rehearsals both a blessing and a challenge.
A lot of the dialogue is woven into the songs. The challenge has been trying to time the narrative with the orchestra.
The imbalance also means it’s a vocally demanding show for the entire cast. Unlike other shows, which may have multiple leads, supplemented by a chorus, “Hunchback” requires the chorus to be intricately involved in the show. So much so the chorus is on stage more than the lead actors at some point because the members are moving set pieces or they have dialogue to help tell the story.
The upside, however, is scheduling rehearsals was easier as everyone was required to attend.
Rehearsals began in early June with sessions two to three times a week in the evening. Once August arrived, rehearsals were scheduled every evening.
The 20-person cast ranges in age from 5- to 60-year-old participants.
Performances will be 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 6 p.m. on Sunday at the Bethlehem Presbyterian Church, in New Windsor.
To purchase tickets, visit bsmftickets.com.
Cast list
Ryan Baxter, Cori Baxter, Lily Baxter, Jack Baxter, Martha Carlson, Ben Carter, Billy Carter, David Cooper, Thomas Cooper, Dot Henry, James Henry, Jessica Henry, John Hines, Barbara Horne, Lucy Horne, Scarlett Horne, Colleen McShea, Marietta Moulton, Drew Moulton, Brylee Moulton, Patrick Larkin, Ana Raw, James Roe, Jeanine Roe, Jonathan Roe, Rohan Sonakya, Isabella Tutini
