AUDITIONS The Philadelphia Regional Premiere of

Audition Information

Philadelphia’s award winning Upper Darby Summer Stage is seeking non-Equity actors ages 18-28 for its 42nd season summer production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Jeffrey Dietzler is directing, Gina Giachero is Musical Director and Choreography is by Jenna Rogalski. The onstage choir is directed by Eric Longo. Set Design is by Martin Dallago. Costumes design is by Mary Folino. Produced by Harry Dietzler.

1482. Paris, France. Quasimodo, a deformed bell ringer in a cold, cathedral tower discovers his inner strength. A conflicted priest battles the specter of damnation. A dashing soldier shuns duty to pursue a beautiful gypsy dancer. And at every turn, a malevolent force propels each of them toward fate. Based on the novel by . The Hunchback of Notre Dame is the only stage collaboration from two masters of the American musical theatre, composer Alan Menken and lyricist Stephen Schwartz. In this brand-new production, a lush, emotionally rich score highlights the music’s orchestral power and choral beauty in an intimate retelling of the famous love story.

Auditions are June 5 at 7 PM with callbacks on June 7 at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, 601 North Lansdowne Ave, Drexel Hill, PA 19026. Please visit www.udpac.org to pre-register for auditions.

The Onstage Choir is open to anyone age 18 and up. Contact Eric Longo at [email protected].

Rehearsals begin June 8 and run Monday thru Thursday evenings, 7 PM to 10:30 PM. Tech will be Sunday July 23. The week of July 24, rehearsals will go from 6 to 11 PM.

Performances are July 28 at 7:30PM, July 29 at 1:30 and 7:30PM, August 4 at 7:30PM, and August 5 at 1:30 and 7:30PM.

Audition Song Selection: The Hunchback of Notre Dame has a very Classical and choral inspired score. Please prepare a traditional Broadway song. No pop, rock or contemporary musical theater.

Audition Dance Component: There will be a dance portion to the auditions so please come prepared with clothes, water, etc. While The Hunchback of Notre Dame is not a dance heavy show, it is a show based on movement and physicality. There are numbers which will feature stronger dancers, but the entire cast will be expected to be able to move to some degree.

Please feel free to email Jeff ([email protected]) with any questions you may have about song choice, audition etiquette, etc. If you have a conflict with the audition dates, you must contact Jeffrey Dietzler at [email protected]. We can always arrange for an alternate time or have you send a video submission.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame Character Breakdown

Principals Quasimodo: The deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame and Claude Frollo’s charge. Lonely and staunchly obedient to Frollo, he possesses a vivid imagination that brings to life the bells and gargoyles of the cathedral. Despite his shyness and uncertainty, he quickly befriends Esmeralda. Big-hearted, and brave when need be. Gender: Male Age: 20 to 30 Vocal range top: Bb2 to Bb5

Claude Frollo: Archdeacon of Notre Dame Cathedral and the most powerful cleric in Paris, he is the reluctant caretaker of Quasimodo. He will do whatever it takes to rid the city of the gypsy “vermin,” even as he lusts after Esmeralda. Calculating, manipulative, and obsessive. Gender: Male Age: 40 to 50 Vocal range top: E2 to Bb4

Esmeralda: A beautiful and free-spirited gypsy who possesses the strong sense of justice and morality that Frollo lacks. Compassionate, she frees Quasimodo from the frenzied mob at the Feast of Fools and, against her better judgment, falls for the cocky Phoebus. Gender: Female Age: 20 to 30 Vocal range top: E3 to D5

Captain Phoebus de Martin: Returning to Paris after serving in the war, Phoebus takes up his new position as Captain of the Cathedral Guard. Overconfident yet charming, this handsome, strong soldier makes the ladies swoon, yet his moral compass is also strong, and he openly defies the corrupted Frollo. Gender: Male Age: 25 to 40 Vocal range top: A2 to Ab4

Clopin Trouillefou: The clever and charismatic King of the Gypsies. An air of mystery surrounds Clopin, who often leaves the scene in a puff of smoke. As the master of ceremonies for the Feast of Fools, he is witty and playful, but he boasts a darker, serious nature when not performing for the crowd. Gender: Male Age: 30 to 40 Vocal range top: D3 to F#5

Supporting Roles Jehan Frollo: Claude’s reckless younger brother. With the gypsy Florika, he fathers Quasimodo, who he leaves in his brother’s care. Wild, passionate, and strong-willed. Florika: A gypsy and Quasimodo’s mother. Father Dupin: A priest of Notre Dame and Claude and Jehan’s guardian. Lieutenant Frederic Charlus: Lieutenant of the Cathedral Guard and loyal friend to Phoebus. King Louis XI: King of France, nicknamed the Prudent. Tribunal: A judicial officer. Madam: Owner of a brothel and safe haven for gypsies. Saint Aphrodisius: A stained-glass image that comes to life.

Ensembles Congregation (Includes Full Cast) Gypsies, Gargoyles, Soldiers, and Citizens of Paris.

About Upper Darby Summer Stage Since 1976 Upper Darby Summer Stage has produced outstanding Broadway musicals and children’s theater for more than 24,000 audience members each season. Our Mainstage musicals attract the finest young adult performers in the Philadelphia region and are staffed by theater professionals. Our alumni include Tina Fey, the Arden’s Terry Nolen and Amy Murphy, Broadway performers Josh Young, Jeremy Morse, Alyce Alan Louis and Marcus Stevens and Assistant Director for The Comet of 1812, Rachel Stevens. Founder and producer Harry Dietzler won the Barrymore Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theater in 2011.

Greetings,

I am thrilled to be at the helm of what is shaping up to be one of the biggest productions presented on the Performing Arts Center stage to-date. I am incredibly passionate about this show and about Upper Darby Summer Stage being the location for the Philadelphia Regional Premiere of this masterpiece.

I was lucky enough to see this production: in its US premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse. It was, without a doubt, one of the best shows I had ever seen. One element that made it so impressive was the incredible music by award winning composers Stephen Schwartz and Alan Menken. They kept the integrity of the many memorable songs which made the original film so magnificent, while adding in new music to help create the darker tone, which the stage adaptation takes on.

Even beyond the music, however, the way the show is constructed brings together some of the best elements of theater ranging from the traditional Greek chorus to the implementation of modern day spectacle. The show, unlike its movie predecessor, takes on a much darker tone, similar to the book. This allows for more depth in the performances and the overall message.

The reason I feel so strongly about Summer Stage producing this show is that it requires an immense amount of passion behind it. This is something that Summer Stage is known for in its productions and what will make this production so powerful.

I do hope you consider coming out and auditioning. If you are unsure, I simply ask you to do one thing. Find a copy of the sound track (I believe it may even be available on YouTube) and listen. If you are not taken by the incredible music and passionate story being told, then perhaps this may not be the show for you. If, however, you find yourself swept into a range of emotions, especially as the opening sequence hits its final glorious chord, then I strongly urge you to be a part of this production. Audition information is below. If you have any questions at all, please feel free to reach out to me directly. I am excited to officially get started!

Best,

Jeffrey Dietzler Director The Hunchback of Notre Dame Upper Darby Summer Stage [email protected]