OGDEN MUSICAL THEATRE’S ‘HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME’ WILL LEAVE A LASTING IMPRESSION AFTER ITS SIX-SHOW RUN ENDS MONDAY

NEWS/REVIEW

Ogden Musical Theatre’s Hunchback of Notre Dame (OMT) opened on Thursday, February 22, at Peery’s Egyptian Theater in Ogden with an unforgettable six-show run that concludes on Monday.

This is not exactly the Disney version of Hunchback of Notre Dame, and it’s not a full-play production. The concert-style showcase of the new musical inspired by Victor Hugo’s gothic novel, features Chamber Orchestra Ogden live on stage with the actors. Light choreography and images on screen, including passages from the novel, set the tone.

Songs from the Disney animated feature are included—favorites like ”The Bells of Notre Dame,” “Out There,” and “Got Help The Outcasts,”— in addition to new songs truer to the novel’s darker, emotionally-charged themes.

Director Jennifer Hughes writes in the playbill: “At the heart of The Hunchback of Notre Dame lies Victor Hugo’s poignant inquiry: ‘What makes a monster, and what makes a man?’ Our play delves into this profound question, exploring the reasons societies tend to marginalize certain populations. Is it rooted in fear, prejudice, ignorance, or perhaps a fusion of all three? We don’t claim to provide definitive answers; rather, our purpose is to illuminate the shades of light and darkness found within these pages.”

I don’t know the reasons for OMT’s choice of Hunchback of Notre Dame for its spring musical this year, but it seems to me it’s because Sean Bishop was made for the role of “Quasimodo,” and there has never been a better time to bring Hugo’s message of heroism and marginalization to Ogden.

The brilliant cast also includes Leah Campbell (“Esmerelda”), Ricky Parkinson (“Claude Frollo”), and Adam White who steals every scene as “Clopin.”

OMT’s production of Hunchback fills Peery’s Egyptian Theater with a richness of sound so beautiful that it rings long after the performance.

The remaining performance of Hunchback of Notre Dame is Monday, February 26 at 7:30 p.m. Visit ogdenpet.com/events for ticket information, or call the box office: 866.472.4627.

Production photos provided by Heidi Miller, Peery’s Egyptian Theater.