I had a director from an Ohio performing arts middle school call me about a month ago to tell me that he was thinking about doing Hunchback with his school next year, but he had some concerns. “It’s so hard! The music, isn’t it so hard? Do your kids actually sing in Latin? Do they even understand the roles of the ensemble, and the chorus, and how crucial they are to translating this story?” He had a lot of questions, and I totally got it, because I had a lot of questions myself when I started thinking about doing this show.
Doing a dramatic piece at middle school level is always a bigger challenge. Comedies at this age are easy – kids like to laugh and make each other laugh. It is much harder thing to make their peers feel, to connect, to empathize with a character. But middle school kids can be pretty surprising, and sometimes even amazing with what they can do. And so I jumped into this show with hope and faith that we would come out with a decent end product. And these amazing and surprising kids met this challenge head on. Yes, my kids sing in Latin, sometimes in three and four part harmony. Yes, they understand how important their roles are, how every member of the cast is contributing to letting the audience think and feel and connect to a story. Yes, they get this show; rehearsals have sparked interesting and meaningful dialogues about some of the deeper themes in the show, and how as old as the story of the hunchback is, some of the social issues addressed are still so relevant today.
I went into this process wishing I had someone to tell me I was not crazy for picking this huge, dramatic piece and that these kids would be able to step up and really do this show justice. So I was so happy that someone reached out for encouragement at the beginning of his process, because it felt like it came around full circle. Because I got to tell him that yes, a hundred times yes, I was so glad that I chose this show. I could not be prouder of the work that these kids have done, and the story that they have told. It has been an honor, and I am constantly humbled by the talent, work and energy that these kids brought to this production. I am so proud of their work, and I hope that you enjoy all that they have accomplished with this show.
Thank you so much,
Meg Baber
A show this size is a collaboration of many people’s talents and time and energy, and the cast and crew would like to thank everyone who volunteered to help with this show.
*This show would never have gotten off the ground without the hard work and dedication of Alexandra Singer and Phil Kipperman. Thank you for all the late nights, Saturday rehearsals, and countless hours of work throughout this process.
*Jan Flatley, who has come in and lent her artistic talent to our show; we are so grateful and awed by all the work you have done to fill our cathedral with saints of stone and song.
*Wendy Mueller, for sharing her artistry with our beautiful set design, and our rose window.
*Lori Taylor, our accompanist extraordinaire, you are a true angel of music.
*For our builders and painters; Eric Ansah, Juliana Amspaugh, Eric Ansah, Pamela Fox, Bobby Han, Callindra Harris, John Jones, Shelley & Stephen Kalinsky, Michelle Kladakis, Brad Kuebler, Jerry Marenburg, Helen Miller, Cristina Mullins, Sheila Rieling, Anne Roberts, Chris Spiller, Stacy Tippens, Vincent Wang, & Deb Worden – thank you for raising our bell tower and choir stalls and all your time to make our sets so beautiful.
*Deb Worden, thank you for all your help with costumes from Frollo robes to gargoyle wings, you are amazing!
*Blake Tippens, thank you for our beautiful headshots and show pictures.
*For all our chaperones, ticket sellers, concession buyers, strike help, and all the other places where people jumped in to help out – thank you for everything!
*To all our parents, for the late rehearsal pickups and juggling to make schedules work and all the extra time it takes to support these kids commitment to the show – thank you.
*Thank you to our principals, custodians, support staff and teachers for your support and understanding of this huge undertaking.
