Light Opera of New Jersey presents the final production of its 23rd Season: The Hunchback of Notre Dame! Remaining shows include July 20 and 21 at 8 p.m. and July 22 at 2 p.m. at South Orange Performing Arts Center, South Orange. Tickets are available at www.sopacnow.org or by calling (973) 313-2787.
To close the season in the summer, LONJ presents Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s soaring masterpiece, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, directed by Jeffrey Fiorello with musical direction by Stephen Fox and choreography by Michael Scannelli. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo and songs from the Disney film, Hunchback showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score as well as new songs
by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell’s new book blends the adapted story from the film with more sections of Hugo’s gothic novel to tell the gripping tale of Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer of Notre Dame, and his dreams for love and freedom. Kept locked away from society by the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, Quasimodo plans to escape for the annual Feast of Fools festival. When he is discovered
in the streets, Quasimodo is humiliated in the town square and saved by the brave gypsy Esmeralda.
Frollo is taken by her beauty, but when Esmeralda rejects his advances, Frollo becomes determined to destroy the gypsies living in Paris. Quasimodo must choose between the safety of his bell tower and saving Esmeralda and her people.
Bring friends to be inspired by this classic story of love, hope, and redemption. LONJ is a premier operetta, opera, and musical theater company founded in 1995 by William Corson, executive director, and Lauran Corson, artistic director. To learn more about upcoming productions, visit
www.lonj.org.