The Hunchback of Notre Dame

I recently saw The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Aurora Theatre, one of my favorites. Everything I've seen at Aurora has been fantastic, but this show is beyond spectacular! With a star-studded cast, beautiful music, and an indelible set, this show is poised for fanfare of the sort that lasts for decades!

The Hunchback of Notre Dame is a co-production with Theatrical Outfit—the first show in its 2017-2018 season—where it is now running through Sunday, September 17.

Haden Rider and the cast of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME | Photo by Daniel Parvis

I'd never seen The Hunchback of Notre Dame, so I didn't know the story or what to expect, beyond knowing it would be an amazing performance because it was at Aurora. 

Between seeing The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Aurora Theatre and Theatrical Outfit, I've watched the 1996 Disney animated version and the 1939 black and white Hollywood movie starring a young, new actress Maureen O'Hara. There's also a 1923 film version that I did not see. All are based on the novel written by Victor Hugo, but none exactingly follow the book.

The Aurora Theatre/Theatrical Outfit co-production is an amalgamation of the various previously performed renditions. It doesn't have the happy ending that Disney gave it, but you won't be sorry you saw this perfectly performed work of art!

Haden Rider (Quasimodo) is phenomenal! A young, humble actor, his talent is eons beyond his years. As Quasimodo, he is wholly convincing as an innocent, "different" (caged hunchback), and compassionate human being.

Haden Rider and Julissa Sabino in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME | Photo by Daniel Parvis

Theatre in Atlanta is the best it has ever been, in my humble opinion. I've seen amazing theatre throughout the years in Atlanta, as far back as 1987. We had great talent then, but now we have so much more!

If there were a First Lady of Atlanta theatre, Julissa Sabino (Esmeralda) would be a strong contender. She's beyond amazing and is so incredibly talented. I've had the great pleasure of seeing her in a number of plays in recent years (The Toxic Avenger, Grease) and have had the awesome pleasure of meeting her. Charming, poised, grateful...she possesses all the best qualities one would hope a celebrity would have.

From being a champion for her people's human rights, the Gypsies, to demonstrating genuine compassion, for Quasimodo, Julissa's performance shines brightly in this tale peppered with darkness. Julissa is also the Dance Captain for this production, which she totally rocks!

David de Vries and Julissa Sabino in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME | Photo by Daniel Parvis

The multi-talented David de Vries, who has performed in top grossing stage, television and movie projects, plays Dom Claude Frollo, a character I detested from the very first promotional images I saw. The character is creepy! 

That's also to say that David's performance is brilliant. He brings to the stage one of those characters that you love to hate. A character that stirs uneasiness deep down in your soul.

I was so conflicted wanting to see Frollo crushed and totally wanting to meet de Vries! 

This show has a powerful cast, including Kevin Harry and Lowrey Brown, as well as a phenomenal ensemble. And the puppeteers are magical! They bring the gargoyles to life and lighten the dialogue—conversations with Quasimodo—with some wonderful humor.

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France | Photo: Barry Holland

I went to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Aurora Theatre with my friend Barry, and we already have tickets to see it again at Theatrical Outfit! Barry visited Paris a few years back and made some stunning photos of the Notre Dame Cathedral, this one of the bell tower side we see in the show. He thoroughly enjoyed the musical and I'm sure the spectacular sets whisked him right back to Paris.

Go see The Hunchback of Notre Dame and be whisked away to Paris yourself! 15th Century Paris, that is. And be prepared for one of the most incredibly heart-wrenching, heart-touching stories you've ever seen.

Enjoy a brief look at some of the magnificence you'll enjoy when you go see this show...

Grease is the Word!

When was the last time you went to the drive-in? NOW is the time to resurrect that long-lost tradition or treat yourself to it for the first time. Grease, now playing at Serenbe Playhouse, is a most magnificent rendition of the beloved musical and movie by the same title...it's the one that you want!

Grease | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

I'd never seen the musical on stage, but I love the movie. In talking with friends who have seen both, this production, as I understand it, follows the movie more closely...thus the magnificent drive-in set design. 

Upon arrival—when parking your car—you're enthusiastically welcomed to the first day of school at "Rydell High". 

One of the things that I love about Serenbe Playhouse is that the "support" staff you meet before the show and during intermission are the actors you'll see onstage. If it's your first time to a Serenbe Playhouse performance you might not get that—I didn't—but the giveaway is that they're in costume and in character. Such great fun!

This show felt like a family reunion! So many of the cast I've met and seen perform at Serenbe Playhouse and other Atlanta theatres. The show has a huge cast, and is a colossal collection of talent! 

Opening the show is a personal favorite, Julissa Sabino (Rizzo), who gives a rhapsodic performance of "Grease is the Word". Rizzo is my favorite character in the movie, so it was super exciting to see Julissa in that role! 

"Oh, double doo-doo! One of my diamonds just fell in the macaroni." - Marty

Grease | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

Hands down, the best numbers in the show were the group numbers. This cast performs like greased lightning! The show is fast and their energy high...pay attention or you might miss an important line, or worse, you might miss a punch line! 

Also, they're family...theatre family, which is a bond unlike any other that I've ever seen. The whole of the Atlanta theatre family is close.

"Men are rats, listen to me, they're fleas on rats, worse than that, they're amoebas on fleas on rats." - Frenchy

Grease | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

If you've not been to a Serenbe Playhouse performance before, know that it's an outdoor theatre, and each new play is in a different location. Grease is set in a "drive-in", the front row being classic convertibles and a truck! Those VIP "seats" get car-side service, too! 

The GIANT movie screen was part of the performance. In many scenes there were graphics, classic drive-in animation, or pre-recorded scenes that nestled perfectly into scenes playing out on stage. The choreography and editing between live actors and on-screen performance is truly brilliant.

Oh, and there will be a full "moon", or two, every performance.

"My 25-cent insurance policy." - Kenickie

Grease | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

Michael Stiggers (Danny Zuko) is brilliant! He's not only a wonderful actor, his voice became exponentially impressive and wholly magnificent throughout the performance. I met him at an industry event earlier this week...what a delightful human being!

Randi Garza (Sandy Dumbrowski) sings as beautifully as she is gorgeous. Of the solo performances, Randi's mesmerizes the audience...she's spellbinding. I also had the pleasure of meeting her and she too is delightful.

"You’ll find it hard to resist breaking the rules with Rydell High’s spirited class of gum-chewing, hub-cap- stealing, hot-rod- loving boys in leather jackets and their wise-cracking girls in poodle skirts. Step back in time in a unique setting that will evoke memories of a drive-in movie..."

"Why, this car is Auto-matic. It's System-matic. It's Hyyyyydro-matic. Why, it's Greased Lightning!" - Danny

Grease | Serenbe Playhouse | Photo: BreeAnne Clowdus

I've had the great pleasure of seeing more than half the cast perform in other shows, many of them award-winning! I've also met quite a few of them—at opening night receptions, industry events and at the theatre seeing each other's shows—and every single one of them is personable, friendly, appreciative...wonderful people! 

Grease will be playing at Serenbe Playhouse through Sunday, April 16, and there's an American Sign Language interpreted show on Friday, April 14. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday at 8:00 p.m.

"Tell me about it, stud." - Sandy

Superhero + Badass + Lover = The Toxic Avenger

I've seen The Toxic Avenger at Horizon Theatre THREE TIMES already! And will very likely go see it again.

I'd seen all five of the stars in other performances last year, so I knew it was going to be phenomenal. This quintet masters more than 30 costume changes during the show, performing more characters than I could count. It's a fast-paced, raucous musical comedy that anyone with a sense of humor will absolutely love.

Julissa Sabino and Nick Arapoglou, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

The Toxic Avenger is based on the 1984 cult classic movie of the same name. The film was wholly ignored by the Academy, however the stage version won an Outer Critics Circle Award for "Best Off-Broadway Musical"! 

The show is about a nerdy-geek (I can relate) who is in love with a beautiful blind librarian. When he announces that he will save the city from a growing toxic waste problem, she totally falls for him. Later, the song "Thank God She's Blind"...well, just look at what happened to him when a government official's nincompoop puppets drop the ball...rather, drop him into a vat of toxic waste! He's not entirely disappointed with the results.

Nick Arapoglou and Julissa Sabino, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

The song list alone speaks to the fun that is this show. Songs like "Kick Your Ass", "My Big French Boyfriend", and "All Men Are Freaks" are hilarious and fantastic, but nothing compares to "Bitch/Slut/Liar/Whore", a rapid-fire lyrical battle between Melvin's mother AND the Mayor of Tromaville—who are BOTH performed by the amazing Leslie Bellair. This is perhaps my favorite scene of the show! 

How can two characters performed by one actress be on stage at the same time, you ask? Brilliantly! That's how. This you must see live and in persons!

Austin Tijerina, Julissa Sabino, Michael Stiggers, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

I attended the pre-opening Sneak Peek at which we got to meet the cast, the crew and all of the theatre staff...what a magnificent, insightful treat that was! 

I'd seen Nick Arapoglou (Melvin/Toxie) and Leslie Bellair (Mayor/Ma/Nun) last year in Avenue Q, the first time I'd ever seen that show...they were fantastic and both won Suzi Bass Awards for their respective roles in that show! 

I saw Julissa Sabino (Sarah), Michael Stiggers (Black Dude) and Austin Tijerina (White Dude, and holder of at least two Suzi Bass Awards) all three in Rent last year at Actor's Express. I'd seen the movie a number of times, but that was the first time I'd seen a stage performance of Rent...it too was amazing!

I was super excited to learn that The Toxic Avenger was by Joe DiPietro (book and lyrics) and David Bryan (music and lyrics), the same guys who brought us Memphis, which I saw at Aurora Theatre last year. The two shows are not even distant cousins, but I love each for what they are and the theatrical mastery they bring to the stage.

The third time I saw The Toxic Avenger, Julissa (Sarah) had taken ill, so her understudy was standing in. Actress Rose Alexander was brilliant! That was the first time I'd seen her perform, but I hope not the last. 

Nick Arapoglou, Leslie Bellair, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

I'm totally a huge fan of Nick Arapoglou and Leslie Bellair. Having seen them perform together in Avenue Q was awesome enough, but in The Toxic Avenger, they went to a whole other dimension...fun, vengeful and lovable. 

Leslie said, quite modestly, during the Sneak Peek event that this was the first role where she was tasked with playing "sexy". As Melvin's mother, if the Golden Girls is what gets your motor running, she nailed it. And as the Mayor of Tromaville, she's totally smokin' hot! I mean that respectfully, Leslie. In fact, I would venture to say that there's not a role you couldn't perform brilliantly!

Michael Stiggers, Nick Arapoglou, Austin Tijerina
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

Nick's transformation from Melvin to Toxie is lightening-fast! The costume designers, Isabel Curley-Clay and Moriah Curley-Clay, who are also scenic designers, we got to meet during the Sneak Peek event. You figure out pretty quickly why they've received four Suzi Bass Awards!

Nick Arapoglou and Julissa Sabino, Photo by Amanda Cantrell
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

Surprisingly, many aspects of this ooey, gooey, eyeball-won't-stay-in-its-socket superhero story are true to life...people who care about the environment, corrupt government, egotistical criminals, a disappointed parent, a sex-crazed doctor and a published author wannabe included! Most of all, it's totally a love story! I think you're going to fall in love with this show and many of its characters.

Sluggo (Micheal Stiggers) and Bozo (Austin Tijerina), by Greg Mooney with Daryl Fazio
The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre

Michael Stiggers, "Black Dude", and Austin Tijerina, "White Dude"—seriously, those are their character's names in the program—are constantly in and out of costume, all over the set and a different character seemingly every other minute. To name a few, these two alone portray thugs, a folk singer, a doctor, illiterates, and salon technicians. They're awesome!

Jaquetta, Toxie, Nikki | The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre | Photo by: Travis S. Taylor

I love getting to meet the actors as much as I love seeing them perform. Following the show, theatre-goers are invited to stick around to meet the cast and make photos with them! When was the last time you had your photo made with a superhero? 

One of the times I saw the show, four friends joined me...it was a laugh-fest! Jaquetta (above left) and Nikki (above right) posed with Toxie, and friends Cameron and James were along, too. Yes, that's a Doctor Who phone case in Nikki's hand...she's a fellow sci-fi enthusiast!

The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre | Photo by: Travis S. Taylor

On another visit, my best friend Barry came along. We've seen a lot of shows together at Horizon Theatre and we love this one, too! Pictured with Barry is 'Ma', Melvin's mother (above left, performed by Leslie Bellair) and 'the cop' (above right, performed by Austin Tijerina).

The Toxic Avenger | Horizon Theatre | Photo by: Travis S. Taylor

I am so beyond impressed with this production...the actors, the set design, lighting, choreography...everything about it makes for a super fun evening out. I highly, highly recommend this show! The run wraps up on Sunday, March 13, so don't waste time...get your tickets here and go see how to save a city and fall in love at the same time!

A pre-show dinner recommendation: Each time I've been to see The Toxic Avenger, I and friends have dined at the recently opened El Bandido Mex Mex Grill...I personally have been SIX times already! It's that amazing and it's very close to the theatre. Their calamari is some of the best I've ever had!

Up next at Horizon Theatre: Sex With Strangers! No, no, it's (probably) not what you're thinking, but it is provocative! Check it out at Horizon starting April 1...no joke!