KAUKAUNA — A classic novel adapted as a musical with a sweeping score by the Academy Award winning musical team of Alan Menkin and Steven Schwartz is this summer’s offering by Kaukauna Community Players.
“The Hunchback of Notre Dame” opens Thursday, June 26, 2025 at Kaukauna High School in the Bernie Hupperts Center for the Performing Arts and is the 43rd summer show put on by Kaukauna Community Players. The center is named for KCP founding member and longtime former high school English teacher and director, Bernie Hupperts.
When: There are four opportunities to see the show. June 26, 27, and 28 at 7:00 pm and a matinee performance on June 28 at 1 pm.
Where: Bernie Hupperts Center for the Performing Arts, Kaukauna High School, 1701 County CE, Kaukauna.
Admission: $18 for adults and $7 for children 12 and under at cur8.com/16502/project/132326, or at the door one hour before each performance.
Note: The show is rated PG due to mature themes and may not be suitable for a younger audience.
About the show, from Music Theatre International:
Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney animated feature, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” showcases the film’s Academy Award-nominated score, as well as new songs by Menken and Schwartz. Peter Parnell’s new book embraces story theatre and features verbatim passages from Hugo’s gothic novel.
The musical begins as the bells of Notre Dame sound through the famed cathedral in fifteenth-century Paris. Quasimodo, the deformed bell-ringer who longs to be “Out There,” observes all of Paris reveling in the Feast of Fools. Held captive by his devious caretaker, the archdeacon Dom Claude Frollo, he escapes for the day and joins the boisterous crowd, only to be treated cruelly by all but the beautiful Romani woman, Esmeralda. Quasimodo isn’t the only one captivated by her free spirit, though – the handsome Captain Phoebus and Frollo are equally enthralled. As the three vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a mission to destroy the Roma – and it’s up to Quasimodo to save them all.
A sweeping score and powerful story make The Hunchback of Notre Dame an instant classic. Audiences will be swept away by the magic of this truly unforgettable musical.
THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME CAST
Quasimodo: TJ McDonough
Dom Claude: Frollo Bret Lewis
Esmeralda: Hayley Eastman
Captain Phoebus: DeMartin Blake Larson
Clopin Trouillefou: Tito Soul
Jehan Frollo: William Quick
Saint Aphrodisius: Matthew Mielke
Florika: Brianna Dyble
Father Dupin/King Louis XI: Justin Groth
Lieutenant Frederic Charlus: William Quick
Tribunal/Official: Natalie Freimuth
Madam: Evin Duranceau
Ensemble (Featured Dancers/Gypsies)
Anna Benz, Dashaya Cain, Darrith DeChaney, Emma Doran, Evin Duranceau, Brianna Dyble, Sara Eastman, Brandie Hietpas, Brianna Shorr, Amani Theunis
Gargoyles/Statues
Dashaya Cain, Darrith DeChaney, Sara Eastman, Natalie Freimuth, Jack Lewis, Matthew Mielke, Tara Nerison, Lark Porter, Lindsey Schroth, Brianna Skorr
Soldiers
Natalie Freimuth, Justin Groth, Jackson Mau, Matthew Mielke, Jack Miron, William Quick, Shayne Uitenbroek
Townspeople
Julia Camarillo, Justin Groth, Tenley LaMaide, Kendall Marshall, Jackson Mau, Jack Miron, Cynthia Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Rebecca Nelson, Tara Nerison, Joshua Perovich, Greta Pynenberg, Joanna Schmidt, Lindsey Schroth, Lauren Stoeger
Ensemble Children’s Choir
Tenley LaMaide, Jack Lewis, Kendall Marshall, Cynthia (Tia) Nelson, Jacob Nelson, Joshua Perovich, Greta Pynenberg
Adult Ensemble
Anna Benz, Dashaya Cain, Julia Camarillo, Darrith Dechaney, Sara Eastman, Jackson Mau, Jack Miron, Rebecca Nelson, Tara Nerison, Lark Porter, Joanna Schmidt, Lindsey Schroth, Brianna Skorr, Lauren Stoeger, Amani Theunis, Shayne Uitenbroek
Crew
Director Claire Ina Sawall
Vocal Director Dr. Julie Ann Gensburg-Sawall
Choreographer Claire Ina Sawall
Set Design/Builder Scott Felten
Lighting James Roarty
Sound Erin Marx
Costumes Dr. Julie Ann Gensburg-Sawall
Stage Manager Alaina DeGroot
ORCHESTRA
Pit Conductor – Dave Sawall
Violin – Chloe Sawall
Cello- Charlie Deck
Reed 1 – Nick Waroff
Reed 2- Sam Stranz
Trumpet – Jamie Waroff
French Horn- Keith Powell
Keyboard 1 – Kathy Orth
Keyboard 2 – Julie Ann Sawall
Percussion – Bryan Butelefski
