Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (believe it or not, for once the German show title is shorter: Glöckner) and the city of Berlin share a long love story, as the first production of this musical based on Victor Hugo's famous novel had its world premiere here at the Theater am Potsdamer Platz in 1999.

On 9 April 2017 we will celebrate the European premiere of a brand new production of this musical at Stage Theater des Westens. Composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz have added several new songs to the beautiful score. We plan to present these two outstanding artists to the press, partners and influencers during a special event a week before our opening. 

Another USP of the show is the inclusion of a large choir. This is not part of the regular ensemble; it was cast in a competition amongst Berlin choirs. They will enhance some scenes inside the Notre Dame Cathedral by adding acoustic volume—and goosebumps! Thus, stunningly beautiful songs tell this world-famous story of the hunchbacked outlaw Quasimodo who lives in a bell tower at Notre Dame, openly defended against the cruel townsfolk’s prejudice and hatred by young and beautiful Esmeralda who, as a gipsy woman, is an outsider herself and threatened to be burnt by the Paris mob. 

Astonishingly and sadly, while still remaining a beautiful fairy tale, this nearly 200-year-old story has political parallels and relevance today involving nationalistic intolerance and hatred. This makes it a perfect asset to our portfolio, also for potential runs in other Stage Entertainment theaters. The preview we offered to our German colleagues is practically full—fingers crossed that this is just as good of a sales omen as our very promising market research results of the title was. We now start rehearsals and ringing the bell, symbolically represented by a big model bell we had built to use for promotional purposes.