In a groundbreaking move in 2000, the King’s Academy Theatre Company collaborated with Disney Executive Studios to produce Beauty and the Beast for the amateur stage. Beauty and the Beast has now been produced on hundreds of school and amateur stages across the country since that first collaboration and production on the King’s Academy stage. The King’s Academy Theatre Company is collaborating once again with Disney Executive Studios to produce and premiere the stage adaptation of its well-known animated film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which debuted in theaters in 1996.
The film is based on Victor Hugo’s novel, with musical score written by renowned lyricists and composers Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, famous for the musicals Beauty and the Beast and Wicked. Disney Productions has been discussing the setting of this film classic for the stage for quite some time. Menken and Schwartz have composed 11 new songs for the show, and the film script has been adapted for stage by TKA performing arts faculty and staff.
Auditions for this production were held Saturday, Oct. 6, with more than 180 students in attendance. Rehearsals for this spring production began in November. There is much excitement and energy surrounding this project, with everyone thrilled to be part of this special TKA event. The show will open April 18 and run through April 27.
Disney Productions will work alongside cast and crew throughout rehearsals and performances. The production team will come to West Palm Beach to view a series of rehearsals in February as well as come back for opening weekend.
