Hunchback
Characters
The Hunchback of Notre Dame requires a cast of actors who are comfortable creating characters through movement and story theater narration. Most importantly, strong singers are needed to deliver Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s iconic score. Below is a description of each character along with recommended audition material and vocal ranges.
* note from director: The main characters engage in various forms of stage combat. We'll have a trained fight choreographer who will stage these scenes so that everyone stays safe.
Quasimodo
Gender: Male
Vocal Range: Tenor (B Flat 4 - B flat 2)
Age of Character: 20-30
QUASIMODO, the bell-ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, has a curved spine which affects his posture and gait. A life ringing the enormous bells has given him great physical strength but has also caused a partial deafness. Quasimodo’s non-normative face frightens people. Curious and intelligent, Quasimodo speaks freely and confidently with his gargoyle and statue “friends” in the bell tower, but he becomes unsure and withdrawn in the presence of his master and uncle, Frollo. A lack of social interaction due
to his lifelong seclusion in the bell tower can cause nervousness and shyness around other humans – including Esmeralda, who captivates him. Quasimodo’s uneasiness around his uncle can manifest, at times, in a halting speech pattern; this should not be seen as a sign of a lack of intelligence, but merely a result of his severe isolation.
Audition
Sides
Esmeralda
Gender: Female
Vocal Range: Alto (D Flat 5 - F3)
Age of Character: 20-30
ESMERALDA, a free-spirited shey (a young, unmarried Romani woman), uses her talent as
a dancer to support herself. Independent and strong-willed, she speaks her mind and stands up for what she believes in, including fair treatment of Roma and the sequestered Quasimodo. Esmeralda falls for the charming Phoebus despite her better judgment and staunchly refuses to give herself up to Frollo though doing so would save her life.
* note from director: The actor playing Esmerelda MUST be comfortable dancing in a way that could be construed as "seductive".
The actors playing Esmerelda and Phoebus will kiss on stage.
Audition
Sides
Claude Frollo
Gender: Male
Vocal Range: Baritone (D4 - E2)
Age of Character: 40-50
CLAUDE FROLLO, archdeacon of Notre Dame, is a righteous man with a strong sense
of obligation to his brother Jehan and nephew Quasimodo – but his strict devotion to the Church supersedes all. Frollo possesses a strong, imposing presence and commands attention and obedience whenever he is present. Deeply ashamed of
his intense physical attraction to Esmeralda, he attempts to control his desire by persecuting her and the Romani people (“Gypsies”), whom he deems thieving, unclean, and unworthy of the Church’s protection.
Audition
Sides
Phoebus
Gender: Male
Vocal Range: Tenor (A flat 4 - A flat 2)
Age of Character: 25-40
PHOEBUS DE MARTIN is the dashing new captain of the Cathedral Guard. Conflicted between following his duty – including Frollo’s prejudiced instructions – and doing what’s right, he struggles with the trauma he experienced in four years of intense battle on the war front. Charming and arrogant, Phoebus focuses on enjoying life’s pleasures before quickly falling for Esmeralda and ultimately defying Frollo.
* note from director: The actors playing Esmerelda and Phoebus will kiss on stage.
Audition
Sides
Clopin
Gender: Male or Female
Vocal Range: Baritone / Mezzo (G4 - C3)
Age of Character: 30 -40
CLOPIN TROUILLEFOU, King / Queen of the Gypsies, is a clever and agile entertainer and sherutno (Romani leader) who knows how to work the crowd on “Topsy Turvy” day. Acutely aware of the prejudice against Roma and their resulting precarious position in Paris, Clopin is fiercely protective of Esmeralda and the other Roma, and so shrewdly runs the Court of Miracles as a tight ship
Audition
Sides
Jehan Frollo
Gender: Male
Vocal Range: Baritone (E flat 4 - G flat 2)
Age of Character: 20-30
JEHAN FROLLO is Claude Frollo’s wild
and charming younger brother and the father of Quasimodo. Though he is much less faithful to the Church than Claude, the brothers are devoted to each other until Jehan’s rebellious streak finally causes a fatal rift in their relationship.
Audition
Sides
Florika
Gender: Female
Vocal Range: Mezzo-Soprano (C#4 - F5)
Age of Character: 20-30
FLORIKA, Jehan’s Romani girlfriend and Quasimodo's mother
Audition
Sides
Father Dupin
Gender: Male
Vocal Range: Baritone (C4 - A4)
Age of Character: 40-60
FATHER DUPIN, A devout priest of Notre Dame and Claude and Jehan’s stern guardian
Audition
Sides
St. Aphrodisius
Gender: Male
Vocal Range: Baritone (E4 - B2)
Age of Character: 30-50
St. Aphrodisius, a statue that comes to life, encourages Quasimodo to take action to help Esmeralda.
CHORUS
Gender: All
Vocal Range: Bass, Tenor, Alto, Soprano
Age of Character: All
In story theater style, each performer in the
show begins as a Congregant before taking on
the characteristics of their assigned character(s), which can include principal characters, Gargoyles, Statues, Revelers, Soldiers, Gypsies (Roma), etc.
