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Hunchback of Notre Dame performances to begin Thursday

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(From left) Quasimodo, portrayed by Justin Gray, recites biblical stories with his master, Claude Frollo, played by Philip Himebaugh. The duo can be seen on stage during the STAGE-M performances of "Hunchback of Notre Dame." (Pioneer photos/Meghan Gunther-Haas)
(From left) Quasimodo, portrayed by Justin Gray, recites biblical stories with his master, Claude Frollo, played by Philip Himebaugh. The duo can be seen on stage during the STAGE-M performances of "Hunchback of Notre Dame." (Pioneer photos/Meghan Gunther-Haas)

BIG RAPIDS — Families can visit 1480s Paris with the upcoming STAGE-M performance of the "Hunchback of Notre Dame."

Cast members, ranging in age from teenagers to octogenarians, will bring the story of Quasimodo to life in this musical, which will begin at 7:30 p.m. from Thursday, July 26, to Saturday, July 28, and again at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 29. Each showing will be onstage of the Big Rapids High School Auditorium, 21175 15 Mile Road, Big Rapids.

"The play basically flows from start to finish with very little pausing," said Laura Taylor, one of the directors. "It's very fluid and engaging. The music is very difficult, but gorgeous."

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Taylor and fellow co-director Aaron Wilkinson said STAGE-M regulars and new members to the theater group have been working for approximately the past 10 weeks in preparation of the show, which focuses on Quasimodo, the bell ringer of the Notre Dame cathedral. Quasimodo spends his days in the bell tower, speaking with the gargoyles and learning about biblical stories from his master, Claude Frollo. During a festival outside the cathedral, Quasimodo leaves his bell tower against his master's wishes and meets a gypsy, Esmeralda.

Taylor and Wilkinson note this performance is PG-13.

Some cast members in the musical double as walls, doors and more, Wilkinson said.

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"In addition to the staging, the cast becomes the set. This aids in the fluidity," he said.

As well as going from member of the congregation to parts of the cathedral, another interesting facet of the performance is cast members in the choir remain on stage throughout the musical, Taylor said.

"It's something new. They are participating musically and never leaving the set," she said. "The play is so engaging. It grabs you from the first five seconds."

Tickets for the show can be purchased by calling (231) 592-TIXX, stopping in at Patterson's Flowers or the Old Pioneer Store and Emporium or visiting the theater group's new website, stage-m.org.

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