The Hunchback of Notre Dame and a Misdummer Night's Dream Launch Great Lakes Theater's 2017-18 Season

CLEVELAND, OH (August 7, 2017) - Great Lakes Theater (GLT) will commence its 2017-18 season at the Hanna Theatre, Playhouse Square with a Fall Repertory that features the soaring musical epic in its Midwest premiere, The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Shakespeare’s magical comic masterpiece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The productions will be performed in rotating repertory September 29 – November 5, 2017. Victoria Bussert will direct The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Joseph Hanreddy will direct A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Music by Alan Menken / Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz / Book by Peter Parnell. Based on the Victor Hugo novel and songs from the Disney film) is presented through special arrangement with MUSIC THEATRE INTERNATIONAL (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI, www.MTIShows.com.

Generous support for The Hunchback of Notre Dame was provided by the Kulas Foundation. The production is part of the Kulas Musical Theater Series at Great Lakes Theater. Media Sponsorship support for the production is provided by R43. GLT’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is presented with generous support from The Great Lakes Theater Business Alliance. Great Lakes Theater is supported in part by the residents of Cuyahoga County through a public grant from Cuyahoga Arts & Culture. Additionally, the Great Lakes Theater 2017-18 Season is made possible in part by state tax dollars allocated by the Ohio Legislature to the Ohio Arts Council (OAC). The OAC is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally, and economically. Media sponsors for GLT’s 56th season are FORM Group and Ideastream (WCLV 104.9 FM, WCPN 90.3 FM & WVIZ)

The Fall Repertory begins with the soaring musical epic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As the bells of Notre Dame’s cathedral sound in fifteenth-century Paris, Quasimodo - a deformed, captive bell-ringer - observes the city’s Feast of Fools from afar. Escaping his captor Frollo to join the festivities, Quasimodo is rejected by every reveler except the beautiful Gypsy, Esmeralda – with whom he is immediately smitten. However, a handsome Captain and Frollo are equally enthralled by her. As they vie for her attention, Frollo embarks on a malevolent mission to destroy the Gypsies and steal her love. It’s up to an unlikely hero to ring true and save the day in this transformative musical celebration of love and acceptance.

Shakespeare’s magical comic masterpiece, A Midsummer Night’s Dream completes GLT’s Fall Repertory pairing. An exhilarating tale of midsummer madness, this memorable comedy brims with mistaken identity, mismatched lovers and mischief-making fairies. Shakespeare's charming comedy ensnares myriad lovers and a rustic troupe of would-be actors in a joyful celebration of love lost, transformed and restored – casting a powerfully pleasing spell on audiences of all ages.

Great Lakes Theater’s award-winning home at the Hanna Theatre features a visionary “Great Room” inspired design that integrates the artist and audience experience into a single unified environment. Hanna patrons select from a variety of seating opportunities including traditional theater seats, club chairs, lounge/bar seats, banquette couches and private box seating. Arranged in an intimate 550-seat thrust configuration where the audience surrounds the stage, no seat is further than 12 rows from the performance.

Great Lakes Theater offers patrons a robust series of Experience Enhancement Programming that is organized by day of week. The series highlights the Hanna’s unique amenities and affords access to artists.

• Salon Thursdays feature an engaging pre-show discussion/presentation beginning one hour before curtain with a Great Lakes Theater artist. (Offered: Oct. 12, 19, 26 & Nov. 2)

• Happy Hour Fridays afford audience members the opportunity to gather, socialize and enjoy appetizers or beverages for sale in the Hanna’s bar and lounge beginning ninety minutes before the performance. (Offered: Sep. 29 & Oct. 6, 13, 20, 27 & Nov. 3)

• Nightcap Night Saturdays are designed to encourage audience members to stay after the evening performance and mingle with the GLT artistic company in the Hanna’s lounge. The Hanna’s bar is open ninety minutes after Nightcap Night Saturday performances.”(Offered: Oct. 14, 21, 28 & Nov. 4)

• Ice Cream Social Sundays offer patrons the opportunity to enjoy a London theatre tradition brought state-side. Audience members are invited to purchase a cool, personal ice cream treat before the show or at intermission. Ice cream will be offered at every performance in GLT’s Fall Repertory, but on Ice Cream Social Sundays, the treat is half price. (Offered: Oct. 8, 15, 22, 29, & Nov. 5)

• Director’s Nights offer audiences the opportunity to take part in a lively pre-show discussion with GLT’s Producing Artistic Director, Charles Fee, and the director of each production before Friday preview performances. (Offered: Sept. 29 & Oct. 6)

• Playnotes Pre-Show Discussions inform patrons with illuminating introductions to the content and history of each play in GLT’s season presented by a guest scholar before Saturday matinee performances. (Offered: Oct. 14, 21, 28 & Nov. 4)

Great Lakes Theater will continue to afford patrons extraordinary access to its artists and production process at every Hanna Theatre performance this fall. The Hanna always opens its doors ninety minutes before each performance allowing patrons to observe the complete pre-show preparation process of GLT’s actors and technical staff. Elements traditionally hidden from audiences such as stage combat rehearsals, dance calls, prop/scenic pre-sets, technical cue rehearsals and actor warm-ups will be conducted in full view of patrons, offering GLT audiences an unprecedented glimpse into the theatrical process.

Great Lakes Theater will also renew its New Deal pricing initiative this fall - designed to increase accessibility for audiences. As part of the program, adulttickets begin at $15 and student tickets for any seat at any performance are $13 - making GLT one of the most affordable entertainment options in the region.

Opening Night (also Press Night) performances of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (September 30) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (October 7) have been scheduled for Saturday evenings with preview performances of both productions scheduled for the preceding Friday nights. Curtain times for all evening performances will remain at 7:30 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. curtain time for Saturday matinees and a 3:00 p.m. curtain time for Sunday matinees. All GLT productions will continue to offer sign-interpreted and audio-described performances.

Single performance tickets range in price from $15-$80 (Student tickets are $13) and are available by calling (216) 241-6000, by ordering online or by visiting the Playhouse Square Ticket Office. Groups of ten or more save up to 25% by calling (216) 241-5490 x322. Great Lakes Theater, the first resident company of Playhouse Square, has brought the pleasure, power and relevance of classic theater to the widest possible audience since 1962. GLT programming positively impacts 100,000 adults and students annually.

Posted on: August 10, 2017

Category: Press Releases