Theater Review: Regional debut of 'Hunchback' rings triumphant

Pat Walsh as Quasimodo in Upper Darby Performing Arts Center's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" Rachel Lombardo

The Upper Darby Performing Arts Center production of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" this weekend has prompted a couple of firsts: one, it was the first performance I've ever seen at the PAC, and second, this was the first regional production of the stage version off-shoot of the 1996 Disney animated musical. After the first "Hunchback" performance on July 28, I asked myself in amazement why I hadn't been to shows at the PAC before, then I wondered why more theaters weren't putting on this gorgeous, grandiose show. I couldn't answer the former, but the enormity of the production answers the latter.

"Hunchback" is an elaborate and big musical based on the Victor Hugo novel about the grotesque Quasimodo that takes place on a single 30-foot tall cathedral set that houses a 30-member chorus, features a stain glass impression and is decorated with large bells, kind of like the real Notre Dame in Paris.  At the helm for the Philadelphia-area premiere is the PAC's own Jeff Dietzler who is graced with having such a large venue to host the massive production and having all of the talent needed on- and off-stage to tackle the epic production.

Inside Out ready to come to Upper Darby

William Trost Richards' "Newport Coast" is one of 10 replicas from the Philadelphia Museum of Art on display during the Inside Out exhibition in Upper Darby starting next month.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has announced what pieces of art will be displayed throughout Upper Darby as part of its outdoor art gallery exhibit program called Inside Out.

Replicas of ten pieces from the museum’s collection will be on display from August to November in areas including the 69th Street shopping corridor to the communities of Drexel Hill and Westbrook Park.

These are the pieces and locations selected for the latest cycle of Inside Out:
69th Street Transportation Center- “Estate” (Robert Raushcenberg); Beverly Hills Middle School- “The Disks of Newtown” (Frantizek Kupka); Dermond Circle, “The Bucintoro at the Molo on Ascension Day” (Canaletto);

Garrettford Elementary School- “Dog Barking at the Moon” (Joan Miro); IHOP on 69th St.- “Two Dragons” (Kano Hogai);

Upper Darby Free Library Municipal Branch- “The Libraries are Appreciated” (Jacob Lawrence); Upper Darby High School- “Krishna and Radha” (Unknown); Upper Darby School District Administration Building- “Newport Coast” (William Trost Richards);

Upper Darby Township Municipal Building- “Grand Canyon of the Colorado River” (Thomas Moran); and Westbrook Park Elementary School- “Noah’s Ark” (Edward Hicks).

Installation of the art is slated for Aug. 9.

A strong focus on education was the driving point of bringing Inside Out to Upper Darby, with officials from the Upper Darby School District and the township worked in tandem with the art museum on the plans.

“Both the township and the school district have a deep appreciation for the arts and wanted to use this partnership opportunity with the art museum to generate conversation in the community about different works of art,” said Upper Darby  School District spokesperson Dana Spino.

Upper Darby follows up to neighboring Lansdowne’s turn at the exhibit that wrapped up this month. Media and Wayne participated in the program during the initial launch in the Philadelphia area last year.