Acceptance and friendship were the themes of Neshaminy Summer Stock’s 2018 mainstage production
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
It’s amazing what can happen in a single month.
In that microscopic time span, a stage was transformed into the world of 1492 Paris, costumes were crafted to clothe an entire cast, and local middle and high schoolers became wise beyond their years as they put on a professional, tear-inducing production for friends and family.
This was the 54th annual show of Neshaminy Summer Stock, a theater program open to all Bucks County students ranging from third graders to recently graduated seniors. Broken into two age groups, grades six and under performed the light-hearted Wizard of Oz July 26–28 at Neshaminy High School. Meanwhile from July 25–28, grades seven and up immersed themselves in the drama/musical Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is arguably the program’s most thought-provoking mainstage production to date.
“We are going to make history with this show,” said director Josh Tull. “On a high school, middle school stage, nothing like this has been done before.”
From the moment rehearsals began on July 2, it was clear to the students this wasn’t going to be a reproduction of the Disney film by any means. According to Tull, who is celebrating his third year as mainstage director, Hunchback has only seen the spotlight of the stage a handful of times, including a brief run at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. Neshaminy Summer Stock is among the first groups in the country to obtain the rights to perform it.
“This show is important because it explores very heavy themes that can be sad and difficult to talk about. But it’s something that our cast has embraced this summer,” Tull said.
Unlike the animated film, this version of Hunchback aligns more closely with the novel penned by Victor Hugo in the 1800s. Though the Disney classic boasts a darker undertone compared to most princess tales, the production drives home the theme of acceptance in a mature, raw way. Characters learn to embrace and befriend outcasts and those with mental disabilities and physical deformities. Tull explained how students can carry this idea into the everyday school setting, where bullying remains an all-too-prevalent issue.
Throughout the accelerated three-week rehearsal time, which involved many eight-plus-hour days, some of which took place on weekends, each member of the Hunchback cast acted like a seasoned performer. For Tull, it’s how a student rises to the occasion that defines them — not their age.
“I never treat my cast as if they are middle schoolers or high schoolers. I treat them as adults because they can handle it,” he said.
A mere 24 hours before opening night, The Times caught up with the students, whose nerves appeared to be virtually nonexistent. But even in the midst of the smiling, laughing and comfortable attire of sweats and occasional pajama bottoms, all exuded an air of professionalism, flawlessly articulating how the Hunchback experience changed them for the better.
Starring as the Hunchback/Quasimodo was AJ Tantala, a newly graduated Neshaminy High School senior who will attend Rider University in the fall. For Tantala, who boasts a powerful voice unheard in most student productions, this show was the perfect way to end his final summer with the program.
“I feel that this show is very impactful on not only us, but everyone who comes to see it and anyone who’s involved in general,” he said. “I find it relatable in a lot of ways for a lot of different types of people.”
Playing leading lady Esmeralda was rising Neshaminy senior Brielle Lewandowski, who was honored to showcase a deeper, more vulnerable side to the character than portrayed in the Disney film.
“You know her in a movie as one sense, but she, in this show, is so much different. She has so much more of an arc as a person, I feel like,” Lewandowski explained. “She comes in as this gypsy. She dances, she makes money, she loves to make people happy around her. And by seeing Quasimodo and how he is, she just finds this love and compassion and questions all that she thought she knew as a person when she was just a young child.”
Joining the Neshaminy students were young performers from across Bucks County including Kellin Vaughn and Fallon Roth of Council Rock South. Despite not knowing anyone but each other, the two were welcomed with open arms in true Hunchback spirit.
“Coming into Neshaminy and meeting all of these people was a wonderful addition to my life, really,” said Roth, who portrayed the role of Clopin. “I think out of all the shows that I’ve done, the message is going to stick with me the most because it shows how love and kindness and friendship at its simplest form is just so powerful. Caring for each other and about each other can solve anything.”
Several of the Hunchback cast members participated in 2017’s production of Anything Goes! Though they wholeheartedly enjoyed the happy-go-lucky musical, all shared a similar sentiment that this year’s show challenged them not only as actors, but as people.
“It’s given us all a chance to experience what theater truly should be and I’m really grateful for that,” said Neshaminy rising senior Greg Drapkin, who played Frollo. “It creates such a platform for people to express not only themselves but the serious issues.”
“None of us have ever done something like this before,” added Lewandowski. “It’s changed all of us.” ••
For more information on how to get involved with Neshaminy Summer Stock, visit neshaminysummerstock.com.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
