Hunchback Cast Prepares for Thursday’s Opening Night

The annual musical at Buffalo High School is long awaited by both the theater department and the community as a whole. The theater department announces the next year’s show in July, and the community is abuzz with excitement. Prospective cast members audition in early September, and then eagerly await the announcement of their roles.

This year, the show is “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” which excites fans of the Disney film adaptation, although the musical will be based more on the original tale. Ben Krinke ‘25 received the lead role of Quasimodo. Lucas Louwagie ‘26 and Avery Russek ‘26 received the supporting lead roles of Dom Claud Frollo and Esmerelda. 

“My favorite part about this year’s production is being able to act with some of my best friends, and getting to play Esmeralda who is a character I grew up with from the movie,” Russek said.

Many members of the theater community expressed their enjoyment of working on this show and being in a supportive, friendly environment. 

“My favorite part of theater is the connections I get to build with my other cast and crew members. Some of my best friends I met through theater. We are very connected. We have so many small groups working to put this show together so it may seem that we are very separate, but we are all very close and are all like one big machine working in unison to make this show happen,” said Louwagie.

“The theater community is very welcoming and kind. We are very big supporters of inclusivity and being united! The theater community is one of the best things you can be a part of at the high school,” Russek said.

Many people are working very hard to make this show a success. Actors must memorize many lines, songs, and choreography. Students are involved in various tech roles that aid the production and spend their free time working on sets, props, costumes, or sound and light boards. Actors rehearse after school almost every day for two and a half months, often going late into the evening.

“It takes a lot of work. We have multiple double rehearsals, meaning we are here from 3:30-9:00 with an hour dinner break. The stress is real,” Madeline Krinke ‘27, who will play the role of Madam, said. 

The Buffalo High School Theater Department invites the community to come to support this year’s musical, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.” Showtimes are November 14-16 at 7:30 P.M., and November 17 at 2:30 P.M. in the Performing Arts Center.