Ben Fankhauser Will Lead Starring Buffalo's HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME

Broadway's Ben Fankhauser (Newsies, Spring Awakening - Tour) will play Quasimodo in Starring Buffalo's upcoming concerts of THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, joining previously announced cast members Dan'yelle Williamson (Memphis, Rocky the Musical) as Esmeralda, Jonah Platt (Wicked, Jesus Christ Superstar - Live) as Phoebus, Devin Ilaw (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon) as Clopin, and Keith Ersing (Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra's Fiddler on The Roof) as Frollo. They will team with celebrated Buffalo actors Leah Berst, Charmagne Chi, Arianne Davidow, Matthew Iwanski-Jackson, Dudney Joseph, Ben Michael Moran, Katy Miner, Raphael Santos, and over 100 other contributing Western New York professional and student artists to create an unforgettable theatrical experience.

THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME will be presented in concert at The Buffalo State Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall in downtown Buffalo at 7:30pm on October 19th and at 2pm and 7:30pm on October 20th. It will feature a mixed cast of Buffalo professionals and Broadway guests performing alongside a professional orchestra under the baton of Dr. Daniel Bassin. Talented Buffalo area high school students from Williamsville East High School (Friday, 7:30pm), Starpoint High School (Saturday, 2:00pm), Tonawanda High School (Saturday, 2:00pm) and Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts (Saturday, 7:30pm) and students from UB's Zodiaque Dance Company have also been chosen to participate. For more information and tickets please visit www.starringbuffalo.org

Written by Academy Award-winners Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin) and Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Godspell), THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME features songs from the Disney animated movie, as well as new songs from Menken and Schwartz. The book by Peter Parnell (The West Wing) includes passages from Hugo's gothic novel, creating a dark and beautiful musical suitable for adults and children alike.

Starring Buffalo is a not-for-profit arts organization founded by theater professionals and supporters with ties to both the Buffalo and Broadway communities. Under the leadership of artistic director Drew Fornarola, chair of the board Laura Brodie, education director Michael Russo, and founding board members Steven Tartick and Christopher Berg, it aims to offer Buffalo audiences unrivaled access to the world's greatest theater artists, while providing Western New York students the chance to learn from, work alongside, and be inspired in both master class and concert environments. To learn more about our cutting-edge model for musical theater and arts participation, visit StarringBuffalo.org.

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