WELCOME TO OUR
VIRTUAL SHOW
This theoretical production of the French musical Notre-Dame de Paris is presented to you as a Thesis collaboration between French costume and set designer Calypso Michelet, and American lighting designer Sydney Becker.
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NOTRE-DAME DE PARIS
A CONTEMPORARY MUSICAL
This sung-through French musical debuted on 16 September 1998 in Paris. It is based upon the novel Notre-Dame de Paris (The Hunchback of Notre-Dame) by the French novelist Victor Hugo. The music was composed by Riccardo Cocciante and the lyrics are by Luc Plamondon.
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This musical follows the gypsy dancer Esmeralda and her people in the streets of Paris, along with the three men who vie for her love: the kind hunchback Quasimodo, the twisted priest Frollo, and the unfaithful soldier Phoebus.
While Esmeralda is betrayed by her love and wrongly accused of murder, her people led by Clopin have to face violent rejection from the citizens of Paris.
They are eventually deported after attempting to save Esmeralda from her fate.
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ABOUT OUR PRODUCTION
1.
A WORLD TO REBUILD.
When the cathedral Notre Dame caught fire in 2019, the whole world was shaken. This new production of the musical Notre-Dame de Paris is an invitation to reflect on the symbolic power of monuments, the values they embody, and how to rebuild after their destruction. Should we preserve everything from the past or is it time for a new start?
2.
VOICES OF THE CASTAWAYS.
This musical introduces new characters from Victor Hugo's novel: the Castaways. Facing the adamancy and inhospitality of the figures in power, a group of refugees and homeless people lead by Clopin desperately try to settle down claiming their right of Asylum. This production brings a new vision for the Ensemble, reflecting on today's refugee crises and growing xenophobia.
3.
EXPLORING THE NEWEST TECHNOLOGIES.
Designing in times of Covid demands a lot of creativity and adaptability. Calypso and Sydney took advantage of this special year to explore the latest technologies available to their fields. By learning 3D modeling and printing, laser cutting, and 3D renderings, they realized a complete design package and virtual renderings, thus offering an authentic experience of the musical.
GALLERY
ABOUT THE DESIGNERS
CALYPSO MICHELET
Scenic & Costume design
Calypso Michelet is a visual artist from Paris, France, currently living in Amherst, Massachusetts.
She studied Dramaturgy, Architecture and costume building before coming to the US to train as a designer. As part of her education she worked in prestigious shops such as the Opera Garnier in Paris and the New York Theater Workshop. She recently worked with Miami City Ballet as an assistant designer on the production of Firebird and will return to the WAM theater this fall to design the set for their production of Kamloopa: An Indigenous Matriarch Story.
​She is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Costume and Set Design from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
SYDNEY BECKER
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Lighting design
Sydney Becker is a lighting designer for live performance hailing from Margate, New Jersey, currently based in Massachusetts.
She is a graduate from Princeton University, where she obtained a B.A. in anthropology and a certificate in theater with a focus on design. Post graduation, Sydney was the 2017-2018 Allen Lee Hughes Lighting Fellow at Arena Stage in D.C., and was the Lighting Supervisor for Glimmerglass Festival’s 2018 and 2019 seasons, as well as the upcoming 2021 season outdoors.
She is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Lighting Design from University of Massachusetts Amherst under the mentorship of Penny Remsen.