It has been almost 30 years since Quasimodo rang the bells of the gorgeously animated Notre Dame Cathedral in Disney’s classic animated film. Even though the critical reception to the film was mixed, the story of Quasimodo and Esmeralda deeply resonated with audiences and inspired a sequel, merchandise, board games, and two vastly different live-action theme park shows that would become the genesis for the musical.

But why did it take so long for The Hunchback of Notre Dame to make the jump from screen to stage? It only took Disney’s Beauty and the Beast less than three years to be turned into a hit Broadway musical. The truth is it did not take long at all. The musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame actually opened in Berlin in 1999, only three years after the premiere of the film. The musical became one of Berlin’s longest-running musicals when it closed in June 2002 after more than 1200 performances, having entertained over 1.4 million people. It took another 12 years before the musical would be reimagined and brought to audiences in the United States. The current version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame opened at the La Jolla Playhouse in 2014 and, while a Broadway run has not been in the cards for Quasimodo and his friends, the musical has been enjoyed across the country and internationally ever since.

With music by Disney and Broadway legend Alan Menken, who brought us Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Little Shop of Horrors and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz who penned the lyrics and brought us Pippin, Godspell, The Prince of Egypt and the mega-hit Wicked, The Hunchback of Notre is unique in the musical canon in that it soars with a score actually written for a choir. Menken and Schwartz brilliantly use the choir as the voice of the Cathedral that looms above the city of Paris. From the festivities unfolding in its shadows, to the darkest corners of the city and the innermost thoughts of Quasimodo, Esmeralda, and Frollo, the haunting melodies of the Cathedral are omnipresent.

The work is also unique in that multiple languages are represented on stage and are used to evoke very specific settings and emotions. While a majority of the work is performed in English, you will also hear Greek and Latin in choral arrangements reminiscent of the traditional  Catholic mass and hymns. Showcasing the sultry and joyous folk rhythms of a culture that was not accepted by the people of Paris, you will hear the native language of the Romani people who, at the time, were called “gypsies” with much disdain by the authorities. Peppered in throughout the musical you will also find, of course, French.

Whether in the private corners of the Cathedral or the joyous midday celebration of the Festival of Fools, at the heart of the musical are characters searching for truth and belonging. They are fighting for social justice and acceptance. They are fighting selflessly for each other and for what is right. Their stories are at once exciting and heartbreaking. And this is why The Hunchback of Notre Dame has stayed with audiences since Quasimodo first yelled “Sanctuary!” in 1996 and continues to be a relevant, modern story for our time.