Lately I’ve been rewatching “The Gilded Age,” which I love. One of the great things about that show is the abundance of Broadway actors that they cast, including Patrick Page who played Frollo for the Disney Musical revision version at The LaJolla and PaperMills Playhouses. Now it’s completely a wild pipe-dream to even think about casting a Broadway actor for a version of Notre Dame de Paris but here we are. So might I submit for consideration for Phoebus from Notre Dame de Paris, Derek Klena.
Derek Klena is most known for originating Dmitri in Anastasia and playing Christian in Moulin Rouge and Fiyero in Wicked. In addition those roles his stage credits and filmography are quite robust. Currently he is the Entertainment pitcher for the Savannah Bananas which is delightful.
Much like Phoebus, Klena’s voice has the right mix of smooth lightness with power. This means he is ideal for signing both “Belle” and “Dechire” (“Torn Apart”) among Phoebus’ other songs in the show. Klena can be both heartfelt and smarmy which is great and while Phoebus isn’t exactly know for his heartfelt moments, actors can inject it when and where they want, there is enough room for interpretation for Phoebus.
Phoebus typically in Notre Dame de Paris has darker hair but that’s not hard and fast rule, there have certainly been a few light-haired performers playing Phoebus. It’s just more on average that a dark hair man has been cast a Phoebus in Notre Dame de Paris. I don’t think there has been any wig usage on Phoebus in the show’s run but I could be wrong. There have been wigs in the show but more so with Fleur de Lys. Point that I’m trying to make it that Derek Klena has the right look and vibe to play Phoebus.
While I know this casting is never going to happen, not from a lack of talent Klena’s end but more that Notre Dame de Paris doesn’t really appeal to the mainstream Broadway Audiences, no shade I get it. Also the fact it’s a French language musical so that a hard ask plus the English version is a little rough is area. The English language version of the show hasn’t been performed in a while, like over a decade and even longer for audiences in countries where English is predominantly spoken as a first language. Also the mere fact that there has never been a musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame on Broadway ever.
So this will never happen but I would very much settle for Klena doing cover of Notre Dame de Paris. Phoebus would be perfect especially he got some chainmail to wear, but any song would be fine just fine.
