The South Jersey Pops and Triple Threat Theater Productions performed two shows of Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” at Sovereign Grace Church in Marlton on June 12 and 13.
With a cast of 24 actors, a choral ensemble of 20 and an orchestra of 28, the collaboration was the first for the Pops and Triple Threat.
Based on Victor Hugo’s 1831 novel, “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” tells the story of Quasimodo, the bell ringer of Notre Dame Cathedral, whose journey of acceptance, courage and humanity has captivated audiences for years. The story gained worldwide popularity through the 1996 Disney film.
The South Jersey Pops has built a reputation for professional-quality orchestral performances in the region while collaborating with a wide range of artists and organizations. Under the leadership of conductor Rob Bradshaw, the group has continued expanding its artistic reach with innovative programming and large-scale musical events.
Cherry Hill-based Triple Threat Theater Productions is known for developing high-quality theatrical experiences while developing some of the area’s strongest vocal and acting talent. It is led by Andy Boettcher, himself a presence on regional stages.
“The way I always look at a live musical event is that in today’s societal climate and political climate, it’s really important that we have things that can connect us together, and there’s really nothing that does that more than music does,” Bradshaw said.
“The music that we perform also helps people tap into memories of yesteryear, which hopefully we remember fondly. It helps people feel nostalgic about those years that have gone by and that they can remember and we can connect in that way.”
Born and raised in Audubon, where he still lives, Bradshaw started playing the violin at 5. Although he got good at it, he didn’t start to love playing until he joined the Garden State Pops Youth Orchestra at 14. That group changed his life, he explained, because it taught him how to love playing.
“Because of that, orchestral music always has a special place in my heart, and every time an orchestra gets together and creates music, I find it nothing short of magic.”
Years later, Bradshaw founded and owned the Haddonfield School of Music. At the time, a student of his who was also a member of the Pops asked him if he would be willing to rehearse for a show with the orchestra. Bradshaw did it, he loved it and for a few years, he played the violin there before becoming the Pops’ conductor.
“Once I threw my hat in that ring, I never wanted anything more in my life,” Bradshaw recalled. “I came to love conducting more than anything I had ever done artistically before. It’s a spectacular thing.”
The orchestra gives Bradshaw an opportunity to speak to an audience, something he also loves. He started at 38 years old, and while it wasn’t something on his radar, Bradshaw now tries to do so as much as possible. His style with programming is theatrical, so when the group puts on a performance, he tries to make the event immersive for the audience to know that they are seen.
“I want them to know that I appreciate that they’re there and the audience is responding,” he explained. “I’m really pleased with where we are right now and I’m really excited about what can come soon.”
Palmyra resident Boettcher started Triple Threat Theater in 2014. He described theater as beautiful and unique because it’s solely dependent on the collaboration of others. That’s the thing he loves about it, because the director has a vision and then presents that to the actors, the music director and the conductor, all of whom add their own pieces to that original vision.
Triple Threat has a mission to elevate individuals through theater education and creating a supportive and collaborative community where everyone – whether they are children or adults – sees the value in other people. What Triple Threat does, according to Boettcher, is take people vastly different from each other and put them to work on a common goal.
“One of the greatest joys in the piece (“The Hunchback of Notre Dame”) and one of the greatest things I loved about the piece, was how the visuals and how the actors met the excellence that was provided through the sound,” he observed.
“There’s something very special about live, real orchestral music played in front of you,” Boettcher added, “and that just made this piece extremely special, and it made that experience for every single audience member extremely impactful.”
Under the leadership of Andy Boettcher, the South Jersey Pops has built a reputation for bringing professional-quality orchestral performances to the region.
Rob Bradshaw, lead conductor of the South Jersey Pops, strives to make every performance as immersive as possible for the audience.
