Galleria host to Hunchback

Thursday, March 7, 1996 | 11:59 a.m.

Shopping malls long ago gained a reputation for being frequented by strange and eccentric characters.

And so it's appropriate that Walt Disney's "The Hunchback of Notre Dame Musical Discovery Adventure" will make its Las Vegas appearance at the new Galleria at Sunset mall in Henderson Friday through Sunday.

The Galleria is one of 21 malls throughout the nation where the festival of animation and music will be staged.

There is no charge to the public for this event, which runs continuously 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

The traveling festival features seven themed environments inspired by the anticipated June arrival of Walt Disney Pictures' 34th animated feature, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame."

"The Hunchback of Notre Dame Musical Discovery Adventure" represents a collaboration between Walt Disney Imagineering, the group responsible for creating Disney's worldwide theme park attractions, and the studio's Feature Animation division.

The centerpiece of the tour is a 24-foot reproduction of the Cathedral of Notre Dame where guests can participate in a bell-ringing ceremony every hour. They can also watch as the cathedral's famous rosette window dissolves into a look at "Out There," a musical number from the film.

The main stage, "The Streets of Paris," is a 20-minute multimedia show which demonstrates how music and story board layout come together to create a full-length animated feature.

With the help of a sidekick player piano, a sketch pad and a video reel of animated films past and present, the multimedia show illustrates the interdependence of music and story line.

At the "Gypsy Court of Miracles" guests are treated to a 10-minute medieval puppet show acted out by the film's colorful and flamboyant leader of the Gypsies, Clopin, who tells the story of the bells of Notre Dame and their mysterious bell-ringer, Quasimodo.

Rounding out the tour are four festival tents which house interactive games and activities where guests can learn about music's role in animated feature films.

Inspired by Victor Hugo's novel, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," Disney's animated film features characters brought to life by the voices of major Hollywood stars such as Tom Hulce, Kevin Kline, Demi Moore and Jason Alexander.