English version of Paris show to premiere in Las Vegas

Robert Macy

Wednesday, July 21, 1999 | 3:40 a.m.

Producers say they considered Broadway but opted for the Las Vegas Strip in premiering the English version of the most successful musical in French history.

"Notre Dame De Paris," the musical adaptation of the story of the Hunchback of Notre Dame, will open at the new French-themed Paris Las Vegas Casino Resort in January 2000. The resort, complete with a 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower, opens Sept. 1.

"A lot of thought was given to premiering in London or on Broadway, but the decision was made to bypass Broadway" and open here, Joseph Rascoff, co-producer of the American version, told a news conference Wednesday.

Rascoff, promoter for rock music groups such as U2 and the Rolling Stones, called the production a "marriage of the most beautiful music and poignant lyrics ever written."

"This is a spectacular marriage of art forms, and Las Vegas is the place to showcase that marriage," Rascoff said.

He declined to give an estimate on the cost of the Las Vegas production.

"Notre Dame De Paris" has sold out in both Europe and Canada. The upcoming return of the show to Paris in September has sold out all of the 1 million tickets available for the 10-month run.

"When you write a musical, you don't expect it to wind up in Las Vegas," said Luc Plamondon, creator of the French lyrics. Another English version of the show will open in London in June.

Will Jennings, who wrote the lyrics for the hit song "My Heart Will Go On" from the movie "Titanic," is writing the English lyrics for "Notre Dame De Paris."

Co-producer Wayne Baruch said casting has started in New York and will begin soon in Las Vegas and Los Angeles.

He promised a "young, vibrant cast" but said there would be no major stars.

"We're not looking to use stars, we're looking to make stars," Baruch said.

Paul Pusateri, president of Paris Las Vegas, said the city's latest resort had been looking for a project that would be "uniquely French, uniquely Parisian. "

He said he received an audio tape of the Paris show and was captivated.

"The music is very, very powerful," Pusateri said.

Bringing the French musical to Las Vegas "is a major step in further establishing Las Vegas as a major center for entertainment," Pusateri said.