As the opening night of The Hunchback of Notre Dame approaches, excitement builds across campus. This year’s high school musical promises a variety of storytelling and exciting performances. The main character is Esmeralda, who is brought to life by Michelle Gutierrez, a junior in North Broward’s arts academy, who sits down with us to share her experience thus far.
For Michelle, this role is more than just acting. “Playing Esmeralda feels incredibly meaningful. Not just to me, but I think her story is important to so many people, especially today,” she says. According to Michelle, “Esmeralda is a young Romani woman who dances in the streets of Paris and will never stop fighting for her people, who are often referred to as ‘Gypsies.’ The term ‘Gypsy’ is considered harmful and offensive by many Romani people due to its racist history. Esmeralda’s sincere warmth and kindness towards a world that constantly mistreats her is what makes her special.”
Expanding on this feeling, Michelle tells us that Esmeralda is a symbol of resilience and compassion. “What I enjoy most about her character is that no matter how badly she or her people are being treated, she still meets people where they’re at and always leads with kindness,” Michelle shares. She describes Esmeralda as a mix of warmth and fire: kindhearted and empathetic at her core, but unafraid to fight for what she believes in. “She has this fireiness to her and is a fighter. I believe that she’s not afraid to speak her mind and that she leads with empathy and not judgment.”
Esmeralda’s journey in The Hunchback of Notre Dame is as much internal as it is external. Michelle reflects on one of her favorite moments in the story, when Esmeralda enters the cathedral to apologize to Quasimodo. “She walks in completely awestruck, and at that moment, she completely takes over the cathedral,” Michelle says. Through her interactions with Quasimodo, Phoebus, and even Frollo, Esmeralda grows and changes. “She’s set on this journey, and she goes through an arc of how the audience sees her and how she sees herself,” Michelle explains. For the actress, portraying that transformation is one of the most rewarding parts of the role.
Additionally, Michelle elaborates on how she portrays Esmeralda’s emotions in the production and some challenges she faces in her role. To show emotions such as happiness, fear, or bravery, Michelle says she has to “dive deep and step into her shoes” while she is on stage. Michelle also shares obstacles she faces when acting, such as making Esmeralda seem like a real person. She believes that one of the most important parts of her role is “making her character come across as a hero and someone who has a good, genuine heart.” Michelle explains that Esmeralda has many well-written facets to her personality, and she hopes the audience is able to recognize and appreciate them.
Furthermore, Michelle provides advice for anyone else who may step into Esmeralda’s role in the future. She says to lead with your heart, as Esmeralda always speaks to others honestly and with empathy — even with characters whom the audience sees as villains, such as Frollo.
Michelle’s portrayal of Esmeralda promises an excellent and unforgettable show on the stage! This year, with our amazing cast and crew, The Hunchback of Notre Dame is shaping up to be one of North Broward’s best plays yet. Be sure to stop by and watch Michelle and the rest of North Broward’s talented theater department at one of the showtimes on Friday, October 24 at 7 p.m. or Saturday, October 25 at 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.
