The story begins on stage with a cast of medieval puppets and 21 live performers led by storyteller Clopin, king of the gypsies. The three-foot-tall puppets transform into humans, then back to puppets as the tale unfolds. The gypsies deftly set each scene in full view of the audience with movable stone walls, ancient wooden scaffolding and gossamer fabric. A runway extends 40 feet from the stage into the audience so that guests feel as if they're part of the show.

The stage adventure takes its audience from deep beneath the streets of Paris in the 15th-century gypsy "Court of Miracles" to Quasimodo's hiding place high in the bell towers of Notre Dame where the gargoyles are his friends, then on to the exciting "Festival of Fools" in the plaza below, where the 20-year-old recluse meets the enchanting gypsy dancer, Esmeralda.

As the story reaches its climax, the villain Frollo sets fire to Paris. The flames are among several spectacular pyrotechnic special-effects featured in the show's seven scenes.