Les Misérables, School Edition 2020
Early Light Academy in partnership with Kensington Theatre was pleased to bring back this audience favorite. Les Misérables is the world’s longest running musical — a true modern classic based on Victor Hugo’s novel and featuring one of the most memorable scores of all time. This production was designed to be an amazing experience for teens! The past two productions of Les Misérables were unforgettable, and this one is proved to be an epic experience we loved!
Les Misérables performed (Live during a pandemic!!) August 12-15, 2020 and Streamed to the world August 22-September 7, 2020.
Special Thanks to:
Director’s Note:
These past three productions of Les Misérables have been stunning and unforgettable in their own ways. I want to include the Director’s Notes from the past two because this one was built on the visions and lessons learned from them, mixed with the circumstances of today that have made this production the most unique production I have ever directed.
2012 Director’s Note:
Every play begins with a director’s vision; what do we want our audiences to experience when they come and see our version of the Les Misérables. My vision first focused on the color red and all the intense emotions it represents: sacrifice, forgiveness, love. Then I focused on this quote from the novel by Victor Hugo:
There is a point when the infamous and the unfortunate are associated and confused in a word, a mortal work, les miserables; whose fault is it? And then, when the fall is the furthest, is that not when charity should be the greatest? ~Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
I combined red and this quote for my final vision: throughout the play you will see these moments of “les miserables” punctuated with a red cloth filled with intense emotions that will pass from one character to the next. I hope leaving our production you will be inspired in your moments of “les miserables” to show this great charity and to embrace the intense red emotions we are so blessed to feel: to sacrifice, to forgive, to love!
This is one of the most amazing directing experiences I have ever had! The cast entered auditions with a tangible energy I have never seen before. The production team, cast, crew, and orchestra met the challenges and intensity of this beloved musical with an optimistic ambition… and I believe they will exceed any expectation you had entering this theatre. Enjoy our experience of Les Misérables… we certainly won’t forget it!
2016 Director’s Note:
The supreme happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved; loved for ourselves, or rather in spite of ourselves. ~Victor Hugo, Les Misérables
Les Misérables teaches so many lessons in just 2 1/2 hours! For my vision, I used the quote above as our focus for this production. So many people yearn to be seen for who they really are in their most miserable moments. And when someone does truly see them and shows them charity, these are the moments of Les Misérables. In 2012, I used a beautiful red scarf to punctuate these moments. This production will also have its own red scarf being passed from character to character in moments that they are loved and shown this mercy. My wish for this cast has been that they will take this lesson of Les Misérables and try to see others with this same kind of love; truly love others for exactly who they are, or rather in spite of themselves.
Wow! What an amazing opportunity to discover this beautiful musical with another group of talented youth! It has been an amazing journey with a superb production team gently guiding the youth to their greatest potential. A special thanks to the cast, crew and orchestra; you are a gift to direct! I would like to thank my incredible family for playing so much with me in theatre; you are my greatest joy! And a very special thanks to Erin for seeing me as I need someone to see me; you are a wonderful partner in theatre and a true friend!
2020 Director’s Note:
I want to add to my past two Director’s Notes just a bit more. I implemented both quotes this time and the red scarf because they are all too beautiful! As I studied Les Misérables this time, I was touched by how extremely relevant it was to our time! Please take time to look at the parallels of our day and June of 1832 (it’s in this program); it is fascinating. But my favorite part was how the youth took my breath away again. If you doubt how wonderful our youth are, do a play with them! The cast, crew, and orchestra worked so hard: They stayed positive with all the changes and the crazy world around them, they came to rehearsals prepared and focused, they cheered, they forgave, they laughed, and they loved; they epitomized what Les Misérables means. I will, without doubt, never forget this production. We are amateurs doing theatre without apologies for the origin of amateur is from latin, amare: to love. We do this because we love it. We hope you look past our little errors (we had a lot of learning curves!) and enjoy every moment of Les Misérables because if you are reading this, we made it to the end!
The Cast of Les Misérables
- Jean ValjeanJeremiah Sandberg
- JavertLuke Gonzalez
- FantineCora Stone
- MariusTrenton Conover
- CosetteAndreina Quevedo
- Little CosetteAubrey Enger
- EponineTaci Miner
- Little EponineHailey Voss
- Bishop of DigneJohn Clark
- Sister ServantsEmily Michaelson, Nikki Merrill
- ThenardierBrody Ririe
- Madame ThenardierAbilene Kugler
- GavrocheMiles Jeppson
- Little GavrocheTBD
- Gavroche's GangGabriel Paepke, Jaron MacDonald, Charlotte Arsenault, Isabella Reyes, Aubrey Enger, Hailey Voss
- Petit GervaisJaron MacDonald
- EnjolrasBenjamin Tate
- GrantaireEnoch DeMille
- CombeferreCade Poulter
- CourferacJonah Walker
- FeuillyJack Green
- JolyJJ Atkinson
- LesglesThomas Middleton
- ProuvaireJohn Clark
- ABC StudentsMen's Ensemble
- Chain GangJonah Walker, Trenton Conover, Cade Poulter, Benjamin Tate, Thomas Middleton, Enoch DeMille, Jack Green
- LaborerJJ Atkinson
- LaborersMen's Ensemble
- Constable 1Cade Poulter
- Constable 2Jonah Walker
- ForemanJonah Walker
- Factory Girl 1Nikki Merrell
- Factory Girl 2Taci Miner
- Factory Girl 4Abilene Kugler
- Factory Girl 5Emma Thomas
- Factory GirlsWomen's Worker Ensemble
- Lovely Lady 1Mara Elggren
- Lovely Lady 2Emily Michaelson
- Lovely Lady 3Alicia Gonzalez,
- Old WomanTaci Miner
- BamataboisJack Green
- FauchelevanThomas Middleton
- OnlookerJohn Clark
- BystanderAdam Lynn
- Beggar SoloEmma Thomas
- JudgeChristopher McIntiyre
- Champmathiieu, Mistaken Jean ValjeanTrenton Conover
- BabetCade Poulter
- BrujonJonah Walker
- ClaquesousJack Green
- MontparnasseEnoch DeMille
- Major DomoIsaac Butler
- Army OfficerTBD
- Soldiers/PoliceCREW
Ensembles:
- Male Solo EnsembleBenjamin Tate, Brody Ririe, Cade Poulter, Enoch DeMille, Jack Green, Jeremiah Sandberg, JJ Atkinson, John Clark, Jonah Walker, Luke Gonzalez, Thomas Middleton, Trenton Conover
- Female Solo EnsembleAbilene Kugler, Alicia Gonzalez, Andreina Quevedo, Cora Stone, Emily Michaelson, Emma Thomas, Mara Elggren, Nikki Merrell, Taci Miner
- Male EnsembleAdam Lynn, AJ Wankier, Austin Meersmen, Christopher McIntiyre, Haiden Warburton, Hunter Florence, Isaac Butler
- Women's Worker EnsembleAbby Berry, Adria Kroff, Emily Kroff, Karlee Moser, Lizzy Warren, Shaelyn Gates, Jaycee Olson, Kristianne Harbaugh, Kyra Johnson, Leona Lombardi, Norah Lombardi, Sabrina Bytheway
- Women's Poor Ensemble Cagney Lotz, Liesel Robinson, Maddie Stephany, Madelyn Starr, Shara Judd, Autumn Gray, Esther DeMille, Julia Taylor, Kelly Wareham, Lillian Rogers
