Teens On Stage Present "Les Miserables" March 2008

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 22:50:00 -0700

Teens On Stage Present "Les Miserables"

Area teens bring Victor Hugo's story "Les Miserables" tomusical life
Thursday-Sunday, March 27-30.

"Les Miserables" is the story of an ex-convict, Jean Valjean and his journey to redemption. The school edition contains all the well-known music from the original London production. The cast features 52 area teens from six area high schools.

Following 19 years of imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean, played by Jacob Schauf of Barron, is released from prison by Inspector Javert, portrayed by Zack Mason of Rice Lake. Valjean sleeps on the streets until a benevolent bishop, played by Michael Palma of Cameron, offers him food and shelter. When Valjean is caught stealing the bishop's silver, the bishop rescues him and then charges him to become an honest man.

Eight years later, Valjean has become a wealthy factory owner and mayor, who is a benefactor to the poor. He cannot save a dying Fantine, played by Heidi Joosten of Cameron, but promises to raise her daughter as his own. He rescues little Cosette, played by Sarah Joosten of Cameron, from the greedy innkeepers, the Thenardiers, played by J.D. Dorrance and Amy Randal, both of Rice Lake, and flees with Cosette to a new life in Paris.

Ten years pass, and on the eve of the 1832 Paris uprising, Enjolras, played by Zachary Arneson of Rice Lake, leads the students to arms, including the streetwise urchin Gavroche, played by Connor Mitchell of Rice Lake. One of the student revolutionaries, Marius Pontmercy, played by Alex Stene of Rice Lake, meets the now grown and beautiful Cosette, played by Jordyn Beranek of Rice Lake, and falls instantly in love with her.

The Thenardiers have also migrated to Paris where they now lead a gang of thieves and plan to rob Valjean. While Marius is clandestinely meeting Cosette, the gang raids Valjean's house. The Thenardier's daughter, Eponine, played by Samantha Reitan of Chetek, who is in love with Marius, screams to alert Marius. Valjean fears that Javert is closing in on him and will have him sent back to prison for violating his parole ten years ago.

The following day, Eponine and Gavroche join the students,
downstrodden Parisians and Valjean in an uprising against the government and a terrible battle ensues.

Chorus members include Samantha Abbot, Bethany Arneson,
Jacques Audette, Alyssa Berschneider, Eli Bigner, Kathryn Biver, Rachel Dvorak,
Danae Forcey, Andrew Fowler, Katie Heathman, Ben Heer, Shayla Jarvis, Sarah
Johnson, Sophie Johnston, Megan Katcher, Shari Katterhagen, Alex Leal, Craig
Louis, Carl Markgren, Kattie Mattes, Caitlin Mitchell, Brent Nelson, Kattie
Ricci, Jenny Rogalla, Kelby Roholt, Nick Shay, Briar Striegal, Milena Swanson,
Kasi Voigt and Dakota Walters, all of Rice Lake; Tyler Sunby and Meghan Swanson,
both of Birchwood; Brett Gill, Chelsea Hoffman, Dan Joosten, Colton Schmidt and
Andrew Widiker, all of Cameron; Kailee Hodgson and Katelyn Scharf, both of
Chetek; and Ali Strickland of Spooner.

Northern Star Theatre Company

Teens On Stage Present "Les Miserables" March 2008