Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net
 


       Musicals.Net Forums -> Les Miserables
Arcane Rain

Productions of Les Mis you've been in?

Your experiences, how'd it go, who were you, etc... I'm sure this thread's probably been made before but I can't find it so... there.

Three weeks ago was the end of my high school's production of Les Mis. It turned out really well for a school production, and we got a lot of mail about how professional and college-like it was. I wish we could have done the full version, but it wasn't available, so we had to use the school edition.

I was the only freshmen who had solo lines. I was one of the soloist Constables, Claquesous, and Joly. I've never had any singing coaching, so it was very difficult. I had to repeatedly listen to recordings to get my notes right, and I was still off at times, but I did decently.

I got sick on opening night, and it got progressively worse over the next performances. I was JOLY, a hypochondriac, for crying out loud! It was painfully ironic, and it did quite a number on my voice. I actually held it together, but I'll never forgive myself for how off my singing was during my "Drink With Me" solo.

Our cast was incredible. All of our leads were experienced musicians and great people. Even though I had never met most of the people in the cast, they made me feel like I was part of the family. I just need to list the wonderful things about them (though I'm sure most of you probably don't care, lawl)-

Our Valjean- He was incredible. Our general "lead man" for all the shows, he's a brilliant actor and musician. His over the top deilvery of "My GOD Cosette!" became a running joke throughout our cast, but he didn't mind. His performance of "God On High" was breathtaking. Right after he finished, the auditorium fell silent, someone in the audience just said "Wow..." and they all erupted with applause. Oh, and on a personal note, he saved my ass during our closing performance XD I was the second traveler during "Master Of The House" (Enter M'sieur, lay down your load... etc.) and someone took the large burlap sack I carried into the tavern. I frantically ran through the dressing room, prop area, and hallways, madly searching for it. But our Valjean took some time out from doing his makeup, found some cloth, balled it up into a sack and gave it to me. All I could say was "You come from God, you are a saint..." I made my entrance, and everything was fine, thanks to him. I was so stressed about that. Thank God for him.

Javert- Wow. His voice... it's simply indescribable. One of the best Javert's I've ever heard. He received so much applause for "Stars", which was great for me since it extended the time I had for my speedy costume switch.Another great guy, though I don't have any remarkable stories to tell about him. All in all, nice guy, great voice, simply a pleasant person to be around.

Thenardiers- The audience just ate them up. They recieved the most applause at curtain call. They had great chemistry together, and were some of the funniest grave-robbing crooks ever! I had a really hard time not cracking up at their ridiculous disguises during The Wedding. They had a lot of great shtick throughout the show, you could tell they put a lot of thought into their characters.

Enjolras- Definitely a "choir kid" at the start. At the beginning of our rehearsals for the show, his singing was somewhat robotic and choir-esque. Eventually, he came through and finally put feeling behind his words. Whenever he sang "... Until the earth IS FREE!", chills were sent down my spine. I admire the progress he made in such short time.

Gavrorche- My favorite nine year old EVER. He came in pretty far into rehearsals, but learned the material quickly. I yelled at him a few times, which I feel guilty for, but he forgave me. Our director was so afraid that he'd hurt himself jumping from the barricade, scaffolding, etc., but he was fine.

And there are the ones who, sadly, I don't have much to say about-

Fantine and Eponine- I really wish I had talked to these two more. I never got to know them, though they were great. They have voices that need to be heard.

Marius- A sophomore who also had a callback for Valjean, clearly he's remarkable. I didn't get to know him too well. He hurt his ankle a few days before opening night, but he made a speedy recovery. I was worried we'd have to go on without him, which would be a shame.

Cosette- Once again, someone I should have talked to more. She suffered from dehydration at one point during dress rehearsals, which was pretty scary. Thankfully, she was back onstage later that night. She was so discouraged when her voice cracked one night. I wish she wasn't so down about it, because she was great otherwise.

So, in shorter words, everyone was great XD

Anyhow, back to the production itself.

We weren't nearly as robotic as other high schools. My eyes began to tear up during the epilogue because of the raw emotion radiating from everyone... It was a beautiful show.

Overall, it was a great production. I'd like to post the pictures I have, but I think that's against our contract, and we'd have a microscopic chance of being fined for it... So I'll just be cautious and not put up pictures.

It'll be a production I'll never forget. It's the only time I've had the chance to arrest a man and take him to a bishop, mug said ex convict later, get arrested, rob a house, take part in a revolution, die on a barricade, and be a servant at a wedding in the same night. I can only hope my next theatre experience is as memorable.

Wow, this was definitely a long, rambling first post... So, if I may reiterate my original question... What was your production of Les Mis like?
ilovebway

I'm glad you had such a wonderful show! It sounds like it was great.

As for me, I was cast as a "Student" and in the ensemble at a local theatre but the production unfortunately got cancelled. They were given permission to do the full non-school edition version by MTI but they later took the rights away and told us we couldn't get them for several more months. Very disappointing.
Mistress

Welcome to the forum! Your show sounds like it was awsome.
I hope you have a good time on here, and discover new shows and the like.
Brackynn

Sounds like a great production. SE can be hard, but your cast sounds fantastic Very Happy

I'm about a week into rehearsals for a pro-am Les Mis production, playing Cosette. Full version. It's far and away the biggest-scale show I've done yet ... it's kind of weird knowing that we're not going to have any budget issues!

Obviously, it's early days, but our director is great, and both him and the MD are familiar with the Hugo novel, so they're keen to put lots of little nods to the Brick in the show Very Happy

I haven't heard anyone sing their roles yet, except for Marius -- his music call ran late yesterday and mine was right afterwards, so I got to sit in on his and listen to him sing everything from "Empty Chairs" onwards ... I only hope that my voice will measure up to his! He's amazing. We were already good friends before we were cast, and I can't wait to work with him Smile

I saw our Valjean in a chamber opera earlier this year ... he's a real pro and honestly, I'm a little intimidated ... hopefully that will go away once we get into rehearsals, though!
Arcane Rain

Yeah, our cast was very good.

Your director's familiar with the brick? You're lucky, since mine wasn't. I was a bit uncomfortable being Joly while the director told me to be physical with people Anxious Eventually I just stopped trying to be like book Joly... It doesn't matter, I suppose, since most audience members won't be familiar with the brick, but it got on my nerves a bit XP
Ulla Dance Again!

I'm glad to hear you had a wonderful experience, albeit being sick.

I never was in a cast of Les Miserables, but I worked backstage on a regional production. From what people told me, rehearsals were almost philosophical. The director had read the novel and tried incoporating those values into the production.
Yakko

Well...my experience wasn't a great one sadly. I did two productions in my area, both were the student editions.

The first time I did Les Miserables I had no training on my singing and since it was a HUGE cast, I only got to sing One Day More and the Finale. and I didn't appear much in the first act and I never was seen in the second act. Also the cast wasn't great...Only our Fantine was great, Also our orchestra mainly contained a 2 pianos, drums, and I don't know what they are but there supposed to be twinkles or something like that...Also our stage had a lot of stairs and ramps. So it kinda looked odd.

The Second time I did Les Miserables I had training and I had bigger roles like Brujon, Bamatbois, and Army Officer. So I was happy I got them(Even though I wanted Enjolras Mad ) Anyway the stage was a lot smaller, we had 2 casts in the show Red And Black. The Red had the older guys while the black had younger people. Alas both had strengths and weakness' like both the Valjeans, Fantines, Maruis' Cosettes', though excel at singing the parts couldn't act. ur Javert(who was in both casts) overacted a lil bit but an awesome singer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x_iWwCVG7M&feature=channel

and see what I mean.

I can also say that we had too many young ones like some of the students were like 7 years old. So I bet'ca some of the audience didn't take the story that serouisly. Also my role as an army officer sucked because I couldn't the high G's so I had scream them d'oh! I know...

So all and all even though they weren't great productions, I'm kinda happy I did this show twice..so yeah all I have to say.
Mistress

hmmm...I don't have audio on the computer I'm, on right now, but I think I cam across your Javert on Youtube before....I think...I'd have to actually here him, but I remember coming across a 17-year old with an awsome baritone doing Javert. I found a news cast with the directors talking about him that I remember finding earlier, so I think he is the same guy...he is awsome, honestly he's probably got a good career ahead of him. He will have an incredible voice, I think, once it fully matures (or has it already?).
music is my life!!!

Yakko - i agreee with Javvy's acting, but his voice is AMAZING!!!!
Yakko

Mistress wrote:
hmmm...I don't have audio on the computer I'm, on right now, but I think I cam across your Javert on Youtube before....I think...I'd have to actually here him, but I remember coming across a 17-year old with an awsome baritone doing Javert. I found a news cast with the directors talking about him that I remember finding earlier, so I think he is the same guy...he is awsome, honestly he's probably got a good career ahead of him. He will have an incredible voice, I think, once it fully matures (or has it already?).



Well he has already sung with Gary Mauer which is also on youtube. Evil or Very Mad
SmallTownIngenue

Yakko wrote:
Well...my experience wasn't a great one sadly. I did two productions in my area, both were the student editions.

The first time I did Les Miserables I had no training on my singing and since it was a HUGE cast, I only got to sing One Day More and the Finale. and I didn't appear much in the first act and I never was seen in the second act. Also the cast wasn't great...Only our Fantine was great, Also our orchestra mainly contained a 2 pianos, drums, and I don't know what they are but there supposed to be twinkles or something like that...Also our stage had a lot of stairs and ramps. So it kinda looked odd.

The Second time I did Les Miserables I had training and I had bigger roles like Brujon, Bamatbois, and Army Officer. So I was happy I got them(Even though I wanted Enjolras Mad ) Anyway the stage was a lot smaller, we had 2 casts in the show Red And Black. The Red had the older guys while the black had younger people. Alas both had strengths and weakness' like both the Valjeans, Fantines, Maruis' Cosettes', though excel at singing the parts couldn't act. ur Javert(who was in both casts) overacted a lil bit but an awesome singer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2x_iWwCVG7M&feature=channel

and see what I mean.

I can also say that we had too many young ones like some of the students were like 7 years old. So I bet'ca some of the audience didn't take the story that serouisly. Also my role as an army officer sucked because I couldn't the high G's so I had scream them d'oh! I know...

So all and all even though they weren't great productions, I'm kinda happy I did this show twice..so yeah all I have to say.


My cast had two casts too...except we were the red and blue casts. Very Happy

As many of you know I played Fantine last summer. It was pretty much one of the most amazing shows I've ever been in. I totally did not expect to get the role (I've always thought I was more of a Cosette), but it made me such a better actor/singer and pretty much changed who I was as a performer.

Our director was incredible and without a doubt the most professional director I've ever had. He treated us like adults, not teenagers/college students. He read the Brick and gave us one-on-one sessions about our characters, and he was never afraid to tell you if something you were doing was completely wrong and he would show you how to do it right. I can't wait to work with him again this summer in Into the Woods. Very Happy

The cast basically became my best friends. Although we had two casts (all the main roles and the kids were double cast, save for Enjolras, Marius, the Thenardiers, and even Valjean, since one of the original Valjeans had to step down and take Marius since our original Marius dropped out), we all were like family and hung out with each other after basically every show and in between/after rehearsals.

So needless to say, it was a great experience. I would love, love, love to do the show again.
Mr_Lionhart

Hey, I couldn't help but make this my first post in this forum... I'm in a doing a production at the moment with a community theater company in Australia. It's my first musical that I have been a part of as well, and I have found it to be a very interesting but slightly stressful when you have lots of major university assignments to finish due in when performances are in full swing.

I'm playing many different characters, most being featured chorus with solo lines. I get to play Prisoner (�I know she'll wait...�), Poor person in �At the End of the Day,� Pimp (both occurrences), Drinker in MotH (�He made a tidy score...�), Joly and Major Domo. All of them are so fun but so very different to play. I have been praised for my pimping skills, which I take as a compliment. I'm also understudy for Grantaire, which makes it interesting if Grantaire and I can't be there on the same day, but I'll see what happens.

I was cast as Joly with all those little featured chorus bits. I was familiar with the brick and wanted a cane to bring up on stage and rub my nose as I was looking at a map to figure out the students' next move, but didn't bother asking the prop guy because almost everyone in the audience wouldn't know the reference that I was making.

We also have a Red and Black cast, split up interestingly into groups depending on the natural hair colour of the people in lead roles (Except for Javert).

The director is great, knows the brick well and most of the cast had spent one rehearsal day on figuring out each character and their relationships with the other characters.
Proud Dork

I've only been in my school's production, which, might I say, turned out way better than I thought it would. Especially considering the set. I hold the utmost admiration for the stage crew. How they would be able to create something that huge and paint every last inch of it without going insane is beyond me. Applause

However, our Javert's range and enunciation was...slightly under par. Our Fantine, Eponine, and Valjean made up for it, though. Whoo!
Damn_Badgers

I have only been in one production of Les Miserables, which was the school edition at my school last year. I had the honour of playing Jean Valjean, which was perhaps one of the greatest experiences of my life, and something which I learnt an incredible amount from.

My (biased) opinion is that our show, and excellent for a school show. Though others may disagree. There's actually a documentary video of our show on youtube, which I posted on the site a while back. If anyone is interested its:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aD6A9zz6Guk

Let me know what you think...

But yeah it was definitely a lot of fun, and an amazing experience, and I'd definitely be keen to be in another production of the show.
chiggy321

Hi, like seemingly quite a lot of other people I am playing Joly and Constable in Les Mis School Edition. It's great fun and the performance is in July! Looking forward to it every one has a really good voice and I don't think there are any weak links!
       Musicals.Net Forums -> Les Miserables
Page 1 of 1