Mendham High School is knee-deep in rehearsing, building, and producing the upcoming spring musical: Les Misérables. The dates are March 12th (6:30 pm), 13th (6:30 pm), and 14th (2:30 pm). Tickets are $20 if purchased online and $15 if purchased in school during lunch. The show is based on the 19th-century novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. With music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer (English adaptation), the show follows the character of Jean Valjean, a former convict hoping to redeem himself in 19th-century France. He adopts Cosette, the daughter of the poor factory worker, Fantine. Inspector Javert, the main antagonist of the show, pursues Valjean as he strongly believes criminals may never change. Cosette falls in love with Marius, a revolutionary student. Act 2 begins with the students and their revolution. The climax of the show involves Javert and the external conflict with Valjean, and the internal conflict regarding his own beliefs. The show ends with a vision of the end of suffering and Valjean’s contentment, as he has gained the redemption he’d hoped for.
Cast List:
Role: Student:
Jean Valjean: Samu Geller
Javert: Jude Pepin
Marius: Kameron Fehling
Éponine: Nika Polyakov
Fantine: Emily Madinabeitia
Cosette: Abigail Zaccone
Thénardier: Daniel Malikov
Madame Thénardier: Leah Miskiman
Enjolras: Courtney Barounis
Gavroche: Avril Kagan
Young Cosette: Isabela de Castro Soares
ABC Society:
Grantaire: AJ Ransdell
Combferre: Benjamin Harrelson
Feuilly: Will Moul
Courfeyrac: Liam Wood
Joly: Mckenna Portland
Prouvaire: Charlotte Zaccone
Lesgles: Priya Chopra
Thénardier’s Gang:
Montparnasse: Mark Walsh
Babet: Hannah Kalashian
Brujon: Will Moul
Claquesous: Maz Kay
Bishop of Digne: Aadhi Val
Bamatabois/Foreman: Matthew Ebarhart
Ensembles:
Featured ABC Ensemble:
Analise Cardullo, Rachel Christie, Matthew Ebarhart, Sarah Hayes, Hannah Kalashian, Elizabeth Pfeiffer, Charlotte Porter, Margaret Schwartz, Mark Walsh
Featured Dance Ensembles:
Ariana Begliomini, Rachel Christie, Analise Cardullo, Hannah Kalashian, Maz Kay, Mckenna Portland, Aric Sorchini, Kathleen Whitmore
Chain Gang:
Matthew Ebarhart, Ben Harrelson, Will Moul, AJ Ransdell, Michael Romanov, Aric Sorchini, Aadhi Val, Mark Walsh, Liam Wood
Ensemble:
Faye Budnik, Veronica Cifuentes, Chloe Fagan, Kylee Frankenbush, Elizabeth Herzog, Lainey Levens, Michael Romanov
While Les Misérables is all about redemption and hope, one thing the Mendham Players won’t be hoping for is the time when the seniors say their goodbyes to the program. When asked about what she is going to miss from the theater, senior Emily Madinabeitia stated, “I’d say, the read-throughs… Sitting down with everybody for the first time… I feel like it’s an awesome memory.” She also talked about how this program aided her in building self-confidence by forcing her to show vulnerability and not be worried about what the audience thinks of her. She mentioned, “I feel like I’m savoring my time a lot more now that I know it’s going to be my last show.” She says everything is a lot more meaningful and carries a heavier sentiment in all aspects. When asked about how to handle disappointment and further grow yourself, Emily shared, “…I’ve definitely been there… savor the experience while it lasts, [and] you can always find things to enjoy.”
The Mendham Players’ production of Les Misérables will not be one to sleep on, so purchase your tickets soon. Immerse yourself in the hard work that so many people put into this production, and enjoy the show!
Purchase here: wmmhs.booktix.com
