Information Provided Below

Audition Information

Character Breakdown

Crew Information

Audition Songs

Play Summary

Musical Numbers

Audition Details

You sign up to audition by filling out the interest form. The interest form is on www.popetheater.org.

Create a login (If you don’t already have one)
Be a member of drama club (Join 1x a year)
Go to My Forms
Go to Information
You should see the form there.
After you complete your interest form go to the audition sign-up to select a time for your audition. HERE

These are traditionally the three areas of musical audition. This show is a little different.

Acting – Les Misérables is a sung-through show. In other words, there is no spoken dialogue. For this reason, there is no specific acting audition for this show. It is vital that you use your song to demonstrate your acting prowess.
Singing – everyone will be performing a song from the show. A computer accompaniment will be provided. There are multiple songs to choose from, all listed below. Select the song that best suits your voice and most closely resembles the character you are most interested in playing.
Dancing – Although there will be some dance in the musical, there will be no dance audition. Ms. Johnna will create choreography that fits the ability of the actors and the scene.

Audition Tips

To memorize or not to memorize? Always a popular question. We do not require the songs be memorized. That said, the more familiar you are with the material, the more effective your audition will be.
Be as familiar with the play and the characters as is possible. The script/score is available on our website. The original cast album is widely available. Be aware that there are differences between that album and the version we have licensed for performance.
Be confident – even if you have never done this before, walk into the audition as if you own the place.
Make bold choices – you need to show us your stuff. These are bigger than life characters, don’t just stand and sing.
You will be the only student in the room during your audition, unless you have chosen the duet. In that case, it will be just you and your partner. You will be auditioning for the directors. You will walk into the room and hand us your audition form that the stage manager hands you when you sign in. You will slate (name, grade, part) and then sing your song. Do not be surprised if the directors have you has you sing some scales. We need to have a clear idea of your vocal range. We may or may not also ask you to make and adjustment and sing a section again. Either way does not reflect on how well you’re doing on your audition.
You may be nervous. That is a good thing. The key is to channel your nerves into good positive energy. It is important to remember that the directors want you to be great.
Though everything is available on the website, hard copies of the songs are also available from Mr. Jones in 321.

Also, things to remember about auditions:

No part belongs to anyone until the cast list has been published. There is no pre-casting.
Everyone should fight for the role s/he wants. (By being prepared, focused, and working hard)
You are always auditioning - I'm looking for people I can trust. I want to know you're going to fulfill whatever job/role you get to the best of your ability (you are at rehearsals, on time, and prepared), that you're going to be kind to the people around you, and you will have a positive attitude.

Audition Songs

There are five songs from which to choose. Don’t worry that the song is not from a character that you are interested in playing. The general audition is to hear your voice quality and to gage your ability to act the song. The interest form provides the opportunity to tell us which characters you are interested in playing.

Cosette/Marius: (together) #16 "A Heart Full of Love": Pickup to measure 10 through Cosette at measure 64 (Marius does not sing at 63) music

Eponine: #19 "The Barricade": Pickup to measure 120-147 music

Fantine: #3 "I Dreamed A Dream" 33-68 music

Javert: #26 "Javert's Suicide": measures 66-92 music

Valjean: "Prologue": measure 297-323 music

Callbacks

We will callbacks on Thursday, 1/22 from 3:30pm – 6:00pm. Just because you are not called back for callbacks does not mean you will not be cast in the show. Although the end time listed on the schedule is 6pm, but you never know how a callback will go. Not everyone will be staying until the end. We will send people home throughout the evening. It is possible, though not likely, that the callback may go later than 6pm. Be prepared. The list of callback songs will be available prior to the callback. This will give everyone a chance to look at the material in advance of the callback audition.

Les Mis Crew

You sign up for crew by filling out the interest form. The interest form is on popetheater.org.
- Create a login (if you don’t already have one)
- Be a member of drama club (1x a year)
- Go to My Forms
- Go to Information
- You should see the form there.
Leadership technical positions generally are assigned to experienced theatre students, but we do make exceptions from time to time, so sign up for whatever you are interested in.
The crew list usually goes up within a day or two of the cast list, if not the same day.
All crew members will need to attend first rehearsal Monday, January 26 from 3:30pm-7:00pm

Tech Positions

Stage Manager – attends all rehearsals, in charge of show once it opens. Calls cues, manages all backstage activities.

Assistant Stage Manager(s) – assists PSM in all backstage activities.

Set Construction Head – assists Mr. Chip in construction of the set. Also leads stage crew.

Light Head –designs, hangs and focuses the show. Oversees light crew and operates board during the run of the show.

Sound Head – designs and executes the sound design. Helps mic the cast. Oversees crew and operates board during the run of the show.

Props Head – secures all props for show, coordinates prop crew for run of show.

Make-Up Head/ Coordinator - will work closely with our cast, in charge of make-up execution during the run of the show and the makeup crew.

Costume Head – designs and acquires costumes, oversees the costume crew and in charge of helping actors manage costumes for run of show.

Light Crew – Operates follow-spots for the run of the show.

Sound Crew – operates sound board for run of show. Also serves as microphone wrangler,

coordinating equipment with sound head during run of show.

Run Crew – responsible for moving set pieces and scenery on and off-stage during run of show. Expected at all set build days.

Prop Crew – responsible for assisting with managing all props during the run of the show. May be part of run crew; a great entry point for Pope Theater

Costume/Make-up Crew – assist actors with costumes and make-up during run of show.

Calendar

Please be honest about conflicts. You'll find the Pope Theater calendar which includes rehearsal and performance dates here: Calendar; Anything labeled SM is Spring Musical. Please take the time to compare this to your family calendar/sports calendars, etc. We do our best to list all of our rehearsal, set build/strike, and performance dates ahead of time, but reserve the right to adjust as needed. Many of you will be singing in most group numbers and conflicts will affect casting.

Fees

The show fees are $340 for actors and $190 for tech and are due January 30.

Volunteers

Parents, when the cast and crew are announced, you'll receive more detailed information from your production manager about volunteer opportunities. Please be on the look out for emails.

Play Summary

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. The multi-award-winning Les Misérables is as groundbreaking today as it was when it first premiered in London in 1985. Featuring updated orchestrations based on the Tony-nominated 2014 Broadway revival, Les Misérables School Edition also includes new support materials including a Reference Recording for rehearsals, an enhanced Director’s Guide and an expanded Study Guide.

In nineteenth century France, Jean Valjean is released from years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a lifelong struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter.

Epic, grand and uplifting, Les Misérables School Edition packs an emotional wallop that has thrilled audiences all over the world. The sung-through piece is ideal for a cast of exceptional singers and overflows with melodies that are already standards. This author-approved edition has been abridged to a running time of just over two hours while beautifully maintaining the integrity of this musical masterpiece.

Character Breakdown

Principal Roles (Male)

Jean Valjean: A paroled convict and the protagonist and moral center of the show. Failing to find work with his yellow parole note and redeemed by the Bishop of Digne’s mercy, he tears up the parole note and conceals his identity to live his life as an honest man. He redeems himself repeatedly with selfless acts of generosity and love. He steps in to save Fantine. He adopts Cosette and ultimately gives his blessing to her and Marius, allowing them to marry. He rescues Marius from the barricade.

Javert: Police Inspector who relentlessly pursues Valjean for breaking parole. He sees the world and its people in shades of black and white, and believes that no one—including himself—is capable of change or redemption. He is NOT the villain, but his idea of the law is merciless and unbending

Thenardier: An opportunist who has survived by robbing, cheating, stealing and looking out for himself, above all. Crooked, irreverent, selfish, boorish, vulgar. He plays the “bon vivant” host because it serves him well, and later leads a gang of dangerous thieves. Comic relief along with his wife Madame Thenardier.

Marius: A young student who is searching for himself and his purpose through his studies and through the revolutionary ideas of his peers. He is a casual friend of Eponine, but falls in love with Cosette instantly at a chance meeting. Marius’ experiences at the barricade age and mature him.

Enjolras: Charismatic leader of the student revolutionaries. He believes that “the people” will join him in the fight to make a better world. Friend to Marius and the ABC students-- who are willing to follow him to the barricades and beyond.

Principal Roles (Female)

Fantine: Desperate, haunted, terrified, hopeful, proud and fiercely protective of Cosette, Fantine is a woman who has been abandoned by her lover and seeks to support herself and her child, first by reputable work and then by selling everything that she has, including her body. As she dies of consumption, she asks Valjean to look after Cosette. Ultimately, she appears as a spirit and escorts the dying Valjean to paradise.

Eponine: Daughter of the Thenardiers, she has followed in her parents’ footsteps to life on the street. Once pampered, now a ragged waif, she has learned to take what she needs and wants from anyone not strong enough to protect it. The only thing she can’t have is the love of Marius.

Cosette: Fantine’s daughter, she has become beautiful under Valjean’s care. She is lively, personable, curious and mischievous. She challenges him, behaving with dignity and imagination when seeking information about her past. She falls instantly in love with Marius, changing her world and her priorities.

Madame Thenardier: Opportunistic wife of Thenardier. She is coarse, greedy, larger than life, and able to improvise in any situation. Scheming, comic and quick to see an opportunity.

Children’s Roles

(may be high school or middle school students)

Young Cosette: Fantine’s young daughter. Boards with The Thenardiers. She is mistreated, worked like a drudge, beaten by Madame and bullied by young Eponine. She is fearful, lonely and dreams of something better.

Young Eponine: non-singing/non-speaking. The Thenardiers spoiled, pampered daughter who bullies young Cosette mercilessly.

Gavroche: A child of the streets who has made his way with intelligence, honor and a cocky courage that endears him to the student revolutionaries. He sees himself as one of them.

Featured Ensemble Roles (Males)

Bishop of Digne: Houses Valjean after his release from jail and gives him gifts of silver and absolution. His act of kindness inspires Valjean to improve

himself and escape the label of “criminal”. This role will be changed to a nun so that a female can play the role.

Male ABC SOCIETY: Students and workers, part of a secret society to fight for freedom. The students are from wealthy families, the workers are a stark contrast. They include:

Combeferre: a philosopher and believer in He is gentle, humane, strong and brave.
Feuilly: a worker, self-educated and an orphan. A Believer in “nationality”. Affectionate, warm, poetic
Courfeyrac: a student, He is youthful, passionate and
Joly: a medical student. Eccentric and lighthearted, although occasionally morbid. His name is from the English “jolly”
Prouvaire: a student of social studies. He is kind, soft spoken and at the right moments strong and masterful. He is a poet.
Lesgles: a student, cheerful, laughing at life but unlucky. Close friends with
Grantaire: a student, the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. He admires Enjolras but loves to mock him. Witty and often drunk, he is happy being with the group and they put up with him because of his good humor. He keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche.

Thenardier’s Gang of Thieves. They include:

Brujon: Physically strong. The body of a bear and a pea sized brain. a gangster, stupid and evil.
Babet: Physically frail, but lean and cunning
Claquesous: “He is the night.” tough, dangerous and secretive
Montparnasse: a teenager, handsome and Kills with a knife. Possessive of Eponine

The Foreman: The foreman of the factory where Fantine works. He is sleazy and even a bit menacing

Bamatabois: The “customer “who taunts Fantine into violence. Wealthy, dissolute young man who thinks of himself as a gentleman. Drunk, sadistic and feels he can buy anything-even Fantine.

The Pimp: Controls the prostitutes at the dock. Mean, aggressive and abusive. Small solo line in “Lovely Ladies”

Other male ensemble: Chain Gang, Farmers, Laborers, Sailors, Constables, Citizens, Beggars, Wedding Guests, Waltzers

Featured Ensemble Roles (Females)

Factory Girl/Woman 1: Fights with Fantine. Mean, catty and threatened by Fantine’s beauty. Jealous of the attention that the foreman pays her.

Old Woman: E to high D. This is the woman who bargains with Fantine for her hair.

Other female ensemble: Farmers, Innkeeper’s Wife, Lovely Ladies, Factory Workers, Citizens, Beggars, Wedding Guests, Waltzers

As we have done in other shows, cast members may sing offstage even if they’re not in the scene.

Musical Numbers

A word about the School Edition of Les Misérables. The School Edition is the only version that is allowed to be performed by high schools. There are not that many differences between the two. Some of the songs have been arranged in different keys to make them more manageable for high school voices. No characters or songs have been eliminated from the show, but some verses have been eliminated or cut down. For this reason they have renamed some of the songs. In the list below, I have put in parenthesis the names of the songs from the original.

Act I

Prologue (Work Song, What Have I Done)

At The End Of The Day

I Dreamed A Dream

The Docks (Lovely Ladies)

The Cart Crash (Who Am I)

Fantine's Death (The Confrontation)

Little Cosette (Castle on a Cloud)

The InnKeeper's Song (Master of the House)

The Bargain

The Beggars (Look Down)

The Robbery

Stars

The ABC Café (Red and Black)

The People's Song (Do You Hear the People Sing)

Rue Plumet (In My Life)

A Heart Full Of Love

The Attack On Rue Plumet

One Day More

Act II

Building The Barricade (On My Own)

Javert At The Barricade (Little People, A Little Fall of Rain)

The First Attack

The Night (Drink With Me, Bring Him Home)

The Second Attack

The Final Battle The Sewers

Javert's Suicide (Turning)

The Café Song (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables)

Marius & Cosette

The Wedding Epilogue