MADISON — It is a story about restoration and redemption.
Victor Hugo’s epic work “Les Miserables” is just such a story. Considered a classic for 150 years, it is the inspiration for the Broadway musical by the same name.
“Les Miserables, School Edition,” opened at Rabbit Run Theater Thursday. “Les Miserables,” a musical by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, was a smash Broadway hit in 1987 and received eight Tony awards including Best Musical.
The musical is specially performed by young adults and contains all the familiar and best-loved melodies from the Broadway production including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “One Day More” and “Do You Hear the People Sing?”
Set in early 19th century France, “Les Miserables” is an epic story of redemption and restoration. A convict for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean breaks parole and is relentlessly pursued for 20 years by a prison guard and a police official, Javert. Valjean gains responsibility for an orphan girl and struggles to provide and protect her while eluding the persistent Javert all amidst student turmoil and revolution in the streets of Paris.
Lake Catholic graduate (2009), James Penca portrays Jean Valjean. Penca was most recently seen as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in Lake Catholic’s spring musical, “Jekyll and Hyde.” He has also appeared in the Rabbit Run productions of “Titanic, the Musical” and “Swing.” Javert is played by another Lake Catholic student, Kyle Lorek. This is Lorek’s first appearance at Rabbit Run.
Caitlin Rose, 2009 graduate of Madison High School, is Fantine. Rose has made numerous appearances in area community theaters including G. B. CommunityTheater, Geauga Lyric Theater Guild in addition to Rabbit Run.
Cossette is portrayed by Mayim Hamblen, recently seen in Geauga Lyric Theater Guild’s production of Once On This Island. Kelly Smith is cast as Eponine. Smith’s theatrical credits include The Beck Center, Fine Arts Association as well as Rabbit Run Theater. The student Marius is played by Adam Cooper in his first appearance at Rabbit Run.
“We’ve wanted to do ‘Les Miserables, School Edition’ for awhile,” said show director Brint Learned and executive director of Rabbit Run Community Arts Association. “The timing was right to take on this epic show. Normally our young adult production’s run for one week, but this show is so popular and familiar to people, and with the cast we have put together, one week just wouldn’t be enough.”
The play continues today through through Sunday, July 2-5 and July 9-11. All shows begin at 8 p.m. Historic Rabbit Run Theater is located at 5648 W. Chapel Road and is one of the few remaining barn theaters in Ohio.
Tickets may be reserved by calling the box office at 428-7092, Wednesday through Sunday, 3 to 7 p.m. Tickets may also be purchased on line at www.rabbitrunonline.org. Special rates and packages are available for groups of 20 or more and may be reserved by calling RRCAA at 428-5913.
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