Description:

An Epic Tale of Passion and Redemption

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. 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. 

Les Misérables will be performed by CharacterWorks' high school Masters Camp students at the conclusion of a 2-1/2 week summer camp.

Masters Camp productions often deal with issues and themes that are more mature than the shows during our mainstage season. CharacterWorks does not recommend this show for audiences under the age of 12. Parental guidance suggested.

Dates / Times:

  • Thursday, Jul 25th @ 7:00pm
  • Friday, Jul 26th @ 7:00pm
  • Saturday, Jul 27th @ 2:00pm
  • Saturday, Jul 27th @ 7:00pm
  • Sunday, Jul 28th @ 2:00pm
Tickets go on sale Wednesday July 3, 2024 at 5:00pm

Ticket Prices:

  • $20.00: Standard Ticket Price
  • $18.00: Group Ticket Price
    (Ticket Minimum: 10)

The Perkinson Center for the Arts & Education:

11810 Centre St, Chester, VA 23831

Show Notes:

Les Miserables (School Edition) will be performed by participants in CharacterWorks' 2024 high school Masters Camp students. Camp registration will open in early 2024. All campers signed up for Masters Camp will be cast in the show. Auditions and callbacks will help determine the casting of roles and ensembles.

Auditions, Callbacks, & Rehearsals
KingsWay Community Church
14111 Sovereign Grace Drive
Midlothian, VA 23114

Auditions: Sunday, 4/28, 2-9PM
Callbacks: Saturday, 5/4, 9AM-5PM
Cast List Posted: Wednesday, 5/8, 5PM

Performances
The Perkinson Center for the Arts & Education
11810 Centre St
Chester, VA 23831

View Masters Camp 2024 Daily Schedule & Audition Information

Auditions for Youth Roles
Younger students who wish to audition for the roles of Gavroche, Young Cosette, or Young Eponine will be asked to submit a video audition performing material from Les Misérables (School Edition) in late April, and may be asked to attend a callback on Sunday, April 28th or Saturday, May 4th. Performers in these roles will be required to attend all tech rehearsals and performances (July 22-28), as well as several other rehearsal dates during weeks 0 and 1 of camp. These students will be required to pay a reduced tuition & production fee to participate in the show. More information will be shared in the spring.

Characters:

Jean Valjean

Jean Valjean is the hero of the show. It is his life journey that we follow. Jean Valjean is supposed to be stronger than other men, and so he should physically appear robust. He should carry himself confidently onstage and come across to the audience as reasaonably mature and paternal. Valjean’s capacity for change is his greatest asset throughout the story. The key to his character is his great humanity and compassion.

Javert

Javert is the inspector who serves as antagonist to Jean Valjean. Javert is unswerving in his belief that men cannot change for the better. "Once a thief, always a thief" is his mantra. At first glance, Javert might appear to be the villain of the story, but upon closer examination, it is clear that he is not an evil man. He is a dedicated policeman with a profoundly strong sense of duty. Unlike Valjean, Javert's attitudes are rigid and unmovable. He is stern, forbidding, and lacking in compassion. Must convincingly stand up to Valjean. Rich baritone voice.

Fantine

Fantine is the beautiful, young girl who, abandoned by her lover, is left to fend for herself and her daughter, Cosette. She is rejected by society and forced through circumstances to sell herself. She is a brave woman defeated by life who clings to her dignity and is sustained by her love for her daughter, sacrificing everything for the young Cosette. The audience witnesses her descent through a series of terrible events leading to poverty, hunger, cold, loneliness, destitution, and death from consumption. Has a powerful voice that is more mezzo (or alto) than soprano.

Eponine

Eponine is the Thénardiers’ daughter. Living hand to mouth, she survives by helping her father in his life of crime. She is a young girl who is streetwise and tough but also sensitive and lonely. This tragic character is hopelessly in love with Marius, knowing that he will never love her. She bravely follows Marius to the barricades in the hope that they will die there together. Excellent singer with a contemporary edge to her voice.

Marius

Marius is the romantic hero of the story. He is impulsive, passionate, willful, and headstrong. His moods change according to his circumstances. He is sweet and tender but also capable of great courage and compassion. In Act I, Marius plays Romeo to Cosette’s Juliet. Marius matures after “The Café Song” as a result of his experiences on the barricade. Marius should have a lovely, lyrical voice with a contemporary edge.

Cosette

Cosette is Fantine’s strong-willed, loving daughter. She is an intelligent, inquiring, personable girl; she is not in any sense a sappy, romantic heroine. Once she is adopted by Jean Valjean, Cosette lives a comfortable, if secluded, life. She falls instantly in love with Marius, changing her world and her priorities. Has a lovely, lyrical soprano voice.

Enjolras

Enjolras is the student leader. He is handsome, brave, and daring, although youthful. He combines his revolutionary ideals with strong, charismatic leadership. Victor Hugo described him as “a thinker and a man of action.” Enjolras must inspire the students to fight and, ultimately, to die for their beliefs. Has a very strong high baritone or a tenor voice.

Thenardier

Thénardier is the true villain of Les Misérables. He is the embodiment of evil. That said, he should also possess a wicked sense of humor. He delights in cheating, robbing, defrauding, and blackmailing, and relishes every aspect of his schemes with glee. He is tough, greedy, brutal, lowbrow, crafty and yet irresistible. He hates society and blames it and everyone else for all his misfortune. Thénardier is also the opportunist and realist of the show. He is a thief, a liar, a cheat, and steals valuables from the dead with no remorse. He is also the comic relief of the production. However, his comedy is based in reality and shouldn’t be too exaggerated. He is married to Madame Thénardier and is father to Eponine and Gavroche (although he abandoned Gavroche to the streets of Paris). Vocally, the role is not incredibly demanding; a character voice is best.

Madame Thenardier

She is married to Thénardier. Together, Madame Thénardier and Thénardier con the world as partners in crime. They were made for each other, and although she complains about him, she loves him dearly. She is coarse and vulgar, unhappy in her existence without knowing why. She is romantic, greedy, manipulative, evil, and larger than life. She is mean and nasty to Little Cosette and able to improvise in nearly any situation. Role requires excellent physical comedy skills, good musicianship, and a good sense of rhythm.

Gavroche

Gavroche is Thénardier’s son. He is left to fend for himself and lives by his wits in the streets of Paris. His archenemy is Javert, the policeman. Gavroche is brave, witty, and arrogant, with a fantastic, unchanged voice. Gavroche has a very dramatic death at the barricade.

Young Cosette

Young Cosette is Fantine’s daughter and the Thénardiers’ ward. She has been forced into child labor. She is underfed, beaten by Madame Thénardier, and bullied by Eponine. Make sure your Young Cosette is small and looks properly pathetic yet warms the audience’s hearts.

Young Eponine

Young Eponine is the pampered daughter of the Thénardiers. She does little except taunt Young Cosette. The role requires no singing or speaking.

Grantaire

Grantaire is the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. Although he admires Enjolras, he loves to mock him. Witty and drunken, Grantaire is happy being with the group, and they put up with him because of his good humor. He also keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche, the mascot of the group, and is the most heartbroken when Gavroche is killed. He is so devastated by Gavroche’s death that Grantaire abandons his cynicism and rushes to die on the barricade. Member of the ABC society, which is a secret society of students and workers. The letters A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their downtrodden circumstance.

Feuilly

Feuilly is a worker who is a self-educated orphan. He is an affectionate, warm, and poetic believer in "nationality." Member of the ABC society, which is a secret society of students and workers. The letters A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their downtrodden circumstance.

Prouvaire

Prouvaire is a kind, soft-spoken, and, at the right moments, strong and masterful poet and student of social studies. Member of the ABC society, which is a secret society of students and workers. The letters A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their downtrodden circumstance.

Joly

Joly is an eccentric and light-hearted (although sometimes morbid) medical student. His name is derived from the English word “jolly.” Member of the ABC society, which is a secret society of students and workers. The letters A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their downtrodden circumstance.

Lesgles

Lesgles is a cheerful, laughing-at-life (but unlucky) student. He is a close friend of Joly. Member of the ABC society, which is a secret society of students and workers. The letters A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their downtrodden circumstance.

Combeferre

Combeferre is the philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong, and brave. Member of the ABC society, which is a secret society of students and workers. The letters A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their downtrodden circumstance.

Courfeyrac

Courfeyrac is a youthful, passionate, and fearless student. Member of the ABC society, which is a secret society of students and workers. The letters A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their downtrodden circumstance.

Bishop of Digne

The Bishop is a good man who shows Valjean compassion. The Bishop of Digne’s kindness carefully establishes the premise of the show by "buying Jean Valjean’s soul for God." Baritone.

Factory Girl 5

Girl 5 (Factory Girl) is the shop girl who fights with Fantine. She is mean, spiteful, and selfish. She also is most likely having an affair with the Foreman and is jealous of his affection for Fantine.

Chain Gang

The Chain Gang consists of Jean Valjean’s fellow prisoners. There are five soloists (Convicts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5).

Constables

Two featured solo roles.

Farmer

Featured solo role.

Laborer

Featured solo role.

Foreman

The Foreman begins Fantine on her desperate, downward spiral. He should be commanding and a bit sleazy around the edges.

Factory Workers

The Factory Workers include the following characters with solo lines: Workers 1 and 2, Woman, Factory Girls 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Lovely Ladies Ensemble

The Docks are a depressing and dangerous place to be, occupied by prostitutes and their customers. Prostitutes 1, 2, 3, and Sick Prostitute have solo lines.

Sailors

Three sailors who begin the docks scene and have solos.

Bamatabois

Bamatabois is the customer who taunts Fantine into violence. He is a wealthy, dissolute young man who thinks of himself as a gentleman, even dressing in expensive clothes.

Old Woman

The Old Woman is a nice featured solo role who purchases Fantine’s hair.

Pimp

The Pimp controls the prostitutes at the docks. He is mean, aggressive, and abusive. The Pimp has a small solo line in “The Docks.”

Onlookers and Bystanders (Cart Crash Scene)

These characters make up the crowd of people onstage that witness the cart crash. Onlookers 1, 2, 3, and 4 have solo lines.

Fauchelevant

Fauchelevant is the victim of the cart crash.

Judge

The Judge or Judges are non-singing roles. They appear once in a courtroom to preside over a trial against Jean Valjean.

Mistaken Jean Valjean and Family

These characters are also non-singing. Mistaken Jean Valjean is the man who Javert believes to be Jean Valjean.

Nuns

The two Nuns are non-singing and non-speaking roles. They serve to take care of Fantine in her sickness.

Brujon

A member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. Male or female.

Babet

A member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. Male or female.

Claquesous

A member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. Male or female.

Montparnasse

A member of Thenardier's gang of thieves. Male or female.

Army Officer

Featured solo, heard from offstage.

Women

Four soloists working-class Women in Scene 6 (Women 1, 2, 3, and 4) who sing about the events at the barricade.

Major Doom

Featured speaking role.

Ensemble

Revolutionaries, Wedding Guests, Thenardier Guests, People of Paris, Beggars, etc.