By Rose Picón, Staff Writer

 

This February, Syracuse has the opportunity to see one of Broadway’s most beloved musicals: Les Misérables. Based on the novel of the same name by French writer Victor Hugo, this musical has wowed audiences in theaters across the globe. And now, Syracuse has the opportunity to see the play without the expense of traveling to the Big Apple!

How did Syracuse get the opportunity to present this musical? It’s all thanks to an organization called NAC Entertainment, which presents National Touring Broadway shows to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Scranton, Penn. and Erie, Penn. NAC auditions actors from all over the country for road tours of famous broadways musicals such as Legally Blonde, The Color Purple, Starlight Express and West Side Story, and now they have decided to bring us Les Miserablés (Les Mis)!

NAC is performing Cameron Mackintosh’s, a famous London-based producer, production of Les Mis. NAC Entertainment is bringing us is the production of Les Mis created by the famous London producer, Cameron Mackintosh. Mackintosh has produced many productions that have appeared on Broadway, and all across the globe. Some of these productions include The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Avenue Q at Theatre Royal and Oliver! At Theatre Royal Drury Lane. His production of Les Mis first released at Queens Theatre in London.

21 years since its first performance, Les Mis has been acclaimed as the favorite musical of Britain and has received countless awards. In fact, Les Mis is even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records for having more concurrent productions than any other musical in history: 15 at one time! This year is the musical’s 25^th anniversary, and to celebrate, Mackintosh has altered the production to compliment another talent of Hugo’s through set design. Along with his writing talents, Hugo was also an excellent illustrator. He never released his work to the public, but he created more than 400 scenic drawings that Mackintosh was inspired to incorporate in the musical for the scenery. Les Mis has a brand new set that critics across the globe adore, and we have an opportunity to see Mackintosh’s renewed production. 

 

No one is more thrilled about the new production than the cast of Les Mis, who get to be a part of it! Max Quinlan plays one of the main characters in the show, Marius. He has done numerous shows across the country and has obtained lead roles in productions such as Jesus Christ Super Star at Theatre At the Center; Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda at Off Broadway’s York Theatre Company and Bowery Boys at NAMT in New York City. After gaining experience in several shows, Quinlan has finally landed a lead roll in Les Mis, a musical he has been dying to act in for quite some time. “Les Mis has been one of my dream shows since I was a kid,” Quinlan notes. “I fell in love the story, the music and the characters. The role of Marius has been one of my dream parts my whole life.” Quinlan must be in love with this role, because life of the road sure ain’t easy! “We do eight shows a week. Our one day off is used for travel,” he explains. “It’s challenging, but at the same time we’re all doing a show that we’re passionate about and that audiences love all across the country.”

Many people are able to identify with Les Mis is because it contains characters of all ages, classes, countries, and different life stories. The main character of Les Mis is Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who, after escaping prison, tries to revitalize his life by living morally. Valjean changes his name and starts his own manufacturing company. Amidst his success, a young woman named Fantine comes to work for him. After Valjean discovers that Fantine has an illegitimate child, his newfound moral conscience forces him to fire her, leaving her to a life of prostitution to support the child. Her time as a prostitute is short lived, however, because she is soon sent to jail for her actions. Simultaneously, Valjean’s true identity as an escaped convict is discovered and he is also sent to jail. This time together allows Fantine to explain to Valjean that she has to support her child, Cosette. During their incarceration, Fantine falls ill and dies by Valjean’s side. After escaping prison for a second time, Valjean vows to search for Cosette so he can treat her as his own daughter.

Years later, after Valjean finds Cosette and they develop a strong father-daughter relationship, a young law student named Marius falls in love with Cosette. Valjean does not want this love to thrive because he is determined to escape the political unrest in France at the time, so he chooses to flee to London with Cosette. Marius is heartbroken when he discovers Cosette has left, so he decides to join the rebellion.  Although Marius has changed, he cannot abandon his love for Cosette and continues to try to reach her through love letters. After reading Marius’ letters to Cosette, Valjean cannot help but give Marius a fresh start, considering his past and remembering that everyone deserves a second chance.

Les Mis is so captivating due to its engaging story, outstanding music and uplifting subject matter. It’s filled with messages about love, life, redemption, identity and hope. Quinlan is particularly a fan of the message of redemption. “One of the best messages in the musical is about getting a second chance,” he explains. “When you see the progression of Valjean and all he has gone through, you can see that one can improve oneself. Even if you do wrong in your life, if you change your pattern and better yourself, you get a second chance in life.“ The issues in Les Mis are so common to the problems that people experience in everyday life. Everyone in the audience could potentially relate one character and his or her struggles.

In case you don’t identify with a character in Les Mis, the music will still have you absolutely hooked! “The music is incredible,” Quinlan professes. “It’s beautiful. It’s sweeping. The music is what has allowed the show to have the life that it’s had. Everyone will leave the show knowing half the songs.” You’re sure to feel the energy of each beautiful song in Les Mis. The music truly pulls you into the production, it helps you sympathize with each character; you feel their triumph and their sadness along with them throughout the show. The actors also have magnificent, mesmerizing voices. Their alluring songs keep you on the tip of your seat and the lyrics of each song will help you understand what it means to be human, to make mistakes and to move on.

“It’s a musical that sort of makes you believe in mankind”, James Powell, the director of London’s production of Les MIs, said in an online documentary. “It’s spiritually uplifting. It’s key to success is that its timeless and tells a story everyone can identify with.” We’ve all made mistakes in our life, and when we get the chance to redeem ourselves, we should take it with great gratitude. Les Mis develops this message so clearly, and I highly recommend that you take the chance and see it yourself.

The musical will be performed from February 21-26 at Crouse Hinds Theatre, just steps off the Connective Corridor’s FREE bus service! Tickets are available on Famous Artists Broadway’s website.