Mount Carroll--Les Misérables, the most popular musical ever written, will be presented at Timber Lake Playhouse for the first time Thursday, July 31 through Sunday, August 10. Special guest star Jason Kraack, who has played the role of Jean Valjean on the national tour, leads the TLP production under the direction of Matthew Teague Miller.
Executive Director James Beaudry said, "We've been very lucky to assemble 28 of the best performers we've ever had at Timber Lake for this production. Our director has a long history with show having performed it around the world, and our star is giving one of the finest performances I've ever seen. Additionally, the orchestra is the largest we've had in my time here, and they are astonishing."
Les Misérables premiered in London in 1985 (where it continues to run) and quickly grew to be a major hit in the United States and in productions around the world. Now in its third Broadway production, the musical has long been available to schools, but only recently have professional theatres been granted the rights to produce this epic and triumphant show.
The story of Les Misérables spans two decades and is one of passion, dreams and redemption set against the backdrop of a nation in the throes of rebellion. Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, finding nothing in store but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a life-long struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert. During the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront the truth after Valjean spares him and saves the life of Marius, a student revolutionary, who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter, Cosette.
Guest performer John B. Leen, a Jeff Award winner from Chicago, stars as Inspector Javert, with resident performers Nathan Goodrich and Caroline Murrah as Marius and Cosette, respectively. TLP favorite Erica Stephan returns to the company as Eponine, who longs for Marius. Lexie Plath plays Cosette's ill-fated mother, Fantine. Matt Webb and Analisha Santini proved comic relief as The Thenardiers, scheming their way through Paris.
Joining the adult cast are Lily Leding of Clinton, Iowa as Young Cosette, Avery Findlay of Savanna, Illinois as Young Eponine, and Cecelia Ryan of Sterling, Illinois as Gavroche.
"We were also lucky to find three young people in the area with the talent Lily, Cecelia and Avery have," says Beaudry. "They are a joy to work with, and the company's faces light up every time these young ladies perform."
"But it was the role of Jean Valjean--one of the most demanding in all musical theatre--that was the tough one. After a national search and many auditions in many cities, we found Jason Kraack. It's been a privilege to have him at Timber Lake for Les Misérables."
Of his experience at TLP, Kraack said, "I have been amazed by the talent here. The cast is just amazing. The band, the directors, the designers--all of it. Theaters like TLP have their pick of the best talents of the future and they certainly hired the best young talents for this show. I have very much enjoyed the chance to mentor and learn from these great performers in our cast. I can't wait for audiences to see the hard work we have been doing for the past few weeks. They are going to be blown away!"
Les Misérables performs evenings at 7:30 p.m., and there are 2:00 p.m. matinees on Sundays and Wednesday. There is also a Saturday matinee performance on the opening weekend at 3pm. Tickets are $17-$23 and may be purchased through the box office 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily at 815-244-2035 or any time at www.timberlakeplayhouse.org.
As part of the playhouse's Do Something Spectacular: Live The Story campaign, TLP is partnering with The Table, a group that serves hot meals in Carroll County Monday through Friday at no charge. Part of Great River Outreach, The Table has served over 45,000 meals to date. A non-perishable food drive to support The Table will be held at TLP throughout the run of Les Misérables.
The Table has a specific need for cereal, rice, dry beans, peas, soda crackers, egg and elbow pasta, canned fruit, pancake mix, and pork and beans. Cash donations may be made to cover the organization's needs for meat. Anyone able to make a donation of chickens, pigs or cows is encouraged to contact the organization directly at 815-990-6511 or greatriveroutreach@yahoo.com. All non-perishable donations may be dropped off at Timber Lake Playhouse, located at 8215 Black Oak Road in Mount Carroll, during box office hours (10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or before any performance of Les Misérables.
Full Production Credits:
TIMBER LAKE PLAYHOUSE Presents a new production of BOUBLIL and SCHÖNBERG'S Les Misérables, a musical by ALAIN BOUBLIL and CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG. Based on a novel by VICTOR HUGO. Music by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG. Lyrics by HERBERT KRETZMER. Original French Text by ALAIN BOUBLIL and JEAN-MARC NATEL. Additional material by JAMES FENTON. Adapted and originally directed by TREVOR NUNN and JOHN CAIRD. Orchestrations by JOHN CAMERON
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Directed by
MATTHEW TEAGUE MILLER
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Music Direction by CINDY BLANC
Assistant Music Director MICHAEL USELMANN
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Original London Production by CAMERON MACKINTOSH and THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY
"Les Miserables" is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 W. 54th St. New york, NY 10019
Ph. 212-541-4684 Fax. 212-397-4684 www.mtishows.com
This program is partially sponsored by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency, through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
CAST:
Jean Valjean ............................................................................ Jason Kraack*
Javert .......................................................................................... John Leen
Fantine ....................................................................................... Lexie Plath
Eponine .................................................................................. Erica Stephan
Cosette ................................................................................ Caroline Murrah
Marius ................................................................................ Nathan Goodrich
Thenardier .................................................................................. Matt Webb
Madame Thenardier ............................................................... Analisha Santini
Enjorlas .................................................................................. Gabriel Brown
Gavroche .................................................................................. Cecelia Ryan
Young Cosette ........................................................................... Lily Leding
Young Eponine .................................................................... Avery Findlay
Feuilly, Ensemble.................................................................. Ryan Armstrong
Ensemble ............................................................................. Anastasia Arnold
Brujon, u/s Jean Valjean ....................................................... Christopher Brady
Bamatabois, Grantaire ................................................................ Grant Brown
Joly, u/s Marius ............................................................... Christian Chambers
Ensemble, u/s Cosette ................................................................ Bethany Fay
Ensemble .................................................................................. Allison Hunt
Claquesous, Ensemble .................................................................. Cody Jolly
Bishop of Digne, Lesgles, Ensemble, u/s Javert ................................ Sean Knight
Courfeyrac, Ensemble ............................................................ Hunter Lindner
Ensemble, u/s Eponine ........................................................... Jessica Palkovic
Foreman, Combeferre, Ensemble ............................................. Blake W. Price
Montparnasse, Ensemble ............................................................... Levi Skoog
Babet, Ensemble .................................................................... Sawyer Smith*
Jean Prouvaire, Ensemble ..................................................... Cameron Turner
Ensemble, u/s Fantine ............................................................... Melissa Weyn
*These actors appear through the courtesy of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
PRODUCTION DESIGN & STAFF
Production Stage Manager............................................ Mary-Catherine Mikalayunas
Assistant Stage Manager............................................................................ Katie Ritter
Scenic Designer........................................................................................... Colt Frank
Lighting & Projection Designer............................................................... James Kolditz
Technical Director....................................................................................... CJ Sneath
Properties Master ............................................................................. Anders Goodwin
Sound Designer / Master Electrician ................................................. Lucas Pawelski
Assistant Technical Director / Master Carpenter ..................................Joe Simpson
Carpenter ................................................................................................. Riley Wood
Scenic Artist ............................................................................. Ben Lipinski
Costume Shop Manager, Wig Designer ....................................... Emma Crafton
Assistant Costume Shop Manager ......................................... Kathleen Embrey
Costuming Assistant........................................................................... Corina Walbert
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