Lesher Will Hear The People Sing Contra Costa Musical Theatre Closes 53rd Season with Epic Production
WALNUT CREEK, February 15, 2014 — Contra Costa Musical Theatre (CCMT) will present the epic musical “Les Miserables“at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, March 21 through April 20, 2014. Tickets for “Les Miserables” range from $45 to $54 (with discounts available for seniors, youth, and groups) and are on sale now at the Lesher Center for the Arts Ticket Office, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, 925.943.SHOW (943-7469). Tickets can also be purchased online at www.lesherArtscenter.org.
Based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, “Les Miserables” has music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel and Herbert Kretzmer and book by Schonberg, Boublil, Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The show premiered in London, where it has been running continuously since 1985, making it the longest-running musical ever in the West End. It opened on Broadway in 1987 and ran for 6,680 performances, closing in 2003, making it the fifth longest-running show on Broadway. A Broadway revival ran from 2008 through 2010. A film version of the musical opened in 2012 and was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning three statues. “Les Miserables” won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical.
Set in early 19th-century France, it follows the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his quest for redemption after serving nineteen years in jail for having stolen a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving child. Deciding to break his parole, he is hunted relentlessly by a police inspector named Javert. Along the way, he meets an array of colorful characters and is swept into the revolutionary group of young idealists who decide to make their last stand together. The sung-through musical features many well known classics such as “I Dreamed a Dream”, “Master of the House”, “One Day More” and “Do You Hear The People Sing?”
This will be the first locally-produced professional production in the East Bay and will star Noel Anthony as Jean Valjean. Mr. Anthony is familiar to local audiences, and last appeared with CCMT as Corny Collins in Hairspray. Fans may also remember him playing Vittorio Vidal in Sweet Charity for Center REP last season. He has won both a Shellie Award and a San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award. Making his CCMT debut as the inspector Javert is Jerry Lee, who many may have seen playing the green-skinned creature Shrek last year for Diablo Theatre Company. The two outstanding professionals are joined by a “who’s-who” list of bay area performers, including Nicole Helfer as Fantine, Derek Travis Collard as Thenardier, Robert Lopez as Marius, Catherine Bartomeo as Cosette, Dae Spering as Madame Thenardier, Alex Moore as Enjolras, Jade Shojaee as Eponine, Brandon Beck as Gavroche and Michael McCarty as the Bishop. A talented ensemble rounds out the cast.
“The A Team” CCMT’s production will be led by an “A” team production staff with Director Scott Denison leading the charge. Mr. Denison has previously directed CCMT productions of Hairspray, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. Mr. Denison also has served as lighting designer for many CCMT productions, and directs Center REP’s production of A Christmas Carol every year. He is joined by Musical Director Brandon Adams in his first assignment for CCMT. Adams has worked with Center REP on several projects, most recently serving as Musical Director for Lucky Stiff, Xanadu and She Loves Me. The Choreography will be developed by Jennifer Perry. Ms. Perry has served CCMT numerous times, both as an award winning choreographer (Joseph, A Chorus Line, Hairspray, Cinderella) and director (Joseph, A Chorus Line, Oklahoma, 42nd Street). Mr. Adams and Ms. Perry will also serve in these respective roles for Center REP’s upcoming 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
Longtime favorite Kelly J Tighe will collaborate with Steven Jay Channon as the scenic and video designers, respectively. Liz Martin will handle the costumes. Mr. Tighe and Ms. Martin served in the same capacities for CCMT’s recent production of Tarzan.
“A Modern Classic- An Epic Tale” “Les Miserables” has gained fans worldwide for almost thirty years, and tours of the show have appeared in 42 countries. It has been translated into 21 different languages, with 8 different English recordings available, in addition to more than 20 recordings in other languages. So popular is “Les Miserables” that it can’t seem to stay off the boards on Broadway for very long, as the second revival is set to open on March 23rd of this year. The huge success of the recent film version starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway gave the show an even wider audience. CCMT is excited that the Lesher production will be some patrons’ first encounter with the show live on stage.
About Contra Costa Musical Theatre Based in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa Musical Theatre has a fifty-three year history of producing dynamic musical productions and providing a home to local and national talent. CCMT has won more Shellie Awards for musicals than any other regional company. Since its move to the Lesher Center for the Arts in 1990, CCMT has produced more than 40 full-scale productions, including the East Bay premieres of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Urinetown, the Musical, The Full Monty, RENT, Titanic, the Musical, Hairspray, Sunset Boulevard and Tarzan.
Media Contacts: Scott Strain Danny Boyle 925-639-6979 925-210-0268 [email protected] [email protected]