JULY 18-24, 2013 --------------------------- Cover Story • Les Misérables -------------------------- Come the Revolution! By Jen Poiry-Prough formers rejoiced. For years, all fans could do love with the complexity of the show while was memorize the score and tirelessly debate performing in her high school production. It’s finally happened. The French revo- who was the quintessential Javert – Philip “There is something for everyone to relate lution has come to the Fort Wayne Civic Quast or Anthony Warlow. Now, all over the to in the show,” she says. “How can you not Theatre. country, they are auditioning for their local love it?” For countless amateur performers, per- productions in droves, flocking from miles According to the Fort Wayne Civic forming in the beloved musical Theatre’s blog, 159 hopefuls audi- Les Misérables has been a sort tioned for this production and 45 of impossible dream (to borrow a were cast. line from another show). The show would have to be The musical version of Vic- special for the most talented per- tor Hugo’s story about finding re- formers in town to commit up to demption and human connection 15 hours a week throughout the was written in 1980 by Claude- entire summer. Wilhelm says he Michel Schönberg with original is already extremely selective as French lyrics by Alain Boublil and to what shows he performs in. In Jean-Marc Natel. The English- addition to being a server at Ed- language version (with libretto by die Merlot’s, he is the lead singer Herbert Kretzmer) opened in 1985 of the hip-hop/funk band Djenetic in London where it has run contin- Drift and the father of two. Still, uously since. It ran on Broadway Wilhelm insists it’s been worth the from 1987 to 2003, with 6,680 sacrifice. performances. There have been “This cast is absolutely amaz- multitudes of tours, broadcast an- ing to work with,” he says. “I knew niversary concerts and recordings by seeing the caliber of people at over the years. And in 2012, Tom callbacks that I really wanted to be Hooper directed a film version in this show. Greg said he could that won a bunch of major film have basically cast this show awards. twice because the turnout was so But up until recently the rights amazing.” to Les Misérables have been un- At the callbacks, music di- available to amateur groups (with rector Eunice Wadewitz told the the exception of student groups). performers to wipe any memory Until now, it seemed that the op- of the recent film musical out of portunity to sing “On My Own” their minds. They were looking in front of a crowd was karaoke for outstanding, operatic singers. night. Anne Hathaway’s performance The story centers on Jean might have been Oscar-worthy, Valjean, a man in prison for steal- FORT WAYNE CIVIC THEATRE but it wasn’t what they were look- ing a loaf of bread to feed his starving ing for. family. He is paroled but is arrested for LES MISÉRABLES Wilhelm says the cast has lived up stealing from a bishop who shows kind- Saturdays, July 27; Aug. 3 & 10 • 8 p.m. to expectation. “Everyone is killing it,” July 19 - August 27, 2013 ness by vouching for him. This kind- Sundays, July 28; Aug. 4 & 11 • 2 p.m. he says. “The ensemble and chorus are ness turns Valjean’s life around, but he some of the most talented choral sing- can’t find work because of his crimi- Fridays, Aug. 2 & 9 • 8 p.m. ers I’ve ever gotten to work with.” OPENING RECEPTION: nal past. He breaks parole, changes Arts United Center Frymier agrees. “This is such a his name and (rather inexplicably) be- 303 E . Main St. , Fort Wayne wonderful cast – and talented,” he says. FRIDAY, JULY 19 comes mayor and a factory owner. He “Oh, my gosh. [It’s] a great bunch of adopts Cosette, the orphaned daughter Tix: $15-$26 thru box office, people.” 6-9 P.M. of Fantine, one of his former factory 260-424-5220, www.fwcivic.org Pearson calls the talent in the cast workers. Javert, the single-minded po- “phenomenal” and says she gets chills liceman who paroled Valjean, discovers his around, dreaming a dream of being a part of every single time a cast member sings. identity and vows to bring him back to jus- this extraordinary opus. Regarding Stieber, she says, “He has tice. Todd Frymier, who plays the lead role of had a dream for this show for many years PEOPLE’S Years later, a group of students plan a Jean Valjean, was not one of them. and has a way of sharing his vision so viv- revolt against the government which tyran- “This may surprise you,” he says, “but I idly that it ignites the same excitement in the CHOICE AWARDS nizes the poor. Cosette, now grown, falls really didn’t know much about the show be- actors. He is encouraging, collaborative and Visit the gallery & vote in love with Marius, one of those students. fore being cast.” The show’s reputation and creative. He’s found this brilliant balance of Eponine, the daughter of the innkeepers who word of mouth from his theatre friends led to respecting the historical interpretation while for your favorite pieces! had abused Cosette as a child, is also in love his decision to audition. also making it his own.” with Marius, but he doesn’t know it. Jake Wilhelm, who plays Enjolras, Frymier adds, “It’s always great to work The revolution happens, people die and wasn’t a lifelong fan of the show either. His with a director who understands an actor’s 300 E. Main St. Fort Wayne, IN 46802 redemption occurs. decision to audition was based on his friend- standpoint as well.” artlinkfw.com • 260.424.7195 Despite a somewhat complicated plot, ship and stage history with the show’s direc- Wilhelm likes Stieber’s directing style as Hours: Tue-Fri 10-5, Sat 12-6, Sun 12-5 it is one of the most often-performed, most tor, Greg Stieber, and the knowledge that the well. “Greg is such a pro,” he says. “He al- iconic and best-loved musicals of all time, show’s popularity would not only draw huge lows his actors to make choices on their own seen by over 65 million people in 42 coun- audiences, but stellar performers as well. and discusses [the choices with them].” tries and 22 languages. As for Bridget Pearson, who won the Managing 45 people in an onstage mas- So when the rights were opened up to coveted role of Eponine, the scrappy tom- amateur groups, community theatre per- boy who sings “On My Own,” she fell in Continued on page 5 2 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- www.whatzup.com -----------------------------------------------------------------July 18, 2013 whatzup Volume 17, Number 49 here is the time going?! Summer’s half over already. Can you believe it? While we wish the time would slow down, we can’t complain – W there’s far too much to look forward to in the 2nd half of summer! Some of our suggestions for the week include the Artlink Members’ Show (opening reception this Friday), Rock the Plaza (lineup on page 9), bluegrass at CS3 on Thursday with Honky Suckle, 9 to 5 ... The Musical (ends Sunday), comedy at Snickerz and, of course, Three Rivers Festival activities. Next week’s lineup is spicing things up a bit as well. The Battle of the Bands Quarterfinals Round 2 take place at Columbia Street West on Thursday (page 9). Come down and vote for your favorite to advance to the next round. If you begin to see a few more rainbows than usual, it may likely be in prepa- ration for the popular Pride festival next weekend. Check out the music lineup and other details on page 4. Also coming next week is the highly anticipated Fort Wayne Civic Theatre production of Les Misérables. Find out what the buzz is about on page 2 and get those tickets early. If you’re a fan of Caribbean rhythms and culture, read page 5 and catch Roots Rock Society and TRIAAC Jenbe Ensemble at the Botanical Conservatory next Friday. Need a vacation? Check out page 13 and hop a bus to Put-In-Bay with Rock 104 in a few weeks. Are your taste buds craving something new? Check out page 22 for pop-up and specialty dining options. Whatever it is you decide to do this week and next, just remember to tell everyone whatzup sent you. • features FARE WARNING ............................ 20 A Busy Season on City Stages SCREENTIME ................................ 20 LES MISÉRABLES .....................................2 Go See Pacific Rim & Call It a Week Come the Revolution! DINING OUT ................................... 22 PRIDE FEST ................................................4 Pop-Up & Specialty Dining Growing Support & Pride ROOTS ROCK SOCIETY .............................5 It’s a Cultural Thing • calendars • columns & reviews LIVE MUSIC & COMEDY ...................7 Pregnant? MUSIC/ON THE ROAD ...................12 SPINS ...............................................6 ROAD TRIPZ ..................................14 Let’s do lunch... Baths, Smith Westerns ART & ARTIFACTS .........................15 and talk about your options. BACKTRACKS ..................................6 STAGE & DANCE ...........................15 Adoption can be a fresh start with The Beatles, Abbey Road (1969) KARAOKE & DJS ...........................16 free support, living expenses and OUT & ABOUT ...................................8 a friendly voice 24 hrs/day. A Great Week for Fort Wayne Rockers THINGS TO DO ..............................16 You can choose the perfect family ROAD NOTEZ ................................. 12 MOVIE TIMES ................................18 for your baby from happy, carefully- FLIX ................................................ 18 Cover design by Greg Locke screened couples who live right Climate Change & Indies Will Save the Movies Les Miz cover and page 2 photos by Rob here in Indiana.