Chemainus Theatre Festival Presents A new production of BOUBLIL and SCHÖNBERG’s June 20 to September 7 2014 Mark DuMez Artistic Director VANCOUVER ISLAND’S THEATRE GETAWAY The Chemainus Theatre Festival’s production of Les Misérables is presented with the generous assistance of: DUNCAN IRON WORKS The videotaping or other video or audio recording of this production is strictly prohibited. Les Misérables is licensed by Music Theatre International (MTI) by arrangement with CAMERON MACKINTOSH LTD. LES MISERABLES is presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI). All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI. 421 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019, Phone: 212-541-4684 Fax: 212-397-4684, www.MTIShows.com The Chemainus Theatre Festival engages, under the terms of the Independent Theatre Agreement, professional Artists who are members of the Canadian Actors’ Equity Association. The Chemainus Theatre Festival acknowledges the support of Canadian Actors’ Equity Association and its members. VANCOUVER ISLAND’S THEATRE GETAWAY Chemainus Theatre Festival 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 BOUBIL and JEAN-MARC NATEL Additional material by JAMES FENTON Adapted and originally directed by TREVOR NUNN and JOHN CAIRD Orchestrations by JOHN CAMERON* Director Peter Jorgensen Musical Director Kevin Michael Cripps Set Designer Amir Ofek Costume Designer Jessica Bayntun Lighting Designer Mike Taugher Sound Designer Paul Tedeschini Stage Manager Sara Robb Apprentice Stage Manager Emma Hammond Michelle Bardach Eponine Violin Jiten Beairsto Lauren Bowler Fantine Cello Emily Burton Reuben Broadway / Piano Kevin Michael Cripps Sebastian Tow Gavroche Viola Shifra Day / Shima Takeda Sarah Carlé Ensemble Violin Hollas Longton Graham Coffeng Enjolras Vanessa Croome Cosette Jay Davis Javert Craig DeCarlo Ensemble SETTING: Paris, France in the 1800’s Lily Killam / Jillian Telfer Little Cosette during the period of the Restoration. Brad L’Écuyer Ensemble Jesse Martyn Ensemble INTERMISSION: There will be one Caitriona Murphy Mme. Thenardier 20-minute intermission. Kieran Martin Murphy Valjean Jeffrey Pufahl Ensemble Micheal Querin Bishop/Ensemble Sayer Roberts Marius Julia Ullrich Ensemble Andrew Wheeler M. Thenardier Original London Production by CAMERON MACKINTOSH and THE ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY* VANCOUVER ISLAND’S THEATRE GETAWAY MESSAGE FROM THE MANAGING DIRECTOR RANDAL HUBER The Chemainus Theatre Festival is a not-for-profit, registered charity, just the same as theatres across Canada including even the largest companies like Ontario’s Shaw & Stratford Festivals. In fact, the arts & cultural sector of our beautiful country is comprised of more than 14,000 organizations: theatres, opera & ballet companies, museums and galleries. Survival of this sector depends on the financial support of the public and each year more than 750,000 Canadians donate over 100 million dollars to the arts & cultural sector. Producing live theatre is a delicate balance. Here in Chemainus, revenue from ticket sales cover about 74% of the expenses that we incur to create live theatre. We’re required to raise the balance through private donations, corporate sponsorship, grants and fundraising events. We encourage you to pick up a Membership brochure and consider making a charitable gift. It will help ensure that we can continue to produce live theatre and grand experiences such as the one that you’re about to experience. Live theatre is one of the great things that make life on Vancouver Island so incredible. Join us and keep it alive. “Life is not a dress rehearsal. Rose Tremain” Protect the things that are important to you. LMG Pringle Pringle Insurance, Insurance, the the only only independently independently owned insurance insurance agency agency in thein the Cowichan Cowichan Valley, Valley, is proudproud to to support support the the Chemainus Chemainus Theatre Theatre Show show “Les“Noises Misérables” Off” and the and arts the in our arts community. in our community. Enjoy thethe show! show! VANCOUVER ISLAND’S THEATRE GETAWAY MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR MARK DUMEZ For the Chemainus Theatre Festival, an organization dedicated to exploring and nourishing truth, hope, redemption, love and the human spirit, Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables is an exciting undertaking. The core of the tale goes straight to the heart. To tell the expansive story, we’ve brought in our largest team, extended technical rehearsals and pre-production planning and added other resources to the show. And yet, in this intimate theatre, we get to enjoy this sweeping epic up close and MARK DUMEZ ARTISTIC DIRECTORpersonal – in compelling closeness. It’s been a thrill. In Hugo’s world, we are faced with opportunities to witness the embrace of another person or dismissal of them, characters who seek only their own survival and those who engage in acts of service. Everyone in this story has desperate needs – seeking justice, finding safety, reconciling their past and choosing to love as they would want to be loved. And yet, the most powerful elements of the story turn on acts of mercy, love and forgiveness. The sweeping arcs of these characters reflect to us our own realities and ask how will we respond when faced with our own sets of difficult choices? How then shall we live? Welcome to our summer musical – thank you for joining us! ISLAND SAVINGS & CHEMAINUS THEATRE proudly present DISCOVER THEATRE WORKSHOPS These workshops, complementary for schools courtesy of Island Savings’ “Growing Island Families Together” – GIFT program, explore acting skills through improvisational play and written scenes. They will be led by education coordinator for the Chemainus Theatre Festival, Andrea Cross. If you know of a school that would like to receive a free Island Savings Discover Theatre Workshop, please contact: Education Coordinator, Chemainus Theatre Festival [email protected] or 250-246-9800 ext 728 VANCOUVER ISLAND’S THEATRE GETAWAY DIRECTOR’S NOTES What is it that has made Les Misérables, the musical a worldwide phenomenon? Let us start with an attempt to sum up the 1463 page novel written by Victor Hugo. This book is a drama whose first character is the Infinite. Man is the second. … Whenever we meet the Infinite in man, whether well or poorly understood, we react with respect. There is in the synagogue, in the mosque, in the pagoda, and in the wigwam, a hideous side that we detest and a sublime side that we adore. What a subject of meditation, and what a limitless source of reverie is this reflection of God upon the human wall! This quote from the novel gives us a sense of what this story is truly about. It’s not about a minor uprising in the history of France. It’s not even about the salvation of Jean Valjean. It’s about that which is infinite and that which is hideous in us all. We all experience misery in some way – we are all “les misérables.” From that place of misery we have two choices: To descend further into the shadows or to climb toward the light, the infinite! How do we climb toward the light? We love. Because, “to love another person is to see the face of God.” This is all expressed through the characters of Les Misérables. Primarily by Jean Valjean, who is constantly being asked to navigate the hideous and sublime that lives within him; and Javert, who lacks the capacity to see the infinite in anyone. So, we can say that this story in its own way reaches to articulate nothing other than the infinite… Making it the ultimate subject for a musical. Musical theatre, at its best, attempts to articulate that which is ineffable (because with music we can reach for what cannot be said by words alone). And what is harder to articulate than the infinite? With a score so expansive, so reaching, Les Misérables, the musical, does a miraculous job expressing Victor Hugo’s, “limitless source of reverie.” Which leaves those who see it with a renewed feeling of hope and a stronger connection to the infinite. Perhaps that is why Les Misérables has become the most beloved musical of all time. PETER JORGENSEN Director The Chemainus Theatre Festival is beginning to feel like a second home to Peter as Les Mis marks his 5th production here as director. Also for Chemainus: Oklahoma!, Guys and Dolls, Fiddler on the Roof, and his own adaptation of It’s a Wonderful Life that premiered here this past December. As an artistic producer with Patrick Street Productions Peter has directed Into the Woods, The Fully Monty, Bat Boy: the Musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein: Out of a Dream, Floyd Collins and The Light in the Piazza (Jessie & Ovation awards for Outstanding Production). Peter has received honours as an actor, director, choreographer, playwright, and producer. Visit Peter online at www.peterjorgensen.com VANCOUVER ISLAND’S THEATRE GETAWAY JESSICA BAYNTUN Costume Designer Jessica Bayntun obtained her bachelors in fashion design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University kick starting her passion for colour, texture and movement. She is currently teaching drafting and sewing at Kwantlen, designing for theatre, and constructing one of a kind garments for Messica Demolition including custom corsetry, lingerie, and swimwear. Theatre including; Bat Boy, The Wild Party, The Light in the Piazza, Avenue Q, and It’s a Wonderful Life. MICHELLE BARDACH Eponine Michelle graduated in 2012 from the Musical Theatre Program at Capilano University. Favorite credits include Star-To-Be in Annie (RCMT), Kate McGowan in Titanic (TUTS), Irene Molloy in Hello, Dolly! (Exit 22), and Sister Sophia in The Sound of Music (Gateway). She won the 2012 Ovation Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance in Riverview High, and the 2012 Aida Broadbent Award for Titanic. For more information, check out michellebardach.com.