Les Misérables, the Missoula Community Theatre’s final production of the season, is the epic story of broken dreams, passion and hope. For the last 28 years, the live production has broken attendance records on Broadway. In 2012, the release of the Academy Award-winning motion picture starring Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe introduced this timeless tale to an even larger audience world-wide. It is lovingly known as simply “Les Mis” to many of the 65 million people who have seen it on stage.
Set in 19th century France, Les Mis tells the story of convict “Jean Valjean” (played by Thain Bertin) and his life-long struggle for redemption. During the journey, he crosses paths with a young factory worker named “Fantine” (played by Chelle Robinson). This rich and complex story is expressed entirely through song (an operetta) that includes “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “Bring Him Home” and “I Dreamed a Dream”.
Joseph Martinez (MCT’s Artistic Director) is directing the production, which is quite a departure from his most recent project this past December–Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka. “Both shows that I staged this season are, if you think about it, epic pieces,” said Martinez. “The general population is familiar with both Willy Wonka and Les Misérables, which could be a plus and a minus as the director of both these shows. The general public has an idea in their minds of what the show looks like, so they expect that when they walk into the theatre. I have to be creative enough to not only give them something that they can relate to, while not losing the artistic vision I see of the show. Les Mis the movie was visually grand and the stage version is grand in its music. We are not producing the movie, or the Broadway staging. We work within the realms of what and who we have available to us. Missoula is grand in the amount of talent we have here; I am thrilled to have these performers to tell this story.”
This production is sponsored by First Security Bank, Taco Bell and PayneWest Insurance. Tickets are on sale now! Les Misérables plays April 25-27, April 30-May 4 and 7-11 at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts. Wednesday-Saturday night performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. and Sunday evenings at 6:30 p.m. Ticket prices range from $15.00-$21.00 and can be purchased at the MCT box office (200 North Adams), online at www.MCTinc.org, or by calling (406) 728-7529. All seats are reserved.
NOTE: there will be ASL interpreters at the Wednesday May 7th 7:30 p.m. performance of Les Misérables. This is a regularly-scheduled performance for the general public; but special seating arrangements have been made for those patrons wanting to take advantage of this service. The special ASL tickets are not available online, so please purchase those seats directly through the MCT Box Office by phone at 728-7529 or in person at 200 North Adams Street. Simply ask for the “ASL tickets” when ordering your seats!
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