“Les Misérables,” one of the world’s longestrunning musicals, will make its Hope Summer Repertory Theatre debut on Thursday, June 11!
Written by Alain Boublil and ClaudeMichel Schönberg, the musical is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Filled with beloved songs such as “I Dreamed A Dream,” “Do You Hear The People
Sing,” “On My Own,” and “Bring Him Home,” “Les Misérables” reminds us that love, sacrifice, and the pursuit of justice can change the world.
“Les Misérables” is coming to Holland for a limited 3week run that ends June 30. Don't miss your opportunity to see one of the most popular musicals of all time before the national touring
production begins. Performances will be at 8 p.m. on June 11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 29, and 30, in the DeWitt Main Theatre. There will also be a 1:30 p.m. matinee on June 20.
“[“Les Misérables” has] always been on our list,” says Director David Colacci. “As it turns out, it is formidable, but doable. It’s an incredible musical, and it’s an incredible piece of literature. It
really is the landmark musical of the late 20th Century.” Stage Manager Erin Lindsay Carr says, “It is a theatrical endeavor. There is lots of magic that you will see happening, and you won’t know how it happened.
That’s the cool part.” Carr says that “Les Misérables” is “really a classic story.
It’s very powerful, because it has all these different elements to it: a love story,
revolution and empowerment, and wrongful
conviction.”
Set in postrevolutionary France, “Les Misérables” follows the story of the recentlyreleased prisoner Jean Valjean, a man of extraordinary strength and integrity. When Valjean breaks his
parole, he finds himself pursued by the relentless Inspector Javert. Valjean manages to escape, making a new name for himself and taking a vow to raise a young girl, Cosette, as his own. But
Valjean soon finds that peace is not so easily attained. When fighting breaks out amongst the poor in the city, Valjean seeks to fulfill his role as father and protector, with Javert still hot on his trail.
Making his debut at HSRT and taking on the role of Jean Valjean is actor Vigthor Zophoniasson (AEA), who says, “Jean Valjean is someone that goes from survival in the lowest moral depravity
to reaching supreme heights of goodness, redemption. Yes, [the role] has to be well sung, but more importantly it has to be well emoted.” Zophoniasson is currently making his way through what he calls “the
massive novel.” He says that reading Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables” “has certainly helped. I have gained a lot of depth and details about the characters and their relationships that I would not have gotten from
merely reading the show’s script and score. It didn’t change my view of Valjean, but it added an extra layer that I didn’t have before.”
Born and raised in Iceland, Zophoniasson now hails from Kansas City, Missouri, and is a crossover artist in opera, musical theatre, and puppetry. He has performed with various regional
theatres in and around Kansas City and recently made his directorial debut at St. James Academy. Isaiah Bailey, also making his HSRT debut, plays the role of Javert. Bailey received a Bachelor of
Music in Vocal Performance from Oklahoma City University. He is currently a fulltime actor and gospel singer, and is also a voice teacher.
The supporting cast consists of Anna ModicBradley as Fantine, Brianna Brice as Cosette, Benjamin Lohrberg as Marius, Callee Miles as Eponine, Chip DuFord as Thenardier, Shannon Huneryager as Madame
Thenardier, Michael Haller as Enjolras, Paul Williams as the Bishop, Leo Ackerman as Gavroche, Lucy Ackerman as Little Cosette, Seanna DeWitt as u/s Little Cosette/Ensemble, and Anneka Baggech as Little
Eponine. Additional ensemble members include Kira Alsum, Ashlee Elizabeth Bashore, Noah Bridgestock, Connor Briggs, Brandon J. Campbell, Kenny Cole, Danielle James, Lee Ann Jones, Kristopher
Kuss, Samuel Lowry, Shane Michael Lynn, Allie McCaw, Sarah McClure, Shannon McEldowney, Caroline Monahan, Mollie Murk, Marlies Otteman, Simeon Rawls, Liam Snead, Trequon Tate, Mychael Thompson, and
Kaija von Websky. Director David Colacci is in his 30th season with Hope Summer Repertory Theatre and his 24th as Artistic Director with HSRT. Colacci says he hopes to convey the true message of the musical,
which is “about the redemptive quality of love, and also humans’ capacity for cruelty. We recognize the humanity [in that]. This piece touches a lot of bases emotionally. There are parts of it that are very funny,
but parts that are very heartbreaking.” Colacci says he wants the audience to have an experience that helps “shed light on what it means to be human.”
The Music Director, Fred Tessler, is returning for his 22nd season with HSRT. He has been involved with over 40 productions with the company, including last summer’s hit classic “The Sound of Music.” A resident of
New York City, Tessler is on the faculty at Wagner College, where he has been Director and Music Director of over a dozen shows. He has also worked with many theatres around New York City and elsewhere.
Choreographer Joe Niesen is here for his second summer with HSRT. He hails from Las Vegas, where he works as a freelance choreographer. Niesen is a graduate of the San Francisco School of Ballet, and has
danced with BalleTacoma and Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle. He has also worked for Caesar’s and Park Place Entertainment. The production team for “Les Misérables” includes Kristin Ellert as the scenic
designer, Stephen
Sakowski as the lighting designer, Kristen Ahern as the costume designer, Amanda Werre as the sound designer, Erin Lindsay Carr as the Stage Manager, Richard Perez as the managing director, and Rachael Hasse
as the production manager.
Individual tickets are now on sale at the college’s downtown ticket office, located in the Anderson-Werkman Building at 100 E. 8th St., which is open Monday Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In
addition, beginning on June 8, tickets will be available at the DeWitt Ticket Office (141 E. 12th
St.), which will be open Monday Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and, beginning on Saturday, June 13, will also be open on Saturdays from noon through intermission. Adult tickets are $30 for
Mezzanine or Balcony and $25 for Orchestra seating. Senior, faculty, and staff tickets are $28 for Mezzanine or Balcony and $22 for Orchestra seating. Student tickets are $15 for all seating. Patrons can also
purchase individual tickets online by visiting hope.edu/hsrt or calling (616) 395 7890. Ticket options also include the Season Ticket Package, which saves patrons up to 30% off individual ticket prices and guarantees
a terrific seat for every performance. Season Ticket Packages are available at both ticket locations. The Best Buy Package offers seating for four performances for only $75 for adults, $70 for seniors, and $40 for
students. The SuperSaver Package includes seating limited to the orchestra and admission to the four mainstage productions for $60 for both adults and seniors, and $40 for students. If you want to stay connected
this summer, make sure to sign up for the HSRT ENewsletter which can be found on our website. Subscribers will receive behindthescenes videos, interviews,photos, articles and insights about this season’s
productions.
More information is available online at hope.edu/hsrt and Hope Summer Repertory Theatre on Facebook.