Description:

Uptown Music Theater is excited to announce general auditions for Les Miserables, by Alain Boublil and Claude- Michel Schonberg. Les Miserables will be directed by Scott Shallenbarger. Music Director/Conductor is Aaron Kaplan. Associate Director/Choreographer is Stacey Flaster.

Audition Dates: By online submission of materials. Submission deadline is February 9, 2024.

Callback Dates:
Mondays, February 26 and March 4, 2024 (and March 11, if necessary) - 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesdays, February 27 and March 5, 2024 (and March 12, if necessary) - 7:00 - 9:00 pm
*Portions of callbacks will be videotaped

Callbacks and Rehearsal Location: West Ridge Center, 636 Ridge Road, Highland Park, IL

Performance Location: New State-of-the-Art Performing Arts Center, Deerfield High School, 1959 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield, IL.

Pay: $500 stipend (Leads/Supporting); $300 stipend (Featured & Ensemble/Gavroche/Young Cosette/Young Eponine); $100 additional stipend for internal understudies; $100 additional stipend for travel (if more than 15 miles from residence).

Les Miserables Description
Les Miserables is the world's longest running musical - a true modern classic based on Victor Hugo's novel and featuring one of the most memorable scores of all time. Full of romance, passion, suspense and humanity, it is the story of one man, the fugitive Jean Valjean, who is pitted against the self-righteous Inspector Javert in a lifelong struggle to evade capture. The magnificent score includes the songs "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Bring Him Home," "One Day More," "Master of the House" and many more. Les Miserables is the winner of over 50 international theater awards, including eight 1987 Tony Awards (two of which were for Best Musical and Best Score). Les Miserables Character Descriptions
Jean Valjean 35-40s. Sings to B (high lyric baritone or tenor with strong low notes). A poor peasant who rises to affluence, he has great natural nobility and dignity. A powerful figure, ideally a large man with a character of operatic size and passion. The voice needs to have a pop/rock sound or a classical sound of extraordinary textual clarity.

Javert Baritone, sings to G. Policeman who relentlessly hunts Valjean. Ideally an imposing man. The ultimate "law and order" figure. Obsessed, to the point of irrationality, with a rigid and merciless moral code. He too is a character of operatic size and passion. Both belt voice and classical can suit this role but must have a darker quality than Jean Valjean.

Thenardier Late 30s-40s. Strong comic character role. A crooked innkeeper, later a petty, amoral thief. Greedy, irreverent, selfish, boorish, vulgar. Baritone, sings to F sharp.

Marius 20s. High baritone (sings to A) with a strong bottom (to A). A member of the revolutionary student movement. Attractive and romantic but in a sensitive, 19th century "Byronic" way.

Enjolras 20s-early 30s. High baritone (to G sharp/B flat) very strong singer. Charismatic political figure. Leader of the revolutionary movement.

Gavroche 11 (actor age range 9 - 12), is Thernardier's son. He is left to fend for himself and live by his wits in the streets of Paris. His "arch enemy" is Javert the Policeman. He is brave and witty. Think of a young Artful Dodger.

Fantine Late 20s, early 30s. Belt up to C, sings to E flat. Poor factory girl, struggling to support her fatherless daughter. Later is a pauper, a prostitute, a consumptive and a ghost. Earthy and poignant. Although is finally defeated by circumstances she should appear to be strong and a survivor. She puts up a valiant fight against the horrors of her life.

Cosette 18-25 (the younger the better). Fantine's daughter (first seen as and played by a child) delicate, elegant, vulnerable and beautiful. Falls in love with and later marries Marius. Soprano (to high C) but a light, young "floating" sound, without heavy vibrato.

Eponine 18-25. An enormous and beautiful belt voice, to C in belt (sings to E flat). Daughter of the Thenardiers but in no way behaves like them. Fired by an unrequited love for Marius. Small, gamine, waif-like. Hasn't learned to disguise her emotions; wears her heart on her sleeve.

Madame Thenardier 30s-early 40s. Tough, sharp, coarse, boorish, vulgar. Strong character comedienne role. Belter.

Young Cosette 8 (actor 7 - 10). Young Cosette is Fantine's daughter and the Thenardier's ward. She has been forced into child labor. She is underfed, beaten by Madame Thenardier, and bullied by Eponine. Sings wistfully and beautifully up to C5.

Young Eponine 8 (actor 7 - 10). Little Eponine is the pampered daughter of the Thenardiers. The role requires no singing or speaking. May also be cast as the understudy to Young Cosette, a singing role (see above).

Featured/Ensemble We are looking to cast a large ensemble, with featured roles. All tenor/baritone roles sing to G and sopranos/altos belt up to C.

Please let us know if we can assist with any accessibility accommodation or questions to facilitate the casting process.