Aurora Theatre to Present LES MISERABLES, 7/25-9/8

Beginning its 18th season, Aurora Theatre opens the Brand Signature Series with the epic Broadway classic LES MISERABLES, running July 25 - September 8, 2013. Now an Academy Award-winning motion picture, LES MISERABLES has delighted over 65 million people in 42 countries and received both the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Best Musical when it debuted in America in 1987. For the first time in its 28-year history, the creators made the rights available for regional productions. Aurora Theatre will be the first local professional theatre company to produce this worldwide sensation. Based on the timeless Victor Hugo novel, LES MISERABLES tells the story of Jean Valjean, a newly released prisoner, who is hunted relentlessly by police inspector Javert for breaking parole. Valjean leaves his past behind and makes a vow to raise the young, orphaned Cosette. But with revolution in the air, Valjean has no choice but to sacrifice everything to protect those he loves. Experience this epic musical like never before, in the intimacy of Aurora Theatre where audiences will feel like they are part of the revolution. The unforgettable score includes: Bring Him Home, Stars, Master of the House, I Dreamed a Dream, On My Own and One Day More, to name a few.

LES MISERABLES is the largest, most ambitious production in Aurora Theatre history. The multi-talented diverse cast along with the scope of the production values is awe inspiring. Playing the rugged protagonist Jean Valjean is Suzi Award-winner Bryant Smith who returns to Aurora Theatre after delighting audiences in Clyde 'n Bonnie: A Folktale. In his Aurora debut, the commanding Kevin Harry takes on the role of determined inspector Javert. In a role that won Anne Hathaway an Oscar, Fantine will be played by Natasha Drena who took home a Suzi Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for Annie Get Your Gun at Aurora Theatre. The fiendishly hilarious Monsieur and Madame Thernardier will be played by Aurora's "Master of the House" Anthony P. Rodriguez and Marcie Millard who are reunited again after Camelot, the inaugural production in Aurora's magnificent new theatre in 2007. They will be joined by top musical theatre talent like: Michael Stiggers as Marius, Lowrey Brown as Enjolras, Kelly Chapin Schmidt as Cosette and Leslie Bellair as Eponine. The cast also includes six talented youngsters who will alternate playing the three children's roles in LES MISERABLES, many of whom have studied at Aurora Theatre Academy. Atlanta's busiest director Justin Anderson heads the talented creative team of Phil Male (set) Alan Yeong (costumes) Mike Post (lights) Scott Sargent (props) and Daniel Terry (sound) Aurora's Assistant Technical Director. Accompanying Anderson on the stellar creative team are Aurora Theatre Associate Producer and Resident Music Director Ann-Carol Pence and choreographer Sarah Turner Sechelski.

Aurora Theatre Producing Artistic Director Anthony Rodriguez talks about LES MISERABLES, "I have waited 30 years to do this show. My father bought me the cast recording, on vinyl no less, not knowing how this music would shape the person I have become. This season, Aurora is starting an ARTS Revolution, a yearlong campaign that uses art as a catalyst to make our world a better place. I can't think of a better way to inspire an audience into an ARTS Revolution than with LES MISERABLES. Like the song says, 'Who will join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me?' I am lucky enough to live in a community where there is the resounding sound of a lot of individuals saying, 'I WILL.'"

Now in their 18th Season and with over 300 events annually, Aurora Theatre produces the widest variety of live entertainment. Aurora Theatre's Brand Signature Series is comprised of Broadway's best plays and musicals alongside exciting works of Contemporary Theatre. Additionally, Aurora produces concerts, club comedy events, children's programs, metro Atlanta's top haunted attraction, Lawrenceville Ghost Tours as well as Atlanta's only professional Spanish language theatre, Teatro Del Sol. Aurora Theatre Academy offers arts education for all ages and recently awarded $15,000 in scholarships for students to attend summer camp. Aurora Theatre is a world-class theatrical facility with two performance venues. It is nestled on the square in historic downtown Lawrenceville, with free attached covered parking and is surrounded by restaurants and shops.

Aurora Theatre has garnered numerous accolades highlighted by recent achievements that include the 2009 Pinnacle Award from the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, Creative Loafing's 2010 Best Theatre Company and GA Trend Magazines 2011 Best Places to Work in Georgia. In 2012, Gwinnett's only professional theatre was awarded a best-ever total of seven Suzi Bass Awards, Atlanta's equivalent of the Tony Awards and won an Atlanta Business Chronicle Best Places to Work Award.

Programming in Aurora Theatre's 18th Season Brand Signature Series is possible through generous support from BrandBank and BrandMortgage. LES MISERABLES is sponsored by Peach State Federal Credit Union with additional support from Garrard and Coles Barton LLP.

Photo by: BreeAnne Clowdu