Children's Playhouse of Maryland Presents LES MISERABLES School Edition, Now thru 5/17

Children's Playhouse of Maryland (CPM), in residence at CCBC Essex, presents "LES MISERABLES School Edition" in its Young Adult Series at 1 p.m. today, May 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17 in the Administration Building at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd. An additional evening performance will be given at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 9. Both the May 2 and May 17 shows will be sign language interpreted by students in the CCBC Catonsville American Sign Language Certification program.

Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance from the CCBC Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787) or online at www.cpmarts.org. Tickets may also be available at the door, space permitting. Advance purchase is highly recommended. Group tickets are also available. Please note: LES MISERABLES will be presented as written and contains strong language and adult situations.

The show features over 40 student actors from Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Harford County and Howard County. Johnathon O'Neal of Baltimore appears as Jean Valjean, with Zach Miller of Baltimore as Javert. Also featured are Matt Demetrides of Baltimore as Marius, Ilyssa Rubin of Reisterstown, as Eponine, and Claire Iverson of Baltimore as Cosette. (Editor's note: A listing of all student performers with zip codes is attached.)

Liz Boyer Hunnicutt directs this production with musical direction by Julie Parrish and choreography by Amanda Dickson. The musical version of "LES MISERABLES" is based on the novel by Victor Hugo with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, book by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. It is presented completely in song.

Set in 19th century France, the show opens with Jean Valjean being released from prison after many years. He hopes to start a new life but instead, is endlessly pursued by Inspector Javert, who thinks, "Men like you can never change." The sub-plot of revolution and student uprising in Paris causes an unforgettable confrontation between these two men.

This intense and emotional show contains such exciting songs as "One Day More," "Castle on a Cloud," "On My Own," and "I Dreamed a Dream."

Performances are held in the Administration Building (ADMN 120) by parking lot 4 at CCBC Essex, 7201 Rossville Blvd. The ADMN Lecture Hall is a wheelchair-accessible facility. Please request accommodations at the time of ticket purchase. For more information, call the Box Office at 443-840-ARTS (2787), or the CPM Administrative Office at 443-840-2426. For directions to the campus, visit the CCBC website at www.ccbcmd.edu.