Theatre Tulsa Academy Students To Perform LES MISERABLES

Theatre Tulsa Academy will offer a special two-week run of "Les Miserables: School Edition" featuring its Fall 2018 class of teen performers.

Theatre Tulsa Academy is an interactive theatre training program for youth. The course trains students on the essentials of musical theatre - auditioning, acting, vocal music, dance, and more.

Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Misérables covers the epic and uplifting life of Jean Valjean as he rebuilds his life after an unjust prison sentence. The story features love, death, redemption and the survival of the human spirit. This production of "Les Misérables" includes the classic songs "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Stars," and "Bring Him Home."

Although the novel has seen several adaptations, the most famous is the 1980s musical produced by Cameron Mackintosh with music by Claude-Michel Schönberg and English-translated book by Herbert Kretzmer. After premiering in London's West End, "Les Misérables" opened on Broadway in 1987 and ran 2003, making it the fifth longest-running Broadway show in history. The show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.

This official school edition has been abridged to a running time of just over two hours while maintaining the integrity of this musical masterpiece.

"A show this epic is tough for any theatre company to produce, but we completely trust in our students' abilities. This is highly challenging material, and they have completely exceeded our expectations," said Jarrod Kopp, executive director of Theatre Tulsa.

The Theatre Tulsa Academy series of shows features youth-oriented and "junior" versions of popular musicals as a supplement to Theatre Tulsa's regular season of mainstage shows. Theatre Tulsa Academy produces four additional works per season.

The cast of "Les Miserables: School Edition" stars Zac Kirchhoff as Jean Valjean, Kolby Cardwell as Javert, and Trace Burchart as Marius. The lead female roles have been double-cast with Axyl Langford and Jenna Davis as Fantine, Reese Buchert and Sophie Raskin as Cosette, and Emma White and Taylor Herndon as Eponine.

Other featured supporting actors are: Carson Been, Hunter Potter, Alexis Walker, Regan Clapper, Dawson Fullingim, Spencer Loeffler, Kyle Oler, Nick Devlin, Mason McGregor, Jack Whitney, Miles Pope, Tom Grant, Lilly Anagnost, Hannah Lawrence, Elizabeth Holmes, Finn Einarsson and Trinity Tillman.

The ensemble features: Mandy Barker, Payton Chambliss, Julia Cooper, Rylee Evans, Jacee Fullingim, Paytin Ginn, Cameron Greene, Sophie Jenkins, Emily Kadolph, Jesamine Katzman, Layne Keep, Acey King, Estella Kirk, Georgia Lawrence, Allison Means, Peyten Means, Victoria Peoples, Mattea Pipestem, Carlie Pool, Regan Rozzi, Ella Ruley, Malia Ryan, Anna Seat, Andrew Shoulders, Kate Stiles, Elena Talamantes, Taylor Terrell, Zoe Tillman, Natalie Turner, Bailee Washington, Anna Wolf and Raelee Young.

The production is directed and choreographed by Travis Guillory.

Performances will be Dec. 7-16 in the Liddy Doenges Theatre of the Tulsa Performing Arts Center. Evening showtimes on Dec 7-8, 14-15 at 7:30 p.m. Matinees on Dec. 8-9, 15-16 will be at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at tulsapac.com or by calling 918-596-7111.

For questions or more information about Theatre Tulsa and its upcoming shows and programs, visit theatretulsa.org, call 918-587-8402 or email info@theatretulsa.org.