I was thrilled and honored to be asked to direct what is possibly one of the world’s greatest musicals. I quickly learned that taking on this project would lead me into a rabbit hole of research. There have been so many versions of this story, that the overwhelming amount of material written about it can be challenging - I felt like I was opening the doors in “Alice in Wonderland” or “The Matrix.”
Les Misérables is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862. Often also called The Wretched, The Miserable Ones, The Poor Ones, The Wretched Poor, The Victims, or The Dispossessed, the novel (and the musical) focuses on an incident known as the June Rebellion, which occurred 43 years after the storming of the Bastille. Although the novel incorporates historical events and social conditions, and is partially based on incidents and people that Hugo observed, it is fictional. The final conflict at the barricades in Les Misérables is based on the uprising of 1832, a short-lived rebellion that ended after only two days. Les Misérables is considered to be one of the greatest novels of the 19th century, and has been adapted numerous times for film, television, stage, and the world famous musical.
The musical was originally released as a French-language concept album in 1980, and the first musical-stage adaptation of Les Misérables was presented - entirely in French - in Paris, in September of the same year. The English-language version opened in London in 1985, under the guidance of Cameron Mackintosh, by the Royal Shakespeare Company. Les Misérables has been running in London since October 1985, making it the longest-running musical in the West End.
The success of the West End musical led to the Broadway production, which opened in March 1987 and ran until May 2003. At the time of its closing, it was the second-longest-running musical in Broadway history. The show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, of which it won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. Les Misérables has been translated into at least 21 languages, and over 65 million people in dozens of countries have seen this musical phenomenon; that number continues to grow.
There are a few things that might be of interest to you while watching the show. For example, the rebels are associated with the color red. This can be seen in their red flag in contrast to the tricolor flag of France. The ABC Café is where the revolutionaries meet to discuss their cause; ABC is based on the French word “abaiseé,” meaning the debased, “of the people,” or the underdog.
Additionally, the actors in Les Misérables play multiple roles, which is part of the convention of the production. Most professional companies use approximately 30 actors. You will see actors moving from role to role, and that is inherent in the script, as is the accepted suspension of belief.
Many people are curious about the “brand” upon Jean Valjean’s chest. While the widely held belief is that his physical tattoo is the number “24601,” it is actually the letters “GAL,” (accompanied by a fleur-de-lis) which identify all the prisoners as galley slaves. Their actual prisoner numbers were on their clothing.
Les Misérables is a show about sacrifice, forgiveness, passion, social injustice and the resilience of the human spirit. Perhaps the most relevant theme is related to the dignity of the human being and the power of unconditional love.
While there are so many beautiful musical themes and poignant lyrics, I must say that my favorite lyric is a quote from Victor Hugo himself:
“To love another person is to see the face of God.”
We all hope you will enjoy our production of Les Misérables.
~ Tracey Williams Sutton
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