OLD WORLD LOVE: Adnerson Davis as Marius sings 'A Heart Full of Love' to Deborah Lew as Cosette, while Jenny Feliner as Eponine looks on.
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Starlight presents timeless tale 'Les Miserables'
By: Russ Simmons, Theater reviewer
Currently in its 23rd year, the renowned theatrical hit “Les Miserables” is the longest running musical in London history. It is also the third-longest running hit in Broadway history.
Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, “Les Miserables” is an epic drama set in 19th century France that tells a timeless story about crime, punishment and redemption. With a stunning score by Claude-Michel Schönberg and a libretto by Alain Boublil, “Les Miserables” won eight Tony Awards in 1987, including Best Musical.
It is no wonder that Starlight patrons wanted to see it. Since it was one of the theater’s most requested shows, Starlight President and Executive Producer Bob Rohlf decided to bring a production to Kansas City for the 2008 season.
But Rohlf was faced with a problem. How does a theater respond to their audience’s desire to see “Les Miserables” when the national tour has ended?
“Fortunately, three large and majestic theaters (Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Theater of the Stars in Atlanta, and Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va.) not only acquired the rights for a shared production, but created an innovative way to mount the show successfully,” Rohlf said.
While the production that will tour these three cities is the same, there is one important distinction.
“Each theater is enhancing the production with the addition of local cast members,” Rohlf said, “thereby making the production even larger, while giving talented locals the opportunity to showcase their talents alongside the proven professionals from Broadway and elsewhere.”
A group of 18 local teenagers have been cast as townspeople and members of the People’s Chorus. They will be part of large production numbers, including “At the End of the Day,” “The People’s Song” and “Master of the House.” Among the performers are Conor Baty, Aaron Craven and Hailey Lapin from Overland Park; Andrew Nielson, Joseph Reece, Mathew Swenson and Jordon Wooten of Olathe; Austin Stang from Stilwell; and Rachael Feeley from Spring Hill.
Rohlf is quick to mention the show’s impressive logistics, including eight semi-trailers carrying the show to each city.
“That’s far larger than the average national tour direct from Broadway, so audiences will see a production that literally fills the expansive stages at all three theaters,” Rohlf said.
“Did I mention ‘innovative’? Advanced technology is brought to bear in such a way that, first and foremost perhaps, addresses the conditions and terms of the licensing agreement, which prohibits simply a reproduction of the original scenic designs.”
The three theaters sharing costs enabled them to give the show some impressive production values.
“This production of ‘Les Miserables’ will be replete with entirely new costumes, new sets, advanced lighting and other technical improvements from the original,” Rohlf said. “So audiences can look forward to not only seeing ‘Les Miserables’ again, but seeing it in a new light … no pun intended … with exciting additional elements lacking in the original production.”
“Les Miserables” runs Sept. 10-16 at Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo. Call (816) 363-7827 for tickets .
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Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, “Les Miserables” is an epic drama set in 19th century France that tells a timeless story about crime, punishment and redemption. With a stunning score by Claude-Michel Schönberg and a libretto by Alain Boublil, “Les Miserables” won eight Tony Awards in 1987, including Best Musical.
It is no wonder that Starlight patrons wanted to see it. Since it was one of the theater’s most requested shows, Starlight President and Executive Producer Bob Rohlf decided to bring a production to Kansas City for the 2008 season.
But Rohlf was faced with a problem. How does a theater respond to their audience’s desire to see “Les Miserables” when the national tour has ended?
“Fortunately, three large and majestic theaters (Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Theater of the Stars in Atlanta, and Wolf Trap in Vienna, Va.) not only acquired the rights for a shared production, but created an innovative way to mount the show successfully,” Rohlf said.
While the production that will tour these three cities is the same, there is one important distinction.
“Each theater is enhancing the production with the addition of local cast members,” Rohlf said, “thereby making the production even larger, while giving talented locals the opportunity to showcase their talents alongside the proven professionals from Broadway and elsewhere.”
A group of 18 local teenagers have been cast as townspeople and members of the People’s Chorus. They will be part of large production numbers, including “At the End of the Day,” “The People’s Song” and “Master of the House.” Among the performers are Conor Baty, Aaron Craven and Hailey Lapin from Overland Park; Andrew Nielson, Joseph Reece, Mathew Swenson and Jordon Wooten of Olathe; Austin Stang from Stilwell; and Rachael Feeley from Spring Hill.
Rohlf is quick to mention the show’s impressive logistics, including eight semi-trailers carrying the show to each city.
“That’s far larger than the average national tour direct from Broadway, so audiences will see a production that literally fills the expansive stages at all three theaters,” Rohlf said.
“Did I mention ‘innovative’? Advanced technology is brought to bear in such a way that, first and foremost perhaps, addresses the conditions and terms of the licensing agreement, which prohibits simply a reproduction of the original scenic designs.”
The three theaters sharing costs enabled them to give the show some impressive production values.
“This production of ‘Les Miserables’ will be replete with entirely new costumes, new sets, advanced lighting and other technical improvements from the original,” Rohlf said. “So audiences can look forward to not only seeing ‘Les Miserables’ again, but seeing it in a new light … no pun intended … with exciting additional elements lacking in the original production.”
“Les Miserables” runs Sept. 10-16 at Starlight Theatre, 4600 Starlight Road, Kansas City, Mo. Call (816) 363-7827 for tickets .