Utah Festival Conservatory to debut student show of Les Misérables

LOGAN – The school edition of Les Misérables will debut at the Utah Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 13.

Produced by the Utah Festival Conservatory of the Performing Arts, the show will be performed entirely by student participants of the 2022 Utah High School Musical Theatre Awards competition, according to director Stephan Espinosa.

Les Misérables is a sung- through musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s 1862 novel of French history. It tells the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant released from prison in 1815, only to be pursued by the relentless police inspector Javert for breaking his parole.

After its French premier, Les Misérables has been running continuously in London since its debut in 1985 and has been equally popular with American audiences. The school edition is a slightly abridged version of the play.

“This has been an incredibly inspiring production to work on, “ Espinosa says, “with an extraordinary group of young artists … They have done beautiful work on a beautiful show that speaks across generations.

“Something awesome happened when we gathered the best of the best,” the director explains.

“They inspire each other, learn from each other and they push each other to go even farther than they did at their own schools. It has been my honor and pleasure to witness it.”

Hayden Henderson from Northridge High School in Layton will portray the hunted fugitive Valjean. Henderson took the award for best actor for his characterization of the deformed Quasimodo in that school’s production of the Disney musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

 In the role of the ill-fated Fantine will be played by Millie Hall from Pleasant Grove High School. She was a finalist for best actress for her performance as Jo March in that school’s production of Little Women.

Aubrey Taylor from Farmington High School will appear as Madame Thenardier. She was also a finalist for best actress for her role as the Lady of the Lake in that school’s production of Spamalot.

Cache Valley’s own Elena Shill from Mountain Crest High School will play the tragic child of the streets Eponine. She was in finalist for best supporting actress for her role as Georgia Hendricks in that school’s production of the musical Curtains.

In the role of the orphan Cosette will be Gracie Burton from Uintah High School. She was also a finalist for best supporting actress for her performance as Alice in that school’s production of Mama Mia!

Other principal cast members are Preston Hansen as Javert, AJ Slee as Thenardier, McKay Clements as Gavroche and Luc Faucette as Marius.

Les Misérables has an enormous cast and other high school students are double- and triple-cast to full out those roles and the ensemble of chorus singers.

The Utah Theatre has limited seating.

The opening night performance of Les Misérables on Aug. 13 is sold out and tickets are going fast for other performances on Aug. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20, according to the Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre box office.

Tickets for Les Misérables can be purchased by calling 435-750-0300 or online at http://utahfestival.org

 The Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre’s box office is located in the Dansante Building at 59 South, 100 West in Logan.

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