Shorecrest Drama Takes on Les Miserables

To put on a quality play and bring characters to life for an audience is a challenge no matter what, but sometimes directors look for that higher ground.

Shorecrest teacher Andy Kidd, 30, who is in his fourth year at the helm of the well-regarded drama program, is taking that risk with the production of the School Edition of the musical Les Miserables that was released in 2000.

“It’s my favorite play ever,” said Kidd of the original musical produced in the mid-1980s.

Kidd has working on the script and planning since September and rehearsals started in February.

He said he’s seen it performed more than 20 times and took a group of Shorecrest students to London to see it during February break.

 “It’s ambitious. Go big or go home,” he said.

The play based on a Victor Hugo novel published in 1862, is set in early 19^th century France. The lead character is ex-convict Jean Valjean, played by senior David Leathers. He is finally released after 19 years of imprisonment after his conviction of stealing a loaf of bread.

He proceeds to break his parole and create a new identity and world for himself, all the while being continuously pursued by the strict, law-abiding inspector Javert. The story centers on their interactions and the characters around them coming to terms with right and wrong. Set in the background is a love triangle, and a bloody student revolution.

The play is about bringing light to the lives and struggles of the poor, Kidd said.

The cast and crew are senior-laden and is the first group of students who have started and graduated with Kidd in charge.

Many of them helped Kidd save his job with passionate, but well-organized protests when layoffs were pending several years ago.

“They’re a special group,” he said.

Nearly 90 students are involved in the production including the cast, crew and pit orchestra.

The cast is heavy on male roles that can be challenge to fill at many schools, since drama programs tend to be mostly female.

“I’m very lucky,” Kidd said. “I have a lot of boys in the program, gifted boys.”

The play includes six male leads and three female leads. All lines are sung and there is no dialogue other than song.

In addition to Leathers, other leads include senior Brannen Graves who plays Javert the police inspector; senior Katie Peabody plays the waif Cosette; senior Sylvia Kowalski plays Eponine; freshman Josiah Glesener plays Marius, who is caught in love triangle with Cosette and Eponine; and Ben Flohr plays Enjolras, the leader of the student revolution.

Leathers said Kidd told him acting the part of Valjean, was similar to “playing a singing Hamlet.

“There’s a lot of emotional changes he goes through,” Leathers said.

Peabody said playing Cosette, is “really fun, a great part, I think I’ve learned a lot.”

Both Peabody and Leathers saw Les Mis in London with Kidd in February and met  a couple actors from the play.

The experience was great, they both said, but added that they want to put their own mark on the Shorecrest version.

Leathers, Peabody and Glesener and others didn’t perform as singers on stage until joining the Shorecrest drama program under Kidd.

Les Mis is also the last musical to be performed at Shorecrest’s Performing Arts Center before a remodel of the school gets underway next year.

Many costume changes are required for the leads, up to 10 per actor, a challenge and opportunity for costume designer Erin McSwain. Orchestra conductor Nathan Young and rehearsal music director Ann-Marie Caldwell keep the flow of the musical going. Marc McCartney designed the expansive sets.

“It feels like you’re invested in something that’s worth your time and while,” Kidd said. “I always like big challenges.”

Performances begin Thursday, May 5 and run through May 7 and continue May 11 to 14 at 7:30 p.m., and May 8 and 15 at 2 p.m. in the Shorecrest Performing Arts Center. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the ASB window at Shorecrest High School and Third Place Books at the Lake Forest Park Towne Centre. Reservations may also be made by calling 206-393-6224 or by email: sc.tickets@shorelineschools.org.