With "Les Miserables", a talented youth ensemble will join the professional actors on stage. Seven local and regional junior high and high school students who have a shared interest in following in the footsteps of the professional actors they'll be working with will add their powerful vocals to the classic score during the show's run.
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| The "Les Miserables" Youth Ensemble is, from left to right: Julia Seeley, Thomas Lock, Katie Davis, Rhiannon Charney, JD Triolo. Seated are Michael Wells and Kurt Hartwell. |
"Les Miserables" is based on Victor Hugo's legendary novel focusing on Jean Valjean, the French peasant who steals a loaf of bread and spends almost two decades in prison. He is tracked down obsessively by police inspector Javert after he breaks his parole. The Tony winning show has one iconic anthem after another in the Claude-Michel Schonberg score with lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. While set during the backdrop of revolutionary France, the musical reaches beyond the narrative of its story into the hearts of theatre-goers with titles such as "I Dreamed A Dream", "Castle On A Cloud", and "On My Own".
Boothwyn's Rhiannon Charney, who attends Chichester High School, is a member of the "Les Miserables" Youth Ensemble. She has been involved at The Media Theatre previously in the summer "Vocalist" contest for the past three years and was a student of its Teen Acting class as well. This is her first show with Media Music Theatre Company.
Katie Davis, of Bryn Mawr, is also one of the seven students who comprise the youth ensemble. Last season, she was in the cast of "Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" and "Dr. Dolittle" two years ago. Also seen frequently in the Children's Series shows, she's a member of The New School at the theatre, which is a conservatory-style music theatre education program.
Kurt Hartwell, of New Jersey, makes his debut with Delaware County's only professional music theatre. He is home schooled and was also a "Vocalist" contestant.
Malvern is represented by Great Valley High School student Thomas Lock. The young actor and singer was 2014's second place winner in the summer "Vocalist" contest. During the event held last July and August, he was told on stage in front of a packed house by the theatre's Artistic Director Jesse Cline that he would be cast in "Les Miserables".
Bryn Mawr's Julia Seeley, who attends Villanova's Academy of Notre Dame, makes her Media Theatre debut with this production.
Two young men who are often on The Media Theatre stage, JD Triolo and Michael Wells, join "Les Miserables" Youth Ensemble as well. Triolo, a West Chester resident who attends Malvern Prep, has been involved with The Media Theatre for several years with acting classes, summer camp, and New School. He's also been on stage with such legendary names as Andrea McArdle in "Mame" and recently was seen as Pugsley in "Addams Family" at Media.
Michael Wells is a Springfield resident and attends E. T. Richardson Middle School. Like Triolo, he's been in classes, New School, and summer camp at Media and has had principle roles in shows such as "Dr. Dolittle", "Annie Jr", and "The Wizard of OZ Jr."
Jesse Cline, who is directing "Les Miserables", has high praise for the youth ensemble. "These are young actors with a real sense for what it takes to become a true professional," he said. "They have the opportunity with this production to learn from the professionals who will share the stage with them during the rehearsal and performance process. It's the best type of training."
For continued training and opportunities for youth, The Media Theatre will be making announcements soon about its new School and Dance Center. The Center is at State and Monroe Streets in Media, next to the theatre.
Call 610-891-0100 or visit mediatheatre.org for tickets to "Les Miserables" which runs November 19-January 11.
