COLUMBUS, Ohio — Victoria Players Children’s Theatre in Baltimore heads to the stage next weekend with their take on the beloved musical Les Misérables.
The classical musical debuted in 1980 and is based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. Set in 18th-century France against a backdrop of revolution, the story follows Jean Valjean after his 19-year imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread.
"The show is a lot closer to the actual show than I thought that it would be going into it," explained director Jill Henwood of the difference between the original production and the children's theatre's junior adaptation. "The music has changed a little bit, the content - a lot of the scenes remain exactly the same."
For many of the students participating in the children's theatre program, it's more than the opportunities to perform that have drawn them in. The children return to the theater for the camaraderie and for the opportunity to work with others from outside their local communities.
"Coming here, you see such a wide range of such great performers, great actors, great people all around," said Joshua Henwood who plays Javert, the antagonistic policeman who pursues Jean Valjean.
"The great thing about children's theatre that you don't necessarily get with your school theatre is that you meet all of these other people from all over central Ohio," said the director who counts students traveling from Gahanna, Grove City, Lancaster, New Lexington and Sugar Grove amongst the members of her cast and crew.
"These are the kids who want to do this. They could be doing anything right now and they are choosing to spend their time here with me over the summer making this really difficult - fun, hopefully - but really difficult show come to life," she said.
Victoria Players Children’s Theatre’s “Les Misérables” runs July 25 through the 28 at Liberty Union High School in downtown Baltimore. For more information, visit: https://baltimoredowntownrestoration.com/2024/03/23/vpct-announces-summer-musical-auditions/.