(GLEN RIDGE, NJ) -- The Gas Lamp Teen Players are undertaking their most ambitious show to date: Les Misérables, the musical interpretation of the Victor Hugo novel. Four performances are scheduled for February 8-10, 2019 at Ridgewood Avenue School Theater. Gas Lamp Artistic Director Kristy Graves will direct the production. Glen Ridge resident Stephen Buntrock, who appeared in Les Misérables on Broadway from 1997-1998, will co-direct.
Buntrock played the character Enjolras, leader of the student revolutionaries, during his Broadway run. Describing his cast’s six-week rehearsal experience, he recalls, “I was able to learn Trevor Nunn’s incredible vision firsthand.” Sir Trevor Nunn directed the original British production of Les Misérables in 1985. “Now I’m able to share that vision, with these young actors, in my own community.”
Describing his collaboration with Director Kristy Graves, Buntrock raves, “She’s a master chess player, with an ability to move actors around the stage like no other. Her knowledge of the cast’s musical abilities, combined with my character notes, allows us to cover twice as much ground as a typical rehearsal process.”
More than 50 talented teens, ages 13-18, will take the stage to portray the lives and struggles of French citizens in the early 19th-century Paris and environs. The story features the lifelong pursuit of prisoner Jean Valjean by police inspector Javert. Other interweaving storylines depict a chain gang, factory workers, innkeepers, townsfolk, and the revolutionary students during the June Rebellion of 1832.
The cast includes: James Anderson, Alex Badalamenti, Grace Bayne, Ruby Brooks, Nic Chang, Eryka Duckett, Mykhel Duckett, Natalia Leaf, Victoria Ludwig, Rayna Malhotra, Emma Mangol, Sara Mangol, Claire Newman, Nicolas Pelayo, Riley Prior, Gabriel Springer and Ava Walton of Glen Ridge; Kayla Ayler-McCormick, Amelia Brubaker, Gabby Bubrick, Aidan Dowell, Madeline Dreifach, Tobias Fried, Mareau Hall, Kelsey Kaelin-Panico, Johanna Keyser, Emma McElwee, Eva Owgang, Lexi Owgang, Riley Polaner, Zoe Rechtschaffer, Sophie Saraisky, Millie Thomas, Hazel Togman and Abi Zellner of Montclair; Jolie Lo Grasso, Alexa McNulty, Emily Ostrowski, and Luke Surretsky of Nutley; William Jones, Katie Kallay, Andrew LoMonte and Alexander Wolfe of Bloomfield; Julia Alati and Maya Monteleone of Rutherford; Duane Banks and Armani Calvo of Union; Sophie Fischer and Jasper Hilliard of West Orange; Courtney Coyle of Verona; Lia Marabella of Kenilworth; and Anna Salewycz of Clifton.
Rounding out the creative and production team are: Jess Glover, Musical Director; Lauren Mills, Choreographer; Meredith Eaton, Producer; and Angelica Staikos, Stage Manager.
Les Misérables show dates, times and location are: Friday, February 8 at 7:00pm; Saturday, February 9 at 1:00pm and 7:00pm; and Sunday, February 10 at 1:00pm at Ridgewood Avenue School, 235 Ridgewood Avenue, Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Tickets are $15.00/adults and $10.00/students and available for advance purchase online.
Gas Lamp Players is a non-profit community theatre whose mission is to cultivate creativity, confidence, compassion, and community through the performing arts.
