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Overview
Synopsis
One of the world’s most iconic and longest-running musicals, Les Misérables tells the story of Jean Valjean, a former convict who spends a lifetime seeking redemption. Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France and the aftermath of the French Revolution, this timeless story of intertwined destinies reveals the power of compassion and the quiet evil of indifference to human suffering. As Valjean’s quest for a new life carries him into Paris and to the barricades of the Student Revolution, he is hunted by Inspector Javert and the ghosts of his past. Amidst a battle for the soul of Paris, he discovers the true meaning of love and salvation. Performed in over 40 countries and 22 languages, and with a lush, swelling score that features such famed songs as “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” and “Bring Him Home,” Les Mis brings Victor Hugo’s revolutionary novel blazingly to life.
Show Information
- Book
- Alain Boublil
- Music
- Claude-Michel Schönberg
- Lyrics
- Alain Boublil
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Victor Hugo's 1862 novel of the same name
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1980
- Genres
- Drama, Historical/Biographical
- Settings
- Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- 1815-1832, the french countryside and paris
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Community Theatre, Ensemble Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Child, Late Teen, Elderly Characters, Large Cast
Context
Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables, upon which the musical production is closely based, was published in 1862. Born to a middle-class family, Hugo rose to fame and controversy as a novelist and playwright; his other most famous work is The Hunchback of Notre Dame. During the reign of Napoleon, he jeopardized his life and career by leading rebellious protests against the new Empire. While in exile, he wrote Les Misérables, which was a huge popular success. Notably, neither the novel
to read the context for Les Misérables and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act One
1815 – Under the watch of cruel wardens, a chain-gang of hopeless convicts pushes through another day of hard labor in Toulon, France (“Look Down/Prologue”). One of the prisoners, Jean Valjean, prepares to begin his parole; he has served nineteen years as “a slave of the law” for stealing a loaf of bread, and then subsequently attempting to escape from prison. The chief officer in charge, Inspector Javert, coldly calls for “Prisoner 24601” and hands Valjean his release papers,
to read the plot for Les Misérables and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Bass-Baritone |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Female |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
|
|
Ensemble |
Male |
Spoken |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- Overture: Instrument (Orchestra)
- Prologue: Work Song – Chain Gang, Javert, and Valjean
- Prologue: On Parole – Valjean, Farmer, Labourer, Innkeeper's Wife, and Innkeeper
- Prologue: Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven – Constables and Bishop
- Prologue: What Have I Done? – Valjean
- At the End of the Day – Fantine, The Poor, Foreman, Workers, Factory Girls, and Valjean
- I Dreamed a Dream – Fantine
- Lovely Ladies – Fantine, Sailors, Whores, Old Woman, Crone, and Pimp
- Fantine's Arrest – Fantine, Bamatabois, Javert, and Valjean
- The Runaway Cart – Onlookers, Valjean, and Javert
- Who Am I? – Valjean
- Fantine's Death – Fantine and Valjean
- The Confrontation – Javert and Valjean
- Castle on a Cloud – Young Cosette and Madame Thenardier
- *Master of the House – Thenardier, Madame Thenardier and Chorus
- The Well Scene – Valjean and Young Cosette
- The Bargain / The Thénardier Waltz of Treachery – Thenardier, Valjean, Madame Thenardier, and Young Cosette
- Stars – Javert
- Look Down – Beggars, Gavroche, Old Woman, Prostitute, Pimp, Enjolras, and Marius
- The Robbery / Javert's Intervention – Thenardier, Madame Thenardier, Éponine, Marius, Valjean, and Javert
- Éponine's Errand – Marius and Éponine
- The ABC Café / Red and Black – Students, Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire, and Gavroche
- Do You Hear the People Sing? – Enjolras, Grantaire, Students, and Beggars
- In My Life – Cosette, Valjean, Marius, and Éponine
- A Heart Full of Love – Marius, Cosette, and Éponine
- The Attack on Rue Plumet – Thenardier, Thieves, Éponine, Marius, Valjean, and Cosette
- One Day More – Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Éponine, Enjolras, Javert, Thenardier,Madame Thenardier, and Company
Act Two
- At the Barricade (Upon These Stones) – Enjolras, Javert, Marius, Éponine, and Valjean
- On My Own – Éponine
- Building the Barricade (Upon These Stones) – Enjolras, Students, and Army Officer
- Javert's Arrival – Javert and Enjolras
- Little People – Gavroche, Students, Enjolras, and Javert
- A Little Fall of Rain – Éponine and Marius
- Night of Anguish – Enjolras, Valjean, and Students
- The First Attack – Enjolras, Grantaire, Students, Valjean, and Javert
- Drink with Me – Grantaire, Students, Women, and Marius
- Bring Him Home – Valjean
- Dawn of Anguish – Enjolras and Students
- The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche) – Enjolras, Marius, Valjean, Grantaire, Gavroche, and Students
- The Final Battle – Army Officer, Grantaire, Enjolras, and Students
- The Sewers – Instrumental (Orchestra)
- Dog Eats Dog (The Sewers) – Thenardier
- Javert's Suicide – Valjean and Javert
- Turning – Women of Paris
- Empty Chairs at Empty Tables – Marius
- Every Day / A Heart Full of Love (Reprise) – Cosette, Marius, and Valjean
- Valjean's Confession – Valjean and Marius
- Wedding Chorale – Guests, Thenardier, Marius, and Madame Thenardier
- Beggars at the Feast – Thenardier and Madame Thenardier
- Epilogue: Valjean's Death – Valjean, Fantine, Cosette, Marius and Éponine
- Finale: Do You Hear the People Sing (Reprise) – Full Company
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
References a singer who sings in a more chest voice dominant manner.
An album in which the collective whole means more than the individual tracks. Concept albums often have a central theme or story, and may develop into a larger musical narrative.
A man overwhelmingly concerned with looking stylish and fashionable.
Also called “anagnorisis” in Ancient Greek tragedy, this is the recognition by the hero of his tragic fate, and his inability to change it.
A philosophical theory which emphasizes the existence of the individual person with their own free will.
A method of voice production used by male singers, especially tenors, to sing notes higher than their normal range.
Also called the Paris Uprising of 1832, an insurrection against the monarchy of Louis Phillipe I. The event is a central plot point in Les Misérables.
References a singer who has what has been considered a more classical approach to singing.
The script of the musical, separate from the musical orchestrations.
A large-scale musical produced for large commercial profit.
The arrangement of instrument parts, including piano, percussion, horns, and strings.
The notation of music for the musical. There are several types of scores (detailed in the guide).
A speech given by a character that reveals inner thoughts only shared with the audience.
A sad or sentimental song, typically about unrequited love.
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Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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