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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

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
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

Plot

Characters

Name Part Size Gender Vocal Part

Jean Valjean

Lead

Male

Tenor

Marius

Lead

Male

Tenor

Cosette

Lead

Female

Soprano

Fantine

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Javert

Lead

Male

Bass-Baritone

Éponine

Lead

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Thenardier

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Gavroche

Supporting

Male

Tenor

Madame Thenardier

Supporting

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Enjolras

Supporting

Male

Baritone

Bishop of Digne

Featured

Male

Bass

Young Cosette

Featured

Female

Mezzo-Soprano

Combeferre, an ABC Café Student

Featured

Male

Baritone

Feuilly, an ABC Café Student

Featured

Male

Baritone

Courfeyrac, an ABC Café Student

Featured

Male

Baritone

Joly, an ABC Café Student

Featured

Male

Baritone

Lesgles, an ABC Café Student

Featured

Male

Baritone

Jean Prouvaire, an ABC Café Student

Featured

Male

Baritone

Grantaire, an ABC Café Student

Featured

Male

Baritone

Farmer

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Foreman

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Pimp

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Young  Éponine

Ensemble

Female

Spoken

Members of Thenardier’s Gang

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

French Soldier

Ensemble

Male

Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Major Domo

Ensemble

Male

Spoken

Crone

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Factory Girl

Ensemble

Female

Alto

Farmer’s Wife

Ensemble

Female

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto

Ensemble

Ensemble

Either Gender

Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass

Bamatabois

Ensemble

Male

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

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Scenes

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Bonnie Antosh, Michael Miller