G-Prep brings ‘Les Mis’ to stage

Drama students at Gonzaga Prep will bring the Broadway favorite, “Les Miserables” to the stage in the Kubiak Theater, 1224 E. Euclid Ave., beginning Friday at 7 p.m.

Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, the musical is set in 19th century France and tells the tale of Jean Valjean (played by Spokane Civic Theatre and Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre’s Joe Lyons), who has been released from prison after 19 years for stealing bread to feed his starving sister and her family. Eight years later, Valjean has assumed a new identity as a wealthy factory owner and mayor. His employee Fantine, played by Kaila Ceballos, is exposed sending money to her illegitimate child, Cosette, played by Sunnyside Elementary student Meaghan Redmond and G-Prep’s Camrynne Sullivan, and loses her job.

Desperate for money, Fantine sells her locket, her hair and turns to prostitution to pay the monthly allowance to the greedy innkeeper Madame Thenardier, played by Bridget Pretz and her husband, Monsieur Thenardier, played by Kylle Collins. Dying in the hospital, Fantine shares her story with Valjean, who promises to rescue Cosette.

Other cast members include Marc Malek as Javert, Molly Judge as Eponine; David Medeiros as Marius; Aaron Burns as Enjolras; Thomas Mealey, as the Bishop of Digne; Matt Thompson, from St. Aloysius Catholic School, as Gavroche; and Isabella Sasich, from St. Aloysius, as the young Eponine. Elementary students from Sunnyside, along with students from St. Aloysius, St. Charles, Cataldo, Trinity and All Saints Catholic schools also join the cast, along with 1-month-old Melia Kane, daughter of G-Prep’s music director Sean Kane, who will be making her stage debut as part of the peasant cast, mood permitting.

Performances continue Saturday and Sunday at 3 p.m. and May 10-12 at 7 p.m.

Tickets are $5 and available by calling the Gonzaga Prep bookstore at (509) 483-8511, ext. 455, by email at lesmis@gprep.com or at the door.