McLean High School has taken on the challenge of performing a student version of the world-famous musical, “Les Miserables, with a combined cast and crew of more than 70 students.
“It is harder than many operas,” said McLean junior Paul Baumbush, who has the lead role as Jean Valjean. “There is no speaking. It is completely sung.”
A student pit orchestra will provide the musical accompaniment.
Set in revolutionary France, the play will be in production for a total of four months, said student publicity director Denise Kofteci, who plays Sarah in the musical. “I’m a prostitute,” she said. “My mom’s proud.”
The production is directed by McLean High School theater teacher, Denise Perrino, and music director Linda Martin.
Perrino said it is McLean’s depth of talent brought the classic production within range of a student production.
For Baumbush, playing Valjean is a dream that came true.
“I never thought this role was a possibility,” he said. “It is essentially a tenor role, and I am a bass. I was pleasantly surprised to be given the lead.
“It is probably the greatest role in musical theater, ever.”
“It’s been quite a challenge, because it’s slightly out of my range. We’ve had to drop a few octaves, and transpose parts of the score,” he said.