Les Misérables
By George Ning ‘26
The end of Act 1, photo from NMH Flickr
In the hushed corridors of the Rhodes Art Center, the echoes of rehearsed melodies and whispered lines fill the space. It is the time when the spotlight dances on dreams and the stage becomes a canvas for passion. LÉS MISERABLES—-set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, this iconic musical presents a journey through unforgettable characters whose destinies intertwined amidst the tumultuous years of revolution.
During the production phase, the musical itself is a challenge to the NMH actors, the total duration of the LES MISERABLES is around three hours. In addition to that, according to the supervisor of the theater immersion, Alexandra: “It is written in nobody’s range. So no matter what singer voice part you are, you have to sing lower than you’re used to singing and higher than you’re used to singing. So it’s like a real stretch for students learning it.”. However, as the performing week came, the musical turned out great. Every show is packed with audiences from the NMH community and the Gill community.
There is also a school tradition to use student musicians for musicals. Alexandra said: “It is a very, very hard score to play and there were only a handful of professional musicians playing in the pit. It is impressive that the NMH musicians can play alongside the professionals because it is such a difficult score.”. The harmonious collaboration between students and professionals in bringing the intricate musical underscores the exceptional dedication and skill that defines the NMH musical tradition.
In the final crescendo of "Les Misérables," the echoes of the transformative journey linger, not just in the corridors of the Rhodes Art Center but in the collective memory of a community brought together by the magic of the stage. The enduring impact of this production reaches far beyond the footlights, forging connections, inspiring aspirations, and leaving an everlasting resonance within the hearts of all who played a part in bringing this iconic musical to life.
