Wednesday, Feb. 14 through Sunday, Feb. 18, the Tony Award-winning musical “Les Misérables” will take stage at the Overture Center in Madison under the production of Cameron Mackintosh. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo, “Les Misérables” flourishes in its ability to transcend time, debuting for the first time as a musical in 1987 and continuing to touch audiences’ hearts with its powerful score and raw characters.
Set in 19th century France, the musical masterfully and emotionally dives deep into a fight for justice during the French Revolution. The show connects themes of social inequality, both true and unrequited love, grief and redemption with songs like “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “On My Own,” “I Dreamed a Dream,” “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables” and more.
Cast member of the U.S. tour and Wisconsin native Kelsey Denae describes “Les Misérables” as “an epic and uplifting story about grace and redemption and the survival of the human spirit.”
Denae usually performs within the female ensemble, sometimes playing the malicious wig maker who cuts off character Fantine’s hair and sometimes playing a factory girl.
“In the ensemble, it’s fun because we have different characters that we play in pretty much every scene, which is really exciting and it makes the show fun,” Denae said.
From time to time, however, she also steps into the role of Fantine — singer of the heart-wrenching ballad “I Dreamed a Dream.”
In the story, Fantine is a destitute mother forced to care and provide for her child, Cosette, on her own. Her story is often one of the first instances to bring audiences to tears.
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“We split [the roles] essentially,” Denae said. “[Singing ‘I Dreamed a Dream’] is very, very fun and very exciting. It’s such an honor and privilege to get to step into that role.”
“Les Misérables” was last performed in Madison in 2018, according to the Overture Center. The tour was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic but has made a strong return to the road.
Denae was a cast member before the pandemic interrupted the tour. She told The Badger Herald about the process of returning to the stage.
“I actually was with the show before the pandemic,” Denae said. “We opened again in October 2022. We started rehearsals in New York in August. We had about five weeks there and then moved the show to Cleveland, where we went through our tech rehearsal process. Then we opened the first week of October.”
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Denae’s connection to “Les Misérables” goes back further than the moment she joined the cast — she’s been a fan of the production since she saw it for the first time as a child.
Whether viewing the production as an audience member or performing within the cast, each performance brings a fresh experience for her.
“It was one of the first shows I saw as a little girl and I got to see it again for my 18th birthday. It sort of just always had kind of a place in my life,” Denae said. “Every single time there’s something new that I find, whether it’s through the music or watching other actors on stage. Every time is different.”
The music, Denae added, is part of what makes the show so timeless.
Audiences of all generations continue to connect with and appreciate “Les Misérables,” despite its debut nearly 40 years ago.
“I think a lot of it has to do with the score. It’s just such a stunning musical masterpiece,” Denae said. “You know, you have your classic songs like ‘I Dreamed a Dream.’ When I was younger, ‘On My Own’ always stood out to me. I think ‘Bring Him Home’ gets quite a lot of people.”
She also credited the meaningful storylines and wide range of characters with drawing in such a loyal fanbase that continues to grow.
She believes that the audience’s ability to see themselves within the characters is a crucial part of the show’s popularity.
“There’s characters of all ages,” Denae said. “I think it really stuck out to the older generation when it first opened, but now, my seven year old nephew got to come watch the show and see a kid on stage that’s his age. That’s really exciting and really cool. And then you have teenagers who are seeing a group of students fighting for a cause. And there’s female roles that stick out to me as a young actress and other girls. It was nice to see women on stage and in such powerful roles. There’s definitely something for everyone.”
When asked if this production of “Les Misérables” brings any unique perspective to the stage, Denae praised her fellow castmates in their ability to portray the characters using their own interpretations.
“It’s a classic, and it is three hours long … so keeping it fresh is huge,” Denae said. “You keep the timeliness of the story, but everybody brings their own perspective to it, which is lovely to see. For example, in the moment when Marius and Cosette meet for the first time, Jake [David Smith] and Delaney [Guyer] do a wonderful job of bringing that fresh energy every night. And Mya [Rena Hunter], our Éponine, brings a freshness to that unrequited love. It’s wonderful.”
The runtime of “Les Misérables” is 2 hours and 55 minutes including one intermission. The show is recommended for ages 7 and up. Tickets for the show can be purchased on the Overture Center website, and more U.S. tour dates can be found on the “Les Misérables” official website.
