Kids' theater tackles 'Les Miz'
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 11 years, 11 months AGO
<p class="p1">Kate Ehrenberg and Sam Benkelman play Cosette and Marius in Alpine Kids! Theatre Project's production of "Les Miserables School Edition."</p>
Thirty-three high school students from all over the Flathead Valley have been working together to present “Les Miserables School Edition” this weekend.
The show runs Friday through Sunday at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center and is part of Alpine Kids! Theatre Project’s Educational Outreach Program.
“It doesn’t get more epic than this musical,” said Luke Walrath, one of the directors and teachers of the Alpine Kids! program, along with Alpine Theatre Project artistic director Betsi Morrison.
“It’s absolutely gut-wrenching. And with the Oscar-winning film version just out, it’s a perfect time to do it. The students couldn’t be more excited, and we couldn’t be prouder of the work they’re doing.”
“Les Miserables” tells the epic story of the struggle against adversity in 19th-century France. Imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, Jean Valjean is released from his 19-year term and not only becomes an honest man but the mayor of a prosperous town and a loving adoptive father — violating his parole in the process.
The relentless Inspector Javert, who makes a decent life for Valjean impossible, consequently pursues him. Only years later, after Valjean proves his mettle during a bloody student uprising and saves the life of a young man hopelessly in love with Valjean’s adopted daughter, does the ex-convict finally feel fully redeemed.
This is the only version of “Les Miserables” allowed to be produced outside of the current tour of the original Broadway production.
Show times are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8 for students and $15 for adults. Call 862-SHOW or visit atpwhitefish.org for additional information.
The mission of Alpine Kids! Theatre Project is to foster confidence and creativity in local students through participation in theater. Past high school productions have included “Disney's High School Musical,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Rent” and last year's production of “Into the Woods.” More than 700 students from every school in the valley have participated in the program since it began.
