Voices Soar in Operatic Les Misérables at DPAC

"One Day More" from the Les Misérables tour, playing July 15-20 at DPAC, features (center three, from left) Mya Rena Hunter as Éponine,
Christian Mark Gibbs as Enjolras, and Jake David Smith as Marius (photo by Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)

The Durham Performing Arts Center's July 15-20 presentation of Les Misérables, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, is nothing short of American Opera. I can imagine it being performed at the Sydney Opera House, with The Three Tenors in the leading male roles. Not only are the vocals the kind you hear at a church cathedral concert, but the set is akin to those of the Paris Opera at the turn of the 19th century, which isn't too far from when Les Mis is set.

The musical Les Misérables is based on Victor Hugo's iconic 1862 historical novel of the same name. It debuted in Paris in 1980 as a concept album by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, who together had produced the first-ever staged French rock opera, entitled La Révolution Française, in 1973. In 1985, an English version of Les Mis opened in London's West End, where it has been playing ever since; and starting in 1987, the musical performed on Broadway for 16 straight years and began playing to over 60 million people around the world.

"Bring Him Home" from Les Misérables at DPAC stars Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

In Les Misérables, Jean Valjean -- a man imprisoned for stealing bread -- seeks redemption and a new life after his release, while being relentlessly pursued by the police inspector Javert, all against the backdrop of violent social unrest in 19th-century France. Valjean befriends a prostitute (Fantine), who suffers an untimely death, leaving her child (Cosette) in Valjean's care.

Contrary to popular belief, the plot is not set during the French Revolution (1789-99), but during the subsequent July Revolution (1830). The latter uprising was sparked when King Charles X restricted freedom of the press and dissolution of the legislature -- sound familiar? Protests and demonstrations escalated into armed conflict in Paris, with Parisians erecting barricades and clashing with royal troops. The 2022 national tour of Les Misérables utilizes a museum-quality, life-size replica of one of these barricades and gunfire and explosive effects worthy of a historical battle reenactment.

I am sure the second act was just as exhilarating and confusing for preteen audience members as it was for me when I saw Les Mis for the first time. Given the confusion surrounding the street fighting in the second act and the vibrato of the actors, who sing every line, knowing the plot and even the lyrics to some songs ahead of time will enhance their (and your) experience.

"Stars" from Les Misérables, playing July 15-20 at DPAC, stars Nick Rehberger as Javert (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Although I read a few articles and watched some informational videos before going to the show, I went to DPAC expecting a musical.

I wasn't prepared for the operatic experience that awaited me. Which turns out to be quite appropriate, given that Les Mis composer Claude-Michel Schönberg grew up wanting to be an opera composer and had never even considered writing for musical theater until he met Alain Boublil in 1973.

"I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Misérables at DPAC stars Lindsay Heather Pearce as Fantine (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Nick Cartell has portrayed Jean Valjean over 1,500 times(!), so that he embodies the character almost involuntarily on stage. His stage presence is magnetic; and his voice is booming and powerful at times, and mesmerizingly angelic at others, particularly when he sings "Bring Him Home," which alone makes the show worthwhile.

Nick Rehberger evokes the ominous police inspector Javert in form and in sound, his deep tremolo voice conjuring dramatic darkness and foreboding in every scene.

"Master of the House" from Les Misérables at DPAC stars Matt Crowle (top) as Thénardier (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

As Cosette's love interest Marius Pontmercy, Jake David Smith provides harmonious accompaniment in beautiful duets, trios, and group numbers.

On Tuesday night, Juliette Redden (subbing for Lindsay Heather Pearce) and Delaney Guyer portrayed Fantine and Cosette, respectively, with somber grace and voices that literally take you to the rafters. Delaney Guyer's voice is reminiscent of Albanian opera singer Inva Mula in the 1997 film The Fifth Element, such is her range and crystal-like quality.

"Beggars at the Feast" stars Matt Crowle and Victoria Huston-Elem as M. & Mme. Thénardier (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

The group numbers are holistic and professional-recording quality -- especially impressive given that all the actors are singing their lungs out.

Matt Kinley's set expertly combines life-size video backgrounds with giant physical structures, providing a multimedia experience. Within this bustling atmosphere, prominent characters are illuminated in shafts of light emanating from the back of the theater as if from the Heavens.

DPAC's presentation of Les Misérables is your chance to experience contemporary opera in English and right here in the Triangle. Before you go, do yourself a favor and learn a little about the production's history. Click here for a good place to start.

"The Barricade" from Les Misérables stars Christian Mark Gibbs (top center) as Enjolras (photo by Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Jean-Marc Natel, and Herbert Kretzmer's LES MISÉRABLES (In Person at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, July 16-20), based on the 1862 historical novel by Victor Hugo, produced by Cameron Mackintosh, directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, presented as part of WRAL Greatest Hits of Broadway, and starring Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean, Nick Rehberger as Javert, Lindsay Heather Pearce as Fantine, Matt Crowle as Thénardier, Victoria Huston-Elem as Madame Thénardier, Christian Mark Gibbs as Enjolras, Mya Rena Hunter as Éponine Thénardier, Jake David Smith as Marius Pontmercy, Delaney Guyer as Cosette, Emerson Mae Chan and Greta Schaefer as Little Cosette/Young Éponine, Jackson Parker Gil and Jack Jewkes as Petit Gervaix/Gavroche, Kyle Adams as Grantaire/Major Domo, Daniel Gerard Bittner as Laborer/Feuilly, David Andino as Bamatabois/Babet, fight captain Steve Czarnecki as Factory Farmer/Factory Foreman/Brujon, Juliette Redden as Wigmaker, Jonathan Young as Constable/Jean Prouvaire, Randy Jeter as the Bishop of Digne/Lesgles, Andrew Marks Maughan as Champmathieu/Combeferre, David T. Walker as Claquesous/Innkeeper/Bishop of Digne, Julia Ellen Richardson as a Factory Girl, Danny Martin as Courfeyrac, Sarah Pansing as an Old Woman, Jeremiah Alsop as Constable/Montparnasse, and Christian Engelhardt as Joly, plus an Ensemble that includes Nicole Fragala, Gillian Hassert, Audrey Hoffman, Eden Mau, and Kaitlyn Sumner and Swings that include Kenneth Quinney Francoeur, Mikako Martin, Nicole Morris, Ashley Dawn Mortensen, Nick Pattarini, Matt Rosell, Christopher Robin Sapp, dance captain Kyle Timson, and Lamont J. Whitaker (Durham Performing Arts Center in Durham). DIGITAL PROGRAM: https://issuu.com/dpac0/docs/les_mis_rables. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tGcccecAXE. THE PRESENTER/VENUE: https://www.dpacnc.com/, https://www.facebook.com/DPACNC, https://www.instagram.com/DPACNC/, https://www.tiktok.com/@dpacnc, https://x.com/DPAC, and https://www.youtube.com/user/DPACLive. 2025-26 WRAL GREATEST HITS OF BROADWAY AT DPAC: https://www.dpacnc.com/events/category/broadway. DIRECTIONS: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/directions. PARKING: https://www.dpacnc.com/plan-your-visit/parking. LES MISÉRABLES (1862 historical novel): https://www.britannica.com/topic/Les-Miserables-novel-by-Hugo and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables. THE NOVEL (excerpts): https://gutenberg.org/files/135/135-h/135-h.htm (Project Gutenberg). VICTOR HUGO (French novelist, poet, and dramatist, 1802-85) http://www.gavroche.org/vhugo/, http://www.victorhugo.gg/, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Victor-Hugo, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor_Hugo. LES MISÉRABLES (1980 Paris, 1985 West End, and 1987 Broadway musical): https://lesmis.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/les-miserables-0, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-show/les-misrables-5340, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(musical). STUDY GUIDE (Utah Shakespeare Festival): https://www.bard.org/study-guides/les-miserables-study-guide. ALAIN BOUBLIL (concept, book, and original French lyrics): https://www.mtishows.com/people/alain-boublil, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/alain-boublil-3932, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0098842/, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alain_Boublil. CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHÖNBERG (book and music): https://www.mtishows.com/people/claude-michel-schonberg, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/claude-michel-schnberg-4864, and https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0774744/, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude-Michel_Sch%C3%B6nberg. JEAN-MARC NATEL (French text): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/jean-marc-natel-72569. HERBERT KRETZMER (English lyrics): http://www.herbertkretzmer.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/people/herbert-kretzmer, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/herbert-kretzmer-13012, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0471014/, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Kretzmer. TREVOR NUNN (English book): https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/trevor-nunn-15788, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0638080/, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trevor_Nunn. JOHN CAIRD (English book): http://www.johncaird.com/, https://www.mtishows.com/people/john-caird, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/john-caird-14350, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0129035/, and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Caird_%28director%29. JAMES FENTON (additional material): https://www.mtishows.com/people/james-fenton, https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/james-fenton-72570, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Fenton. LES MISÉRABLES (2012 film): http://www.lesmiserablesfilm.com/, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1707386/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Mis%C3%A9rables_(2012_film). WILLIAM NICHOLSON (screenwriter, playwright, and novelist): https://www.williamnicholson.com/, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0629933/, and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Nicholson_(writer). THE TOUR (Oct. 7, 2022-present): https://us-tour.lesmis.com/, https://www.cameronmackintosh.com/productions/view/les-miserables/les-miserables-us-tour, https://www.networkstours.com/show/les-miserables/, https://www.ibdb.com/tour-production/les-misrables-534535, https://facebook.com/lesmisofficial, https://instagram.com/lesmizofficial, https://www.tiktok.com/@lesmisofficial https://x.com/LesMizUS, and https://youtube.com/lesmisofficial. TOUR CAST & CREATIVES: https://www.lesmis.com/us-tour/cast-creatives. TICKETS: $60 and up, including all taxes and fees. Call 800-982-2787 or click here to buy tickets. GROUPS (10+ tickets): 919-680-2787, Groups@DPACnc.com, and https://www.dpacnc.com/events/groups-services. INFORMATION: 919-680-2787 or CustomerService@DPACnc.com. Susie Potter's Triangle Arts Review Review.

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