Auditions & Employment

 Auditions for Les Misérables

 

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Uptown Music Theater is excited to announce general auditions for Les Misérables, by Alain Boublil and Claude- Michel Schönberg. Les Misérables will be directed by Scott Shallenbarger. Music Director/Conductor is Aaron Kaplan. Associate Director/Choreographer is Stacey Flaster.

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​Audition Dates: By online submission of materials. Submission deadline is 5PM on February 9, 2024.

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Callback Dates:
Mondays, February 26 and March 4, 2024 (and March 11, if necessary) – 6:00 - 9:00 pm
Tuesdays, February 27 and March 5, 2024 (and March 12, if necessary) – 7:00 - 9:00 pm

*Portions of callbacks will be videotaped

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Callbacks and Rehearsal Location: West Ridge Center, 636 Ridge Road, Highland Park, IL

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Performance Location: New State-of-the-Art Performing Arts Center, Deerfield High School, 1959 Waukegan Rd., Deerfield IL. 

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Pay: $500 stipend (leads/supporting); $300 stipend (featured & ensemble/Gavroche/Young Cosette/Young Eponine);  $100 additional stipend for in-cast understudies; $100 additional stipend for travel (if more than 15 miles from residence).

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What to Submit and Prepare: To submit, please go to - Uptown's Les Misérables TheaterForms. Through the online form, please submit your headshot, resume, and private URL of your video, consisting of approximately 32 bars or 1 minute of a musical theatre song in the style of the show that showcases your musical and vocal strengths. All songs should include accompaniment, which can be live or a pre-recorded track.

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Les Misérables Description

Les Misérables is the world’s longest running musical — a true modern classic based on Victor Hugo's novel and featuring one of the most memorable scores of all time.  With countless awards to its name, Les Misérables is as groundbreaking today as it was when it first premiered in London in 1985.

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In nineteenth century France, Jean Valjean is released from 19 years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a lifelong struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe that Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter. His world view shattered, Javert commits suicide, and Valjean finally attains the peace that he has sought for so long.

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Les Misérables Character Descriptions

 

Jean Valjean  35-40s. Sings to B (high lyric baritone or tenor with strong low notes). A poor peasant who rises to affluence, he has great natural nobility and dignity. A powerful figure, ideally a large man with a character of operatic size and passion. The voice needs to have a pop/rock sound or a classical sound of extraordinary textual clarity.

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Javert  Baritone, sings to G. Policeman who relentlessly hunts Valjean. Ideally an imposing man. The ultimate “law and order” figure. Obsessed, to the point of irrationality, with a rigid and merciless moral code. He too is a character of operatic size and passion. Both belt voice and classical can suit this role but must have a darker quality than Jean Valjean.

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Thenardier  Late 30s-40s. Strong comic character role. A crooked innkeeper, later a petty, amoral thief. Greedy, irreverent, selfish, boorish, vulgar. Baritone, sings to F sharp.

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Marius  20s. High baritone (sings to A) with a strong bottom (to A).  A member of the revolutionary student  movement. Attractive and romantic but in a sensitive, 19th century “byronic” way.

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Enjolras  20s-early 30s. High baritone (to G sharp/B flat) very strong singer. Charismatic political figure. Leader of the revolutionary movement.

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Gavroche  11 (actor age 9 - 12), is Thernardier's son. He is left to fend for himself and live by his wits in the streets of Paris. His "arch enemy" is Javert the Policeman. He is brave and witty. Think of a young Artful Dodger.

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Fantine  Late 20s, early 30s. Belt up to C, sings to E flat. Poor factory girl, struggling to support her fatherless daughter. Later is a pauper, a prostitute, a consumptive and a ghost. Earthy and poignant. Although is finally defeated by circumstances she should appear to be strong and a survivor. She puts up a valiant fight against the horrors of her life.

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Cosette  18-25 (the younger the better). Fantine’s daughter (first seen as and played by a child) delicate, elegant, vulnerable and beautiful. Falls in love with and later marries Marius. Soprano (to high C) but a light, young “floating” sound, without heavy vibrato.

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Eponine 18-25. An enormous and beautiful belt voice, to C in belt (sings to E flat). Daughter of the Thenardiers but in no way behaves like them. Fired by an unrequited love for Marius. Small, gamine, waif-like. Hasn’t learned to disguise her emotions; wears her heart on her sleeve.

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Madame Thenardier  30s-early 40s. Tough, sharp, coarse, boorish, vulgar. Strong character comedienne role. Belter.

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Young Cosette  8 (actor age 7 - 10).  Young Cosette is Fantine’s daughter and the Thénardiers’ ward. She has been forced into child labor. She is underfed, beaten by Madame Thénardier, and bullied by Eponine. Sings whistfully and beautifully up to C5.

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Young Eponine  8 (actor age 7 - 10). Little Eponine is the pampered daughter of the Thernardiers. The role requires no singing or speaking. May also be cast as the understudy to Young Cosette, a singing role (see above). 

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Featured/Ensemble  We are looking to cast a large ensemble, with featured roles. All tenor/baritone roles sing to G and sopranos/altos belt up to C.

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Please let us know if we can assist with any accessibility accommodations or questions to facilitate the casting process.

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Production Dates:
Please note: We are asking about your conflicts for wider range of availability than may actually be used for rehearsals.

Rehearsals:  Mon. 5/20/24 – Thurs. 7/18/24: Weekly rehearsals will be the following times: 6-9pm on Mondays-Thursdays and 1-4pm on Saturdays or Sundays. One weeknight (TBD), Fridays, and either Saturday or Sunday (TBD) will be the designated days off each week. There will be one understudy rehearsal during Tech Rehearsals. No rehearsals - May 25-27 and 7/4.

Tech Rehearsals: Saturday 7/20/24 – Thursday 7/25/24:
Sat 7/20, 1pm-7pm

Sun 7/21, 10am-noon; 1pm-7pm
Mon 7/22-Thursday 7/25, 6-11pm

Performances: Friday 7/26/24 - Sunday 8/11/24: Ten performances.
Performance schedule includes 7:30pm on Fridays, & Saturdays; 2pm on Sundays; and 2pm on final Saturday (potential).
Up

Uptown’s Illness & Infectious Disease Response: Actors will participate in weekly symptom checks. These checks involve a self-assessment for common infectious disease symptoms. In the event that symptoms are present, a COVID-19 test shall be taken. All symptom-related information, testing, and results will be
treated confidentially. Negative test results without symptoms will allow the actor to resume work, while positive results require following the local health guidelines. This policy will be periodically reviewed and communicated to the actor as needed, ensuring a safe working environment.

Uptown Music Theater’s Commitment
Uptown stands against systemic racism, hatred, and violence. Uptown strives to ensure our theater is a safe space and secure environment, free of harassment or intimidation. We acknowledge that lack of action is harmful.

Uptown is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment.

Uptown is dedicated to upholding values of equal opportunity and engages in a policy of promoting a positive model of diversity, equity, inclusivity, and accessibility. As such, Uptown confirms our commitment to equitable hiring practices in order to achieve that goal. We celebrate inclusivity and encourage actors of
all genders, ethnicities, body types, and abilities to submit for the roles to which they most identify.