Les Mis Character Descriptions REVISED FINAL 10.18.2013
Les Mis Character Descriptions REVISED FINAL 10.18.2013
Les Mis Character Descriptions REVISED FINAL 10.18.2013
Note:
*To audition, adults and teens must be at least 15 years old as of January 1, 2014 and have a
believable stage age of 18. [Revised October 7, 2013.]
*We are unable to upload sheet music because of copyright rules. Our score best matches the 2010
Dream Cast Live recording with John Owen Jones as JVJ. Measure numbers and lyrics are included
for your convenience. We will be teaching music at auditions and call-backs, but your preparation will
streamline the process. . [Revised October 18, 2013]
Jean Valjean: 40s, ages to 60s. High lyric baritone or tenor with strong low notes, A to high B.
A paroled convict, prisoner 24601 and the protagonist and moral center of the show. Failing to find
work with his yellow parole note and redeemed by the Bishop of Dignes mercy, he tears up the parole
note and conceals his identity to live his life as an honest man. He redeems himself repeatedly with
selfless acts of generosity and love. He steps in to save Fantine. He adopts Cosette and ultimately
gives his blessing to her and Marius, allowing them to marry. He rescues Marius from the barricade.
He confronts Javert. Jean Valjean is the only character in the show who looks within himself to find
answers. Must believably be seen as a man with great physical strength. Vocal stamina, Very Strong
Singer/Actor
Audition material: Bring Him Home M 95 to the end (Bring him peace, Bring him Joy)
AND
Who Am I? M 112 to the End` (Who am I? Can I condemn this man to slavery,
pretend I do not feel his agony to End) [Revised October 18, 2013]
Callbacks: Confrontation M 58 to M 91 (at Javerts line, see below) [Revised October 18, 2013]
Javert: 40s, ages to 60s. Baritone, F to F#/G, (Belt or classical, but must have a darker quality than Valjean.)
Police Inspector who relentlessly pursues Valjean for breaking parole. He sees the world and its
people in shades of black and white, and believes that no oneincluding himselfis capable of
change or redemption. He is NOT the villain, but his idea of the law is merciless and unbending: a
person is either right or wrong. Javert cannot understand Jean Valjeans--Prisoner 24601s-- ideas of
mercy and justice, and it his undoing. Must be able to believably balance against Valjean in strength,
determination and power. Must be able to manage heights and binding equipment while singing.
Strong Singer/Actor
Audition material: Stars M 19 to M 40 (at A1 Stars in your multitudes to ..pay the price)
Call backs: Confrontation (w JVJ) (Valjean, at last we see each other plain.)
Thenardier: late 30s-40s, ages to 50s-60s. Tenor, C to G.
An immoral opportunist who has survived by robbing, cheating, stealing and looking out for himself,
above all. Crooked, irreverent, selfish, boorish, vulgar. He plays the bon vivant host because it
serves him well, and later leads a gang of dangerous thieves. Comic relief along with his wife Madame
Thenardier. Strong Actor
Call backs: Heart full of Love-Reprise with Cosette. M42 to end (No JVJ) (at Cosettes line A Heart
full of Love)
Audition material: The Peoples Song M3 to M 24. Do you Hear .. to when tomorrow comes
Audition material: On My Own M 128 to M 146 I love him, but when the night is over. To the
world is full of happiness that I have never known
Callbacks: A Little Fall of Rain M 106 to m 115 (Dont you fret to end)
Audition material: Rue Plumet M 14 to 32. In my life there are so many questions to find me
here
CHILDRENS ROLES
ENSEMBLE
The ensemble is a critical part of the flow and movement of the show, and will be featured in many different
ways throughout. We are looking for very strong singers, and although this isnt a heavy dance show, we are
looking to see a range of contrasting movement styles -- from the base, grungy and solicitous to the dainty,
affected and aristocratic. We would like to see people who feel comfortable moving by themselves and with
others in the background of the story: from building crowd scenes to building stage combat, from physicalizing
gunshots and the lifting of heavy rocks to creating a realistic physical exchange between a whore and her
customer, from affected aristocrats to elegant waltzers and to playing more than one character believably.
Much of the story is told through the atmosphere and locations set by the ensembles movement, so the
ability to be a risk-taking, creative, receptive and flexible group member is critical. In addition to strong singing
and movement skills, plays well with others is a great talent to have in this casting situation!
ABC SOCIETY: Abaisse. Their name is a play on words of the French: the abased or the people below.
Students and workers, part of a secret society to fight for freedom. The students are from wealthy
families, the workers are a stark contrast. Doubled with other ensemble roles. They include:
Combeferre: a philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong and brave.
Feuilly: a worker, self-educated and an orphan. A Believer in nationality. Affectionate, warm, poetic
Joly: a medical student. Eccentric and lighthearted, although occasionally morbid. His name is from the
English jolly
Prouvaire: a student of social studies. He is kind, soft spoken and at the right moments strong and masterful.
He is a poet.
Lesgles: a student, cheerful, laughing at life but unlucky. Close friends with Joly.
Grantaire: a student, the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. He admires Enjolras, but loves to mock
him. Witty and often drunk, he is happy being with the group and they put up with him because of his
good humor. He keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche and is most heartbroken when Gavroche is killed.
Brujon: Physically strong. The body of a bear and a pea sized brain. a gangster, stupid and evil.
Babet: Physically frail, but lean and cunning
Montparnasse: a teenager, handsome and dangerous. Kills with a knife. Possessive of Eponine
OTHERS:
Other male ensemble: Chain Gang, Farmers, Laborers, Sailors, Constables, Citizens, Beggars, Wedding Guests,
Waltzers
Other female ensemble: Farmers, Innkeepers Wife, Whores, Factory Workers, Citizens, Beggars, Wedding
Guests, Waltzers
Audition material: Fantine, Eponine or Cosettes material; or Turning, Turning M106 to M136
Did you see them going off to fight? to Turning, turning, turning, turning, turning through the years