Musical Powerhouses Lead Les Miserables: In Concert
Joint Production Runs December 17-19
Sudbury, ON Dec. 10, 2014: What do you get when you mix Sudbury’s favourite tenor, a popular local conductor and two acclaimed arts organizations that regularly perform to audiences of more than 1,000?
Attendees at next week’s production of Les Miserables: In Concert will soon find out. Although the performance is the first venture into musical theatre for the Sudbury Symphony, and YES Theatre’s first engagement with a live orchestra, the key players in the production are far from amateurs.
Playing the leading role of Jean Valjean is Jeff Wiseman. Nicknamed “Sudbury’s Favourite Tenor,” Jeff’s arresting voice has taken him on tours across Canada and Scotland. Now leading the Sudbury Chamber Singers and the Firefighters Choir, Jeff has showcased his musical talent to numerous sold out venues.
“It’s been a dream of mine to be Jean Valjean. I even had a callback for the role in Toronto during their original production,” said Jeff Wiseman. “Les Miserables has so many well-known melodies; including Bring Him Home, one of Jean Valjean’s most emotional songs. I’ve been singing it for years at concerts, and it’s always an audience favourite.”
Les Miserables tells an enthralling story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, redemption and the human spirit - all set against the backdrop of 19th century revolutionary France. The main character, Jean Valjean is hunted for decades by a ruthless policeman, Javert, after he breaks parole. When Valjean agrees to care for factory worker Fantine’s young daughter, Cosette, their lives are changed forever, as are the lives of every citizen in a France filled with change and political upheaval.
The concert version of the musical will forego the sets and major action sequences often associated with the performance, while still performing the music that Les Miserables is well known for. Instead, Sudbury Symphony and YES Theatre will only use the occasional prop and minor movement, allowing the music alone to deliver the emotional tale.
At the helm of the production is Conductor Jamie Arrowsmith. No stranger to Sudbury audiences, Jamie is well-known as conductor of the Sudbury Youth Orchestra. Recently, he conducted the Sudbury Symphony’s SSO Magical concert featuring JUNO-nominated Sultans of String; the Orchestra’s best-selling concert of its 12.13 season.
“This is an amazing treat for both the audience and performers,” Maestro Arrowsmith stated. “Musicians and vocalists alike will collaborate in a way that we don’t see often in Sudbury. Audiences will have the opportunity to share this magic and energy with us. We’ve been waiting a year to bring this to audiences, and it will absolutely be worth it. ”
Les Miserables: In Concert runs from December 17-19 at Glad Tidings Auditorium (1101 Regent Street) at 7:30pm each night. Tickets are $35 each for adults, and $25 for students and seniors. They can be purchased through the Sudbury Symphony box office by phoning 705.673.1280, or visiting their website at www.sudburysymphony.com. YES Theatre and the Sudbury Symphony are grateful to those who make this production possible, including the City of Sudbury, Petryna Advertising and CTV.
About the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra:
Performing a 6 concert season annually, the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra is recognized as one of Sudbury’s leading performing arts institutions and a leader in orchestral music in Northern Ontario. Tickets are available online at sudburysymphony.com or by phoning the box office at 705.673.1280.
Founded in 1953, the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra’s mission is to increase the awareness and appreciation of music in the Sudbury Region and surrounding area by providing the opportunity for the public to attend a stimulating program of concerts and by encouraging artistic excellence, commitment and education. The Season Presenting Sponsor is Petryna Advertising. The Amped Up! Program is presented by Vale. The SSO is grateful for the support of its government funding partners: The Ontario Arts Council and the City of Greater Sudbury.
About YES Theatre:
YES Theatre is one of the City of Greater Sudbury’s newest professional theatre companies that has entertained audiences since 2010. YES Theatre looks to demonstrate the exceptional talent found here in Greater Sudbury in every area of a production, including: acting, producing, directing, choreography, lighting, sound, music, set design, costume design, makeup and more. Their directive is to enable local artists an avenue to share their talents in a professional theatre experience in the Sudbury community. No previous theatre experience is necessary, as there are mentors and community leaders who will provide their expertise and support every step of the way to educate and explore the many talents of local artists.
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