Les Misérables directed by John DeGaetano was performed June 30th, 2014, presented by North Bay Stage Company at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts, Santa Rosa, CA.
June 2014: This post is to archive information about the performance. A new production of BOUBLIL and SCHÖNBERG’S musical masterpiece, live, was in celebration of the 30th anniversary of Les Misérables. the performance took place on June 30th, 2014. North Bay Stage Company is a resident theater company of what was then called Wells Fargo Center for the Arts. They have since changed their name back to Luther Burbank Center for the Arts.
Les Misérables is a sung-through musical based on the novel by French poet and novelist Victor Hugo. Music by Claude -Michel Schönberg, original French lyrics by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, with English libretto by Herbert Kretzmer. Directors Notes • Tonight we celebrate the magic of 30 years of Les Misérables, a time-honored musical tale of survival, hope, and courage.
• Though the lives of the French people in the early 1800’s were horrific, they never gave up hope for a better life. Choosing to produce Les Misérables and knowing all along this would be a challenging project to say the least. A musical of this size is 21st century learning at the highest level for all involved, and nothing builds community like producing a musical… the important part to me.
• Victor Hugo’s novel depicts what is known as the June Rebellion, which took place a full generation after the French Revolution. The storming of the Bastille sparked the Revolution in 1789 but the principal events of Les Misérables take place 43 years later in 1832.
• Actually, the June Rebellion might only be a footnote in history if a 30-year-old Victor Hugo had not been sitting in the Tuileries Gardens writing that morning when he heard gunfire. He ended up trapped between barricades as fighting erupted so he wasn’t able to go to Starbucks or Text anyone. So ,Hugo wrote, painted and drew what he saw, in fact you’ll see some of his images tonight, along with watercolors depicting the actual locations of the events leading up to the rebellion.
• “My hope,” said John DeGaetano, artistic director of NBSC and director of the production, “is that you leave our production of Les Misérables uplifted and reminded that, in the face of adversity, there is always hope. More importantly, as we’ve seen just recently, those who take hope and make it reality change the world forever.”
Acknowledgment of the cast, crew and Les Misérables Orchestra, with Les Pfutzenreuter – Conductor. Cast included: Rachel Brogdon, Evan Cullens, Jacki DeCoster, Kathleen Escude, Danielle Fisk, Tomas Gonzales, JD Gordon, Madison Griego, Andrea Holland, Paul Johnson, Alan Kafton, Madigan Love, Steffanie Luekens, Nate Mack, Paul Mackinnon, Christine Naber, Leslie Oslin, Bret Palmer, Adam Paulsen, Lauren Post, Frances Rennie, Pedro Rodelas, Tory Rotlisberger, Cai Shaotian, David Strock, Lauren Trettin, Alyssa Villareal, Charlene Villareal, John David Vozaitis, Ari Vozaitis, and Garet Waterhouse.
North Bay Stage Company presents an ongoing array of musicals, comedy, drama and revues. We encourage everyone in the community to get involved in some form. Our Upcoming Events – • July 17 – August 2, 2014 – West Side Story – The classic American musical in the Carston Cabaret at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts • Special Thanks To: Terry Atkinson, our wine sponsor Francis Ford Coppola Winery, and our beer sponsor Laguintas Brewing and our countless volunteers.
About John DeGaetano
Director, Artistic Director and Consultant, John DeGaetano has been involved in musical theatre most of his life; director credits include productions; Evita, Cats, Pirates of Penzance, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Chicago. He has assisted with numerous productions, Radio and Television work as well as producing shows such as Miss Saigon, and directing one of his own short plays in New York City and a short series in London. John has written several full-length plays and a selection of Sherlock Holmes 10 Minute Plays – designed primarily for students to build experience in performance skills. Plays are easy to recite, true to form in elements of mystery/comedy, light-hearted adventures, and available on his website and Amazon.
For more information, contact John DeGaetano Productions or visit their website.
