Les Misérables School Edition Comes to the DSHA Stage this November

10/3/2018

By Rhonda Schmidt, DSHA Theatre Director

DSHA Theatre Director Rhonda Schmidt shares why she is so excited to present Les Misérables School Edition to the DSHA community. A show that was chosen to highlight the "outrageously talented" and "powerhouse" young women of DSHA.

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We are so excited to bring Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables School Edition to life on stage for you this fall here at DSHA. The DSHA Theatre Department strives to choose shows that highlight our own community of women, and also include our high school male community, and in the case of this production our local middle school community. While we certainly feature our talented men, it is always our aim to highlight our outrageously talented women. It is my privilege and honor to work side-by-side with this strong group of powerhouse young women – composed of talent and tenacity, grit and grace.

This ensemble piece features the following:

22 featured female characters with 52 total DSHA women as part of the on-stage production; 12 high school young men from the community; and 11 middle school students from the community.
The ABC Revolutionaries are a mix cast of both men and women – not women playing men, but women fighting alongside of men – in a time where young people were standing up for their rights and what they believed to be just. It is exactly the right time for our young women – along with twelve community high school men and Middle School students to join the revolution in this production!
Powerhouse ballads by Madeleine Keane DSHA ‘19 as Cosette; Mary Elizabeth Stern, DSHA ‘20, as Fantine; and Riley Halpern, DSHA ‘21, as Eponine.
The memorable Madame Thenardier played by Isabella Falci, DSHA ‘19, with her group of male and female cronies, including Abby Urban, DSHA ’19, and Mia Helbig, DSHA ‘19.
Jean Valjean, played by Richard Becker; Javert, played by Andre Canseco; and Marius, played by Christian Spaay; all from MUHS.
22 young women working in the factory, 22 young women living on the streets, and 10 ABC Revolutionary Women fighting on behalf of the beggars are for what it is just!
12 young women on the all-female production crew are: building a bridge and barricade, will be acting as run crew, and will student stage manage this massive production.
3 female Student Assistant directors, Alyssa Arnold DSHA ’19, Emma Sedgwick DSHA ’19, and Alejandra Razo DSHA ’20, are learning the ins and outs of direction and have blocked scenes in the production, as well as assisting in running rehearsals.

I am so grateful for my role here at DSHA – to be in a community that doesn’t require an all-girls school to stick to shows consisting of only (or even mostly) female roles. Let’s be honest – if we did that, we would be doing Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie or Little Woman each year in rotation. Rather, at DSHA, we get to break down barriers and rethink how we cast and who plays powerful roles.

Please consider this your official invitation to join the revolution – along with the incredible cast and crew! We can promise you a show you do not want to miss this November!

Tickets may be purchased at dsha.info/tickets

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