Photo by Andy Morris

Edited by Chiru Gunawardena

Before the performance, co-directors Mrs. Amy Brooks and Mr. Stefan Farrenkopf praised Mrs. Susan Neal. This honor prompted a standing ovation for Neal, who will retire this June after numerous years of dedication to both the theater program and teaching drama and creative expressions to middle school students.

Katie Loveday’s noteworthy performance of Fantine transformed the atmosphere, leading the audience through the downward spiral of her tragic life. From losing the job that supported her child to selling herself on the street to her death, Loveday’s moving songs, “I Dreamed a Dream” and “Fantine’s Death” brought many to tears.

Con artists Monsieur Thénardier (Ben Ross’18) and his wife (Paulina Martz’16), lightened up the dark mood with “Master of the House,” illustrating their exploitation of customers. Valjean takes Fantine’s daughter, Cosette, and pays off the Thénardiers.

Gavroche, played by the stunningly superb actor, Ryan Reagan, a sixth-grader, introduces the audience to the city’s slums and the inequality between the bourgeoisie and the sans-culottes, followed by Liam Wainaina’s bold, magnificent delivery of “Stars,” another highlight of the musical.

Cosette, now older and played by senior Nichola Lampe, and Eponine, the Thenardiers’ daughter (Julia Leet’18) are Marius’s (Kyle Cahnnell’19potential love interests. In the gripping “A Heart Full of Love,” this trio establishes that Cosette and Marius are in love, while Eponine, hopelessly enamored with him, watches from the outside.

Les Misérables ends with Cosette learning the truth about her life and Valjean’s death in an epic finale with the entire cast. The room erupted in applause with a standing ovation.

Co-written by juniors Meghan Walther and Suzie Frankovich