Now celebrating its 25th year, the Broadway show “Les Miserables” has long made its mark as one of the most spectacular live theater plays ever performed.
According to Broadway World Magazine, “Les Miserables” is perhaps “the defining musical of the last 50 years.”
The excitement is already building at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, where the musical opens Sept. 19 and runs through Oct. 1.
Perhaps what touches audiences everywhere is that the show, in essence, is about redemption and about giving someone another chance and forgiveness.
Nichole Morris, an OC native, stars in Les Miserables.
Testament to the show’s staying power and ability to reinvent itself, “Les Mis” has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 53 countries, 438 cities and 22 languages.
Undisputedly, “Les Miserables” is still one of the world’s most popular musicals.
Nicole Morris, who is a SWING and plays the role of Eponine, relishes her role(s) in Broadway’s most resilient musical. “It’s just been a great experience,” said Morris in an interview last week before the show opened in Costa Mesa.
Morris, who also enjoys a healthy singing career, said she landed the role in Les Miserable after playing roles in “An officer and a gentleman,” “Hairspray,” Mamma Mia,” “Footloose,” and others.
She grew up in Santa Ana and is another alum of the Orange County School for the Arts. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Musical Theater from Ithaca College in New York.
“The show is, it’s about redemption, and about, you know, giving someone another chance and forgiveness,” said Morris, “and I think everyone can kind of relate to that.”
“At some point in their lives, they have had experiences where they feel that they’ve evolved into a different person, and that they expect that the universe and the world can forgive them for that and feel like they have redeemed themselves,” she said.
“And then with Eponine, you know, she’s a girl that’s just so in love with a guy that doesn’t love her back and only sees her as a friend,” said Morris. “She is somebody people can relate to, you know, everyone has had a crush on somebody when they feel that they’re afraid they will not like them back or s something that people can relate to choose that, you know, you everyone has had, you know, a crush on somebody where they feel that they’re afraid that they will not like the back or when they don’t, it’s heartbreaking to watch,” she said.
“I think that’s why people get moved to tears with that,” said Morris.
“I’ve had a pretty unique experience because I’m a swing and I understand the principles,” she said. “So, there have been many times where I’ve gone on to cover a whole bunch of ensemble tracks and I’ve done crazy split tracks when people are out,” the talented actress said.
As a SWING player in the show, Morris can be called in on a moment’s notice to play any part in the ENSEMBLE or sing any of the songs. Even so, she must be ready for the tear jerking scenes with Eponine when called.
“I’ve had a pretty unique experience because I’m a swing and I understand the principles. So there have been many times where I’ve gone on to cover a whole bunch of ensemble tracks and I’ve done crazy split tracks when people are out,” said Morris.
“And then I had to go on for me immediately in the end of the first step. So it was the same show where I was a completely different character to start with. And then I ended up as Eponine at the end.
Nevertheless, the young actress feels fortunate for the challenge of it all.
“I feel lucky and grateful to be putting on a show that’s as iconic as this one,” she said.
Tickets for Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schunberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, Les Miserables, are on sale now.
Mackintosh himself said in a statement that the show never fails to surprise him.
“The phenomenon of “Les Miserables” never fails to astound me. No show in history has been able to continually reinvent itself and remain a contemporary musical attracting new generations of brilliant new talent, many of whom go on to international stardom. No show in the world,” said Macintosh.
To see “Les Miserables” at SCFTA, tickets are available online at www.scfta.org, in person at 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, CA. 92626, or by calling (714) 556 – 2787. More information can be found at LesMis.com.
