MISÉRABLES Cast Anything But Miserable

 
When Broadway Theatre Arts Academy hits the stage September 3rd to perform Les Misérables, School Edition it will be with an amazing cast of local teens who possess talent and maturity beyond their years.  Director Sean Tamburrino has assembled a cast whose acting and singing abilities have earned the young performers national and local awards and whose skills allow them to portray the characters in this deeply emotional story. Says Tamburrino, "The talent and experience of this cast will make you forget you are watching a student version of Les Miserables."
 
 Based on the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, Les Misérable, School Edition s is an epic story of injustice, greed, sacrifice and love set in turbulent Napoleonic France.  Portraying Jean Valjean , a convicted thief determined to put the past behind him is Riley Sanderson, a recent graduate of Escondido Charter High School. Sanderson was awarded a National Youth Theatre Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical for his recent role as the Beast in BTAA’s production of Beauty and the Beast.  Relentlessly pursuing Valjean for violating his parole, is Inspector Javert double cast in this production with Jacob Rollins, a 2009 graduate of Poway High School, a NYT Award nominee for his role as Sky Masterson in Poway High School’s production of Guys and Dolls and Joshua Davies of Poway.  Two actresses with considerable talent are cast as Valjean’s daughter Cosette - Karina Gillette, a senior at Poway  High and Kailey O’Donnell , a sophomore at  Rancho Bernardo High. Gillette was awarded a NYT Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical for her role as Miss Adelaide in Poway High School’s production of Guys and Dolls while O’Donnell was nominated for Best Female Solo and Best Comedic Actress for her work with Christian Youth Theatre as well as being an award winning flutist. Impressive resumes continue with the actresses portraying Eponine  (Shea Sailors and Jackie Foster ) and Fantine (Rachel Anduze and Summer Blinco).  Foster, a Twin Peaks Middle School 8th grader is the Escondido Idol 2009, the San Diego County Fair Young Superstar 2008 and has performed as a children’s chorister with the San Diego Opera’s production of Tosca. Sailors, a recent graduate from Ramona High, is a 2009 National Youth Theatre Award winner as a Lead Actress for her role as Maria in the Church at Rancho Bernardo’s production of The Sound of Music.  Anduze , from Mt Carmel High School and Blinco, from Rancho Bernardo High School, bring a wealth of vocal talent as both are veterans of local theatre and high school stages. Anduze was received a Maestro Award for Outstanding Soloist at Heritage of Gold Festival at Disneyland with the Mt Carmel High School. Blinco, in addition to being a soloist for the Rancho Bernardo High School choir, placed in the 2009 RB Idol and 2008 San Diego Faire Teen Superstar competitions.
 
The musical Les Misérables, School Edition featuring famous songs such as “I’ve Dreamed a Dream”, “Do You Hear The People Sing”, “On My Own”, and “Bring Him Home”,  deals with subject matter not usually found in youth theatre shows but this cast is talented and taking it seriously. Says O’Donnell of the experience of this production, “This show is so genuine. It's not watered down like so many musicals are. It shows the hardships of life through music that sends your emotions haywire! “.  Likewise Bella Trillizio, a sophomore at Escondido Charter High School feels “it displays such a powerful story of redemption and forgiveness that, in a sense, overtakes me as I get wrapped up in all the different characters' journeys. It's pretty amazing to look up on a stage and see a picture drawn out of what unconditional love looks like.”  Fellow student at Escondido Charter HS Emmanuel Young sums up the professionalism of the cast, stating “the level of maturity that this show requires. Surprisingly enough, all of us have kept the bar very high.”
 
BTAA  perform six shows of Broadway’s hit musical  Les Misérables, School Edition in the Kit Carson Park Amphitheatre,  3313 Bear Valley Parkway.  This school edition, will be performed September 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, and 12 at 8 PM. Tickets are $15 for Adults and $12 for children 16 years and younger.  All tickets are General Admission and are available at the box office before each performance.    Thursday Night Performances are High School Special Admission with $8 for high school students with student ID. Special Group Rates and pre-sales are available - please call 760-888-1989 or email tickets@btaakids.org