Posted Wednesday, May 17, 2006, The OG, arts

Nine Uni students have been selected for the cast of the Champaign Urbana Theatre Company's production of the musical “Les Misérables.”

Seniors Alyssa Digges and Rose Kory, juniors Robert Croisant and Krista Olson, sophomore Ethan Berl, freshmen Kayla Ginsburg, Leslie Hodges, and Deborah Ladd, and subfreshman Tianna Pittenger are part of a 70-member student cast. The other members include students from Champaign, Urbana, Tolono, Gibson City, Paxton, Mahomet, Monticello, Paris, St. Joseph, Bloomington, and Potomac.

The production is the first in what the CUTC hopes will be an annual tradition of an all-area school show each summer.

Rehearsals are already under way for the production, which will be performed at the Virginia Theatre in downtown Champaign on June 23 and 24, followed by shows June 29 through July 2. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. except for the Sunday show on July 2, which will begin at 2:30 p.m.

“Les Misérables,” originally a novel by Victor Hugo, is set in early 19th-century France after the fall of Napoleon. The story revolves around the conflict between Jean Valjean, an ex-convict who has broken his parole but has built a better life for himself, and Inspector Javert, who pursues him relentlessly.

Berl plays Combeferre, one of the barricade-building student revolutionaries who face off with the French military. Other Uni students are workers, sailors, dancers, and chorus members, among other roles. (Click here for the complete cast list.)

Tickets are $17 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $8 for children 12 and under. One dollar per ticket will go toward the Virginia Theatre renovation fund.

Call the box office for tickets at (217) 356-9063, or ask student cast members to provide you with mail-order forms.

— Linda Song