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Cast Breakdown Broadway Camp 2019: Jean Valjean

The document provides casting breakdowns and character descriptions for roles in a production of Les Miserables. It details each major role, including gender, vocal range, and character description. There are over 30 roles described in the breakdown spanning both male and female performers of varying vocal abilities.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
133 views

Cast Breakdown Broadway Camp 2019: Jean Valjean

The document provides casting breakdowns and character descriptions for roles in a production of Les Miserables. It details each major role, including gender, vocal range, and character description. There are over 30 roles described in the breakdown spanning both male and female performers of varying vocal abilities.

Uploaded by

Niska
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 12

Cast Breakdown

Broadway Camp 2019

Les Misérables Cast/Character Breakdown


(as listed on mtishows.com)

Jean Valjean
Jean Valjean is the hero of the show. It is his life journey that we follow. Jean Valjean is
supposed to be stronger than other men, and so he should physically appear robust. He
should carry himself confidently onstage and come across to the audience as reasaonably
mature and paternal. Valjean’s capacity for change is his greatest asset throughout the
story. The key to his character is his great humanity and compassion. Jean Valjean is a
vocally demanding role, so cast your best male singer and actor.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: A4
Vocal range bottom: G#2

Javert
Javert is the inspector who serves as antagonist to Jean Valjean. Javert is unswerving in his
belief that men cannot change for the better. "Once a thief, always a thief" is his mantra. At
first glance, Javert might appear to be the villain of the story, but upon closer examination,
it is clear that he is not an evil man. He is a dedicated policeman with a profoundly strong
sense of duty. Unlike Valjean, Javert's attitudes are rigid and unmovable. He is stern,
forbidding, and lacking in compassion. Your Javert should be a talented actor who can
convincingly stand up to Jean Valjean. Javert should have a rich baritone voice and be a
good singer.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: F#4
Vocal range bottom: F2

Chain Gang
The Chain Gang consists of Jean Valjean’s fellow prisoners. There are five soloists (Convicts
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5). The overall vocal range of the Convicts is low, and they should be able sing
in a rich baritone range if possible.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: F2

Constables
There are two solo Constables (Constables 1 and 2) in the show. Consider keeping the same
actors as Constables throughout the entire show to save a bit on costumes, since period
uniforms tend to be expensive to build.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: E4

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Vocal range bottom: E3

Farmer
The Farmer has solo lines that are a bit difficult to sing.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Db4
Vocal range bottom: C3

Laborer
You may cast as many Laborers as you like, but only one Laborer has a solo line. This
particular solo line is a bit difficult to sing.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: A#2

Bishop Of Digne
The Bishop is a good man who saves Valjean’s soul through showing compassion. Don’t
overlook the importance of this role. The Bishop of Digne’s kindness carefully establishes
the premise of the show by literally buying Jean Valjean’s soul for God. This powerful role
requires a nice baritone voice and a good actor.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: A2

Fantine
Fantine is the beautiful, young girl who, abandoned by her lover, is left to fend for herself
and her daughter, Cosette. She is rejected by society and forced through circumstances to
sell herself. She is a brave woman defeated by life who clings to her dignity and is sustained
by her love for her daughter, sacrificing everything for the young Cosette. The audience
witnesses her descent through a series of terrible events leading to poverty, hunger, cold,
loneliness, destitution, and death from consumption. Cast a performer with a powerful
voice that is more mezzo (or alto) than soprano.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: F3

Foreman
The Foreman begins Fantine on her desperate, downward spiral. He should be virile,
commanding, and a bit sleazy around the edges.
Gender: Male

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Vocal range top: D4


Vocal range bottom: D3

Factory Workers
The Factory Workers include the following characters with solo lines: Workers 1 and 2,
Woman, Factory Girls 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: E4

Girl 5 (Factory Girl)


Girl 5 (Factory Girl) is the shop girl who fights with Fantine. She is mean, spiteful, and
selfish. She also is most likely having an affair with the Foreman and is jealous of his
affection for Fantine. Often, Girl 5 will serve as Fantine’s understudy or as a Fantine double.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: Eb5
Vocal range bottom: F4

Prostitutes
The Docks are a depressing and dangerous place to be, occupied by prostitutes and their
customers. Prostitutes 1, 2, 3, and Sick Prostitute have solo lines.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: Db5
Vocal range bottom: C4

Sailors (Sailors 1, 2, 3)
Three sailors begin the docks scene. All three have solos but do not need to be great
singers.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Db4
Vocal range bottom: Eb3

Bamatabois
Bamatabois is the customer who taunts Fantine into violence. He is a wealthy, dissolute
young man who thinks of himself as a gentleman, even dressing in expensive clothes. He is
drunk and in a sadistic mood. He chauvinistically feels it is his right to buy anything, even
Fantine.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: D3

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Old Woman
The Old Woman is a nice featured role who purchases Fantine’s hair. Her vocal solo is a bit
tricky, so cast a strong singer if possible.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: E4

Pimp
The Pimp controls the prostitutes at the docks. He is mean, aggressive, and abusive. The
Pimp has a small solo line in “The Docks.”
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: C4
Vocal range bottom: Eb3

Onlookers and Bystanders


These characters make up the crowd of people onstage that witness the cart crash.
Onlookers 1, 2, 3, and 4 have solo lines.
Gender: Both
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: G4

Fauchelevant
Fauchelevant is the victim of the cart crash. The role requires little of the actor: a few solo
lines and some painful yelps.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: B3

Judge(s)
The Judge or Judges are non-singing roles. They appear once in a courtroom to preside over
a trial against Jean Valjean.
Gender: Male

Mistaken Jean Valjean And Family


These characters are also non-singing. Mistaken Jean Valjean is the man who Javert
believes to be Jean Valjean.
Gender: Both

Nuns

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

The two Nuns are non-singing and non-speaking roles. They serve to take care of Fantine in
her sickness.
Gender: Female
Young Cosette
Young Cosette is Fantine’s daughter and the Thé nardiers’ ward. She has been forced into
child labor. She is underfed, beaten by Madame Thé nardier, and bullied by Eponine. Make
sure your Young Cosette is small and looks properly pathetic yet warms the audience’s
hearts. They should be sympathetic to her plight. It is essential that your Young Cosette be
as physically small as possible, especially against Jean Valjean and the Thé nardiers. Young
Cosette sings “Castle On A Cloud,” so make sure she has a nice voice and can tap into the
emotion in the song.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: C5
Vocal range bottom: A3

Madame Thénardier
She is married to Thé nardier. Together, Madame Thé nardier and Thé nardier con the world
as partners in crime. They were made for each other, and although she complains about
him, she loves him dearly. She is coarse and vulgar, unhappy in her existence without
knowing why. She is romantic, greedy, manipulative, evil, and larger than life. She is mean
and nasty to Little Cosette and able to improvise in nearly any situation. You need an
actress with excellent physical comedy skills who is also a good musician with a good sense
of rhythm.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: D5
Vocal range bottom: G#3

Thénardier
Thé nardier is the true villain of Les Misérables School Edition . He is the embodiment of evil.
That said, he should also possess a wicked sense of humor. He delights in cheating, robbing,
defrauding, and blackmailing, and relishes every aspect of his schemes with glee. He is
tough, greedy, brutal, lowbrow, crafty and yet irresistible. He hates society and blames it
and everyone else for all his misfortune. Thé nardier is also the opportunist and realist of
the show. He is a thief, a liar, a cheat, and steals valuables from the dead with no remorse.
He is also the comic relief of the production. However, his comedy is based in reality and
shouldn’t be too exaggerated. He is married to Madame Thé nardier and is father to Eponine
and Gavroche (although he abandoned Gavroche to the streets of Paris). Cast an excellent
comedic actor who con portray a nasty edge. Vocally, the role is not incredibly demanding;
a character voice is best.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G4

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Vocal range bottom: C2

Young Eponine
Young Eponine is the pampered daughter of the Thé nardiers. She does little except taunt
Young Cosette. The role requires no singing or speaking. She should be a smaller version of
grown Eponine and resemble Eponine in appearance and features.
Gender: Female
Gavroche
Gavroche is Thé nardier’s son. He is left to fend for himself and lives by his wits in the
streets of Paris. His archenemy is Javert, the policeman. Gavroche is brave, witty, and
arrogant, with a fantastic, unchanged voice. For comparison, think of a young Artful
Dodger. Gavroche is best played by the smallest boy available. Gavroche has a very
dramatic death at the barricade. Make sure your Gavroche is a good enough actor to
believably die onstage.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G5
Vocal range bottom: B3

Gavroche's Gang
If you have young children (ages 7–9) who’d like to be involved in the show, you may add a
gang of kids to follow Gavroche around. Remember that Paris at this time would be full of
orphans (due to years of wars and revolutions), and representing these young people
onstage is a nice addition. Do not include Gavroche’s Gang in the barricade scenes, as it will
negatively impact the dramatic arc of the show, taking away from Gavroche’s death. One
member of Gavroche’s Gang could have a solo line if cast as Solo Urchin.
Gender: Both
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: C4

Eponine
Eponine is the Thé nardiers’ daughter. Living hand to mouth, she survives by helping her
father in his life of crime. She is a young girl who is streetwise and tough but also sensitive
and lonely. This tragic character is hopelessly in love with Marius, knowing that he will
never love her. She bravely follows Marius to the barricades in the hope that they will die
there together. She sings one of the most famous numbers in the show, “On My Own,” and
should be an excellent actress and singer with a contemporary edge to her voice.
Gender: Female

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Vocal range top: E5


Vocal range bottom: F3

Enjolras
Enjolras is the student leader. He is handsome, brave, and daring, although youthful. He
combines his revolutionary ideals with strong, charismatic leadership. Victor Hugo
described him as “a thinker and a man of action.” On the barricade, he should dominate
everyone else physically and vocally. Enjolras is one of the more difficult roles to cast. He
should be a natural leader oozing with charisma and have a very strong high baritone or a
tenor voice. The role is also difficult to cast because many young actors do not perceive it as
a coveted role like Marius or Jean Valjean; remind them that the original Enjolras won a
Tony Award® for his performance. Casting a true leader from your organization in this role
is one way to ensure the character is believable. Remember, Enjolras must inspire the
students to fight and, ultimately, to die for their beliefs. His death at the barricade is one of
the dramatic highlights of the show.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: A2

Marius
Marius is the romantic hero of the story. He is impulsive, passionate, willful, and
headstrong. His moods change according to his circumstances. He is sweet and tender but
also capable of great courage and compassion. In Act I, Marius plays Romeo to Cosette’s
Juliet. Marius matures after “The Café Song” as a result of his experiences on the barricade.
Marius should have a lovely, lyrical voice with a contemporary edge.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Ab4
Vocal range bottom: A2

Cosette
Cosette is Fantine’s strong-willed, loving daughter. She is an intelligent, inquiring,
personable girl; she is not in any sense a sappy, romantic heroine. Once she is adopted by
Jean Valjean, Cosette lives a comfortable, if secluded, life. She falls instantly in love with
Marius, changing her world and her priorities. The role calls for an excellent singer with a
lovely, lyrical soprano voice.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: C6
Vocal range bottom: Bb3

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Brujon
Montparnasse, Babet, Brujon and Claquesous are members of Thé nardier’s gang of thieves.
Men played these roles on Broadway, but for the School Edition, you may cast them as a
mix of males and females.
Brujon is physically very strong. He has the body of a bear and a pea-sized brain. A genuine
gangster, he is stupid and evil.
Gender: Both
Vocal range top: C#4
Vocal range bottom: B3

Babet
Montparnasse, Babet, Brujon and Claquesous are members of Thé nardier’s gang of thieves.
Men played these roles on Broadway, but for the School Edition, you may cast them as a
mix of males and females.
Babet is physically frail but lean and cunning.
Gender: Both
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: E3

Claquesous
Montparnasse, Babet, Brujon and Claquesous are members of Thé nardier’s gang of thieves.
Men played these roles on Broadway, but for the School Edition, you may cast them as a
mix of males and females.
Claquesous is tough, dangerous, and secretive.
Gender: Both
Vocal range top: E4
Vocal range bottom: C4

Montparnasse
These are members of Thé nardier’s gang of thieves. Men played these roles on Broadway,
but for the School Edition, you may cast them as a mix of males and females.
Montparnasse is a teenager who is handsome and dangerous (he kills with a knife). He is
well dressed, strongly built, and agile.
Gender: Both
Vocal range top: C#4
Vocal range bottom: C#3

Page 8 of 12
Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Combeferre

Members of the ABC society: Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, and
Grantaire. These characters compose a secret society of students and workers. The letters
A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word “abaisse,” which means “the
underdog” or “the people below.” The members are drawn from wealthy families and have
chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their
downtrodden circumstance. Additional characters in the ABC Society, besides Enjolras and
Marius, include the following:

Combeferre is the philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong, and
brave.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: E3

Feuilly
Members of the ABC society: Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, and
Grantaire. These characters compose a secret society of students and workers. The letters
A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word "abaisse," which means "the
underdog" or "the people below." The members are drawn from wealthy families and have
chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their
downtrodden circumstance. Additional characters in the ABC Society, besides Enjolras and
Marius, include the following:
Feuilly is a worker who is a self-educated orphan. He is an affectionate, warm, and poetic
believer in "nationality."
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: D4
Vocal range bottom: D3

Courfeyrac
Members of the ABC society: Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, and
Grantaire. These characters compose a secret society of students and workers. The letters
A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word "abaisse," which means "the
underdog" or "the people below." The members are drawn from wealthy families and have
chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their
downtrodden circumstance. Additional characters in the ABC Society, besides Enjolras and
Marius, include the following:

Courfeyrac is a youthful, passionate, and fearless student.

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: E3

Joly
Members of the ABC society: Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, and
Grantaire. These characters compose a secret society of students and workers. The letters
A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word "abaisse," which means "the
underdog" or "the people below." The members are drawn from wealthy families and have
chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their
downtrodden circumstance. Additional characters in the ABC Society, besides Enjolras and
Marius, include the following:
Joly is an eccentric and light-hearted (although sometimes morbid) medical student. His
name is derived from the English word “jolly.”
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: D3

Prouvaire
Members of the ABC society: Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, and
Grantaire. These characters compose a secret society of students and workers. The letters
A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word "abaisse," which means "the
underdog" or "the people below." The members are drawn from wealthy families and have
chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their
downtrodden circumstance. Additional characters in the ABC Society, besides Enjolras and
Marius, include the following:
Prouvaire is a kind, soft-spoken, and, at the right moments, strong and masterful poet and
student of social studies.
Gender: Male
Vocal range top: Eb4
Vocal range bottom: D3

Lesgles
Members of the ABC society: Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, and
Grantaire. These characters compose a secret society of students and workers. The letters
A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word "abaisse," which means "the
underdog" or "the people below." The members are drawn from wealthy families and have
chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their
downtrodden circumstance. Additional characters in the ABC Society, besides Enjolras and
Marius, include the following:

Lesgles is a cheerful, laughing-at-life (but unlucky) student. He is a close friend of Joly.

Page 10 of 12
Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Gender: Male
Vocal range top: G4
Vocal range bottom: B3

Grantaire
Members of the ABC society: Combeferre, Feuilly, Courfeyrac, Joly, Prouvaire, Lesgles, and
Grantaire. These characters compose a secret society of students and workers. The letters
A, B, and C, as pronounced in French, make the word "abaisse," which means "the
underdog" or "the people below." The members are drawn from wealthy families and have
chosen to fight for freedom, in stark contrast to the poor who have no choice due to their
downtrodden circumstance. Additional characters in the ABC Society, besides Enjolras and
Marius, include the following:
Grantaire is the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. Although he admires Enjolras,
he loves to mock him. Witty and drunken, Grantaire is happy being with the group, and
they put up with him because of his good humor. He also keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche,
the mascot of the group, and is the most heartbroken when Gavroche is killed. He is so
devastated by Gavroche’s death that Grantaire abandons his cynicism and rushes to die on
the barricade.
Gender: Male

Revolutionaries
An ensemble of Revolutionaries at the barricade scenes.
Gender: Both

Sentries
In addition to the ensemble of Revolutionaries, the barricade scenes need actors to serve as
Sentries 1 and 2.
Gender: Both
Army Officer
The barricade scene needs and actor to play the Army Officer. This actor only needs to be
heard from offstage; as he’s never seen onstage, this is an easy role to double cast.
Gender: Male

Women
There are also four soloists for working-class Women in Scene 6 (Women 1, 2, 3, and 4)
who sing about the events at the barricade.
Gender: Female
Vocal range top: Db5
Vocal range bottom: Eb4

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Cast Breakdown
Broadway Camp 2019

Major Domo
Major Domo is a great role for a young person with little performing experience; the role
ony requires one spoken line. He does not have a solo singing line.
Gender: Male

Wedding Guests
Wedding Guests form a chorus that celebrates the wedding of Marius and Cosette. They do
not have any solo singing lines.
Gender: Both

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