Singing Audition for "Les Miserables: School Edition"

The hero of the show. It is his life journey that we follow. Jean Valjean is supposed to be stronger than other men, so he should carry himself confidently onstage and come across to the audience as reasonably 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. Vocal range top: A4 Vocal range bottom: G#2

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. 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. Vocal range top: F#4 Vocal range bottom: F2

The beautiful, young girl who, abandoned by her lover, is left to fend for herself and her daughter, Cosette. She is a brave woman defeated by life who clings to her dignity and is sustained by her love for her daughter. The audience witnesses her descent through a series of terrible events leading to poverty, hunger, cold, loneliness, destitution, and death. Vocal range top: Eb5 Vocal range bottom: F3

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. Vocal range top: E5 Vocal range bottom: F3

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. He will likely double as a solo Constable in the Prologue. Vocal range top: Ab4 Vocal range bottom: A2

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. Vocal range top: C6 Vocal range bottom: Bb3

Thénardier is the true villain, 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 is also the comic relief of the production. However, his comedy is based in reality and shouldn’t be too exaggerated. Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: C2

She is married to Thénardier. Together, Madame Thénardier and Thénardier 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 any situation. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: G#3

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 dominates everyone else physically and vocally. He will likely double as a solo Constable in the Prologue. Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: A2

Fantine’s daughter and the Thénardiers’ ward. She has been forced into child labor. She is underfed, beaten by Madame Thénardier, and bullied by Eponine. This role will be played by a child. Young Cosette will double as a Street Urchin soloist and member of Gavroche’s gang. Vocal range top: C5 Vocal range bottom: A3

Gavroche is the Thénardiers’ 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 an unchanged voice. This role will be played by a child. Vocal range top: G5 Vocal range bottom: B3

The philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong, and brave. He will double as the Bishop of Digne and Judge. Vocal range top: D4 Vocal range bottom: E3

An eccentric and light-hearted (although sometimes morbid) medical student. His name is derived from the English word “jolly.” He will likely double as the Farmer and Fauchelevant. Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: D3

A worker & self-educated orphan. He is an affectionate, warm, and poetic believer in "nationality." He will likely double as the Foreman and a solo Onlooker. Vocal range top: D4 Vocal range bottom: D3

A kind, soft-spoken, and, at the right moments, strong and masterful poet and student of social studies. He will likely double as a solo Convict and a solo Onlooker. Vocal range top: Eb4 Vocal range bottom: D3

A youthful, passionate, and fearless student. He will likely double as a solo Convict and a solo Sailor. Vocal range top: Eb4 Vocal range bottom: E3

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. He will likely double as a solo Convict and a solo Sailor. Vocal range top: Ab4 Vocal range bottom: A2

A cheerful, laughing-at-life (but unlucky) student. He is a close friend of Joly. He will likely double as a solo Convict and a solo Sailor. Vocal range top: G4 Vocal range bottom: B3

A member of Thénardier’s gang of thieves. Montparnasse is a teenager who is handsome and dangerous (he kills with a knife). He is well dressed, strongly built, and agile. He will likely double as Laborer. Vocal range top: C#4 Vocal range bottom: C#3

A member of Thénardier’s gang of thieves. Brujon is physically strong, a gangster, stupid & evil. He will likely double as a solo Convict, Bamatabois, and Major Domo. Vocal range top: C#4 Vocal range bottom: B3

A member of Thénardier’s gang of thieves. Claquesous is tough, dangerous, and secretive. Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: C4

A member of Thénardier’s gang of thieves. Babet is physically frail but lean and cunning. She will likely double as a solo Factory Girl, solo Lovely Lady, and solo Woman. Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: E3

There are two solo Constables (Constables 1 and 2) in the Prologue. Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: E3

Has solo lines that are a bit difficult to sing. Vocal range top: Db4 Vocal range bottom: C3

There will be several Laborers, but only one Laborer has a solo line. This particular solo line is a bit difficult to sing. Vocal range top: D4 Vocal range bottom: A#2

A good man who saves Valjean’s soul through showing compassion. The Bishop of Digne’s kindness carefully establishes the premise of the show by literally buying Jean Valjean’s soul for God. Vocal range top: E4 Vocal range bottom: A2

Begins Fantine on her desperate, downward spiral. He is virile, commanding, and a bit sleazy around the edges. Vocal range top: D4 Vocal range bottom: D3

The Factory Workers include the following characters with solo lines: Workers 1 and 2, Woman, Factory Girls 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Vocal range top: Eb5 Vocal range bottom: E4

The Docks are a depressing and dangerous place to be, occupied by lovely ladies and their customers. Ladies 1, 2, 3, and Sick Lady have solo lines. Vocal range top: Db5 Vocal range bottom: C4

Three sailors begin the docks scene. All three have solos. Vocal range top: Db4 Vocal range bottom: Eb3

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 in a sadistic mood. He chauvinistically feels it is his right to buy anything. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: D3

The Old Woman purchases Fantine’s hair. Vocal range top: D5 Vocal range bottom: E4

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

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

Fauchelevant is the victim of the cart crash. Vocal range top: Eb4 Vocal range bottom: B3

The Judge appears once in a courtroom to preside over a trial against Jean Valjean.

The man who Javert believes to be Jean Valjean.

The two Nuns are non-singing and non-speaking roles. They serve to take care of Fantine in her sickness

Young Eponine is the pampered daughter of the Thénardiers. She does little except taunt Young Cosette. This role will be played by a child. She will double as a member of Gavroche’s gang

The Chain Gang consists of Jean Valjean’s fellow prisoners. There are five soloists (Convicts 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5). Vocal range top: Eb4 Vocal range bottom: F2

In addition to the ensemble of Revolutionaries, the barricade scenes need Sentries 1 and 2

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. Vocal range top: Db5 Vocal range bottom: Eb4