"Les Misérables" Musical Searching For Teens

JEAN VALJEAN is the protagonist of the show. It is his life journey that we follow. Jean Valjean is supposed to be stronger than other men, and so physically should appear robust. He should reasonably carry himself as mature and paternal. Valjean’s ability to change is his greatest asset. The key to his character is his great humanity and compassion. Jean Valjean is a vocally demanding role. Low A to High A

Inspector who serves as antagonist to Jean Valjean. He is unswerving in his belief that men cannot change for the good. “Once a thief, always a thief” is his mantra. At first glance Javert might appear to be the villain of the story, but on closer examination it is clear that he is not an evil man. He is aware that in society some people achieve control through evil and others through power of the law. Javert should be an actor who can convincingly stand up to Jean Valjean. Low F to High F sharp

The Bishop is a good man who saves Valjean with his compassion. Don’t overlook the importance of this role. The Bishop of Digne’s compassion carefully establishes the premise of the show by literally buying Jean Valjean’s soul for God. Low A to High E

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, sustained by her love for her daughter and clinging to her dignity. Sick with consumption, we witness her descent through poverty, hunger, cold, loneliness and destitution to death. She is a noble character, whose life becomes a series of terrible events that rob her of her pride, character, and ultimately her life. G flat (below middle C) to D

Beautiful daughter of Fantine. She is strong willed and loving. She is an intelligent, inquiring, personable girl. She is not in any sense a “soppy” romantic heroine. Once adopted by Jean Valjean, Cosette lives a comfortable, if secluded life. She is challenging to Valjean, behaving always with imagination and dignity. She falls instantly in love with Marius. B flat (below middle C) to High C (2 octaves above middle C)

He possesses a wicked sense of humor. He delights in cheating, robbing, fraud and blackmail, relishing every aspect of them with glee. He is tough, greedy, brutal, stupid and crafty and yet irresistible. He hates society and blames it and everyone else for all his misfortune. He is also the opportunist and realist of the show. He is a thief, a liar, a cheat, steals valuables from the dead with no remorse. C (below middle C) to G sharp (above middle C)

She is the wife of Thenardier. Together they con the world as partners in crime. She is coarse and vulgar, unhappy, and empty in her existence without knowing why. She is romantic, greedy, stupid, evil and larger than life. She is mean and nasty to Young Cosette and able to improvise in nearly any situation. G sharp (below middle C) to D

Daughter of the Thenardiers. She is a young girl who is streetwise and tough, but also sensitive and lonely. Once grown up, Eponine moves with her family to Paris where they fall on hard times. Now poor, living hand to mouth, she survives by helping her father break the law. Eponine is a tragic character, hopelessly in love with Marius. Should be an excellent singer with a contemporary edge to her voice and an excellent actress. F sharp (below middle C) to E

MARIUS is the handsome 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. Marius should have a lovely, lyrical voice with a contemporary edge. Low A to High A flat

Student leader. He is described by Victor Hugo as “a thinker, and a man of action”. On the barricade he physically and vocally should dominate everyone else. He should ooze with charisma, be a natural leader, be good looking, and have a very strong high baritone or a tenor voice. Remember, Enjolras must lead the students to fight and ultimately die. His death at the barricade is one of the dramatic highlights of the show. A to G (above middle C)

The philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong and brave. Low A to F

A worker, self-educated and an orphan. A believer in “nationality.” Affectionate, warm and poetic. Low A to F

A student. He is youthful, passionate and fearless. Low A to F Les Misérables Character Descriptions

A medical student. Eccentric and light-hearted, although sometimes morbid. His name is derived from the English word “Jolly.” Low A to F

A student of social studies. He is kind, softly spoken and at the right moments strong and masterful. He is also a poet. Low A to F

A student. Cheerful, laughing at life but unlucky. His close friend is Joly. Low A to F

Member of the ABC Society. A student. He is the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. Although he admires Enjolras, he loves to mock him. Witty and drunken, he is happy being with the group and the put up with him because of his good humor. He also keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche, the mascot of the group, and is most heartbroken when Gavroche is killed. So much so that Grantaire abandons his cynicism and rushes to die on the barricade. Low A to F

MEMBERS OF THÉNARDIER GANG OF THIEVES Physically very strong. The body of a bear and a pea sized brain. A genuine gangster, he is stupid and evil. C sharp (below middle C) to E

Physically frail. He is lean and cunning. C sharp(below middle C) to E MEMBERS OF THÉNARDIER GANG OF THIEVES

MEMBERS OF THÉNARDIER GANG OF THIEVES Tough, dangerous and secretive. C sharp (below middle C) to E

Handsome and dangerous. Kills with a knife. He is well dressed, strongly built and supple. C sharp (below middle C) to E

The Foreman begins Fantine on her downward spiral of desperation. He should be virile, commanding and a bit sleazy around the edges. D (below middle C) to D

(GIRL 5) The Shop Girl who fights with Fantine. She is mean, catty, and selfish. She also is most likely having an affair with the Foreman and jealous of Fantine. E (below middle C) to D flat (above middle C)

Three sailors begin The Docks scene. All three have solos. Low C to middle C

They who catch Val Jean when he flees the Bishop. E to High E

The Farmer has solo lines. Middle C to D flat

Bamatabois is the “customer” who taunts Fantine into violence. He is dressed in expensive clothes. He is a wealthy dissolute young man who thinks of himself as a gentleman. He is drunk and in a sadistic mood and chauvinistically feels it is his right to buy anything, even Fantine. D (below middle C) to High D

The Old Woman is a nice featured part. This is the character that purchases Fantine’s hair. E (above middle C) to D Take a peek at this coveted role from 2016.

The victim of the cart crash. The role requires a few solo lines and some painful yelps. B (below middle C) to E flat

FACTORY GIRLS, LABORERS, CHAIN GANG, POOR, STUDENTS, LOVELY LADIES, PARTY GUESTS, JUDGE, MISTAKEN JEAN VALJEAN AND FAMILY,