Olney Theatre Center Brings a Fresh, Intimate Les Miserables to the Stage
Few musicals have embedded themselves in popular culture quite like Les Miserables. Since its 1985 debut, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's adaptation of Victor Hugo's sweeping novel has been seen by audiences around the world in dozens of languages, its anthems have been sung at rallies and in living rooms alike, and "One Day More" remains one of the most rousing act-one closers ever written. Now, as professional rights to the show open up again following the end of a long national tour, Olney Theatre Center has wasted no time raising its own barricade with a bold new production playing through January 31, 2027, on the Roberts Mainstage.
The story begins in 1815, when Jean Valjean, played by Trent Saunders, walks free after nearly two decades in prison for stealing bread. An act of mercy from a bishop sets him on a new path, and Valjean reinvents himself as a respected businessman. But because he has broken parole, the relentless Inspector Javert, played by Kevin S. McAllister, never stops hunting him. Along the way Valjean shelters the desperate Fantine, played by Stephanie Waters, raises her daughter Cosette, played by Quynh-My Luu, and watches over the young revolutionary Marius, played by Ben Clark, as the streets of Paris erupt in rebellion.
Director Stephen Brackett, known on Broadway for youthful, inventive musicals such as A Strange Loop, The Lightning Thief, and Be More Chill, brings a fresh, contemporary sensibility to the epic without abandoning what fans cherish. Hugo's own words about the cost of wealth built on poverty greet audiences before the curtain rises, setting the tone for a production that keeps the story's social conscience front and center. Everything audiences love about the show is still here, but Brackett sprinkles in surprises, from a hustler among the "Lovely Ladies" to costumes by Sarah Cubbage that slip a modern puffer jacket in among the period coats. Because Olney's mainstage is relatively shallow, even this grand score lands with unexpected closeness, giving the evening a warm and intimate feel.
The 25-member cast, drawn from more than 400 actors who auditioned, embraces the fresh approach with enthusiasm. Waters offers a quieter, almost folk-tinged "I Dreamed a Dream" that tracks Fantine's slide into hopelessness with real tenderness. Clark and Luu play Marius and Cosette as genuinely young and wide-eyed, which makes the danger closing in on them feel all the more urgent, and their love duet has been moved into Cosette's bedroom for a more charged and intimate moment. Alex De Bard brings toughness and deep longing to Eponine, and her "On My Own" is one of the evening's most powerful moments.
The Thenardiers get a memorable makeover as well. Tracy Lynn Olivera reimagines Madame Thenardier as a big-haired, glamorous schemer who is clearly the brains of the operation, while Jordan Friend relishes every greasy moment as her husband. Together they make "Master of the House," choreographed by William Carlos Angulo, a boisterous highlight.
For all the innovation, the heart of the story beats as strongly as ever. Saunders handles Valjean's enormous vocal demands and his tense cat-and-mouse encounters with Javert with confidence and agility, and McAllister, long admired in the DC area for his rich, resonant voice, delivers a beautifully controlled "Stars."
The design keeps the focus on the people rather than the spectacle, though scenic designer Arnulfo Maldonado has one show-stopping surprise up his sleeve. Abby Hoke-Brady's moody lighting conjures the gloom of Parisian back streets, and music director Christopher Youstra leads a 14-piece orchestra that does full justice to the soaring score.
Arriving just ahead of the holiday season, this Les Miserables offers something a little different from the usual seasonal fare, a moving reminder of the goodness people are capable of and the healing power of forgiveness. Whether it's your first visit to the barricade or your fiftieth, Olney's production makes this beloved classic feel new again.