Les Miserables - Fourth National Tour: Chicago, Illinois (November 30, 2012) *Evening*
BETSY MORGAN & MAX QUINLAN'S 4TH TO FINAL PERFORMANCE! :(
Cast:
Peter Lockyer (Jean Valjean), Andrew Varela (Javert), James Zannelli (The Bishop Of Digne), Richard Todd Adams (Factory Foreman), Betsy Morgan (Fantine), Jessica Keenan Wynn (Factory Girl), Beth Kirkpatrick (Old Crone), Cornelia Luna (Wig Maker), Lee Zarrett (Bamatabois), Erin Cearlock?/Abbey Rose Gould? (alt. Little Cosette), Shawana M. Hamic (Madame Thenardier), Erin Cearlock?/Abbey Rose Gould? (alt. Young Eponine), Timothy Gulan (Thenardier), Joshua Colley?/Marcus D'angelo? (alt. Gavroche), Briana Carlson-Goodman (Eponine), Lauren Wiley (Cosette), Jordan Nichols (Montparnasse), James Zannelli (Babet), Nathaniel Hackmann (Brujon), Lee Zarrett (Claquesous), Jason Forbach (Enjolras), Max Quinlan (Marius), Eric Van Tielen (Combferre), Weston Wells Olson (Feuilly), John Brink (Courfeyrac), Alan Shaw (Joly), Joseph Spieldenner (Grantaire), Richard Todd Adams (Lesgles), Ian Patrick Gibb (Jean Proivaire), Cathryn Basile (Ensemble), Julie Benko (Ensemble), Briana Carlson-Goodman (Ensemble), Hannah Isabel Bautista (Ensemble), Natalie Beck (Ensemble), Erin Clemons (Ensemble), Siri Howard (Ensemble), Brittney Johnson (Ensemble).
Review:
WOW! That’s the only word I can say. Les Miserables is EPIC! I know this was my second time seeing it, but it felt like a completely new show! For starters this time I didn't have to worry about the kid I sat with and wonder how he was feeling like last time. I was able to really focus on the show and the beauty of it! This time I sat in the 3rd to last row in the balcony. Honestly, not a bad seat at all. I had a great view of the set. Now for the cast. Peter Lockyer was fantastic as Valjean. He is actually very young and he had a really mature voice. His "Bring Him Home" was outstanding! Andrew Varela was awesome as Javert. I'm glad I got to see him a Second time. He really belts the shit out of "Stars". Timothy Gulan was hilarious as Thenardier. He was a lot better than the Michael Kostroff (the guy I saw the first time). "Master Of The House" was way too funny. Shawna M. Hamic is comedic genius as Madame Thenardier. Her little solo in "Master Of The House" got an applause halfway through! Briana Carlson-Goodman was amazing as Eponine. I saw Chasten Harmon two years ago, and she was amazing! But, Briana has a younger sounding voice, which I think works better. "On My Own" was, well, umm, DAMN AMAZING! Her voice is wonderful. Lauren Wiley was wonderful as Cosette and had a really nice soprano voice. Max Quinlan was great as Marius! His "Empty Chairs At Empty Tables" was so sad! Then, there's BETSY MORGAN! Words, can't describe how much I love this woman! Her voice is a god-sent. She is my ALL-TIME favorite actress/singer! Her performance as Fantine makes you cry. You can feel the hurt, but the madness in her voice during "I Dreamed A Dream". I love, love, love, love, love, love her. The performance I saw was her 4th to final (It was also Max’s last as well)! I was gonna die when she told me that at the stage door, but let’s wait for that. I'm also not gonna lie. I love this productions set. It’s so much better than the original. It lets you connect better with the story. (Side note: The movie is a complete disgrace to this show!) Overall, this production is BEAUTIFUL! I GIVE IT: 100000000000000000000000000/10
Stage Door:
Well, this was a great stage door! I brought my old program to get it signed and a Little Mermaid, and A Little Night Music Playbill. However, they got a new souvenir program, so I used that. First to come out were 2 cast members (I have honestly have no clue who they were, I can’t read their signatures) they signed my playbill and souvenir program! Then I heard someone say are you Sal. I turned and at the door running out was Betsy Morgan! She gave me a huge hug and was like "OMG I'm so glad you're here, I marked my calendar and everything"! Then we talked and she signed my Playbill and the inside of my program and she wrote "To Sal, you are such a wonderful person, and it’s a pleasure to meet you! Till next time, love, Betsy. The she was like do you want me to put my last name, we are friends so we can be on first name basis, lol. Then I showed her that I brought the Little mermaid and A Little Night Music Playbills. When she saw TLM Playbill she was like ahahahaha. Then Briana Carlson-Goodman heard her and looked over and was like oh wow! Then she said about how everyone had seen the video that I made when I got her fan mail. I was like wow! Then Briana signed my Playbill. Then Shawna M. Hamic signed by her picture in the souvenir program. Then Betsy and I talked some more and then she dropped the bombshell that Sunday was her last show. I was gonna cry. Then we took a picture and she made a special video for my vlog. Then she had to go, and then I went. All, I have to say is BETSY you're amazing!
Vlog:
I long, but it has Betsy's special message!
Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6QVAHK_v9w
Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZQoqVi7S74&feature=youtu.be
Part One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6QVAHK_v9w
Part Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZQoqVi7S74&feature=youtu.be