‘Les Mís’ Cast to Reunite on Mineola High School Stage

It’s not often that you hear the words “revival” and “reunion” applied to high school musical productions. Yet Friday night on the Mineola High School stage there will, in fact be a revival production of “Les Miserables” featuring a reunion of the cast which first performed it in 2008.

“It’s probably because ‘Les Mis’ was getting a lot of attention and with the movie and coming back to Broadway and in my opinion– it’s pretty much general opinion that that show was one of the best, if not the best that we ever did in Mineola,” said John Watts, who is reprising his role of Jean Valjean. “It had a reputation as a show that really did well and it is a show that can be a reunion.”

Besides Watts, returning cast members reprising their original roles include Stephanie Patterson, Alex Eisen, Kenny Rauert, Mo Phelan, Nick Salvatore, Karen Sellinger and Aislinn Oliveri, who plays Éponine and who first called Watts to suggest the reunion production.

“I thought it was a great idea but I knew what it was going to take would be a tremendous amount of work,” Watts said.

However, the show – whose entire proceeds will benefit the drama department – will only be one night due to the logistics of putting on a production in about 60 days in the height of summer before the start of the new school year.

Watts acknowledged that the timing was “definitely a concern” because it being the height of summer, but there was no other time in which the show could be done. “That’s just something you worry about as a performer. People go on vacation; it is what it is.”

“The alumni came together and sort of worked together in getting the whole thing, getting the ball rolling and I think that we just had so much fun doing it the first time and everyone was just so talented that it just really worked out.”

While there are about 15 Mineola High School graduates performing, they will be only about half of the cast with the rest being played by current drama students.

“There’s probably about 20 or 25 students and there’s probably about 15 or so alumni and most of the lead roles are going to be reprised,” Watts said, adding that working with current students made it “more epic” because “it just shows their level of talent is also phenomenal because they’re able to work with college kids, many of whom are in theater, or have studied theater, acting, whatever.”

Those going in expecting a full-blown production might be in for a bit of a disappointment, however as the show is staged “the way ‘Les Mis’ did their 10th anniversary show,” Watts said, explaining that the the play would be staged as a concert production where the various actors and actresses would be standing at microphones singing their respective parts with minimal sets and no costumes. Almost all of the original play would be included, with Watts stating that some scenes were abridged due to movement of actors on the stage.

“It’s 95 percent of the show,” he said, noting the actors’ movement on and off stage is still the biggest challenge despite the minimalist production.

“You still have to get people on stage and off stage and you have to economize that; how are you going to do that smoothly so that takes a very long time because people forget where they’re supposed to be, people are asking questions,” he said, “so there’s still blocking in you have to know what mike you’re going to and of course there’s a ton of technical elements also sound-wise.”

A full orchestra pit would accompany the performance, also comprised of alumni, current students and even eight teachers.

“Pretty much everyone involved in 2008 came back in the pit; a lot of teachers are involved too,” Watts said.

Watts gave credit to current drama director Joe Owens, who in addition to conducting the orchestra, “made this all happen because we needed the rights to it, we needed to have it designed quickly because we’re only home for two months so he spearheaded a lot of the administrative work.”

Beyond Friday night, Watts hopes that the reunion can grow into an annual summer event for the school and the drama department.

“We’re hoping that this reunion can start sort of a tradition of alumni getting together over the summer with students and teachers and doing some sort of cabaret show, not really a musical, a full-scale musical but sort of like a cabaret show to raise money,” he said. “It’s a reminder about how great the music program is, fantastic music program and people who have graduated are still involved in music very heavily. It’s nice to come back and show that.”

The show is scheduled for a 7 p.m. curtain time Friday night. Tickets are $15 for general admission and adults and $10 for students and children.

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