FCHS - AHSFA - Main Stage Performing Arts Program Encourages Students to Move Beyond Barricades Toward Success

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Nothing less than a professional calibre performance is expected from students in Foothills Composite High School / Alberta High School of Fine Arts' upcoming production of Les Misérables. Students and staff directors have been preparing, even before the start of the school year, for this enormous undertaking. Les Misérables will be one of the crowning achievements of Main Stage – only a handful of high school programs are capable of producing this epic and powerful musical which runs from February 4th to 19th, 2011. This blockbuster show is based on Victor Hugo's classic novel about ex-convict Jean Valjean. He attempts to start a new life, through the tumult of revolutionary France, yet is relentlessly pursued by policeman Javert. This story is one of the most powerful and exciting ever published; Les Misérables remains a timeless classic for all nations since being penned in 1862. Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's brilliant stage adaptation, in collaboration with Herber Kretzmer, has caught the essence of Hugo's work precisely.  The musical is now more accessible to modern audiences in the school version which is exclusively available through Music Theatre International. Les Mis showcases a Tony award winning score including the songs “I Dreamed a Dream”, “Castle on a Cloud”, “One Day More”, “Master of the House” and “Bring him Home”.
The strenuous preparation and rehearsal schedule demands that the students are especially prepared before classes begin each day.  Musicians and actors have thirty-two pieces of music to master before opening in February. Music Director, Nicole Hounjet, held orchestral auditions last June and the directing team held cast auditions prior to school starting in September. When asked why the FCHS/AHSFA Directors chose Les Misérables, their response was unanimous. “Few high schools would ever attempt this beautiful but demanding musical. We feel that the vocal and dramatic training these Main Stage students have been given in the past couple of years confirms our belief that if there was any group of individuals who could pull it off, it would be this years' crew!”
No pressure there!  But the performers are truly up for the challenge.  Hounjet says “this is perhaps one of the most perplexing scores to interpret because it requires such sensitivity and sophistication in terms of musicality.  I am so impressed with the student musicians who are so eager to meet this challenge.”  The show will not only be demanding musically, yet dramatically. Artistic and Technical Director, Mr. James Keary, is requiring that students go beyond the performance to immerse themselves in the lives of the characters. The directors' decision to perform Les Mis was, in part, due to the universal themes reflecting the frailty of human nature and personal life choices. Keary was initially apprehensive about the show's somewhat provocative content yet it is reflective of the era and the period's prejudices toward various social classes.  Despite those cautions, the show's universal message is most worthy to deliver. Keary and his cast strive to impart Hugo's strong message of the need for mercy and forgiveness - lessons from which we could all learn. As lyrically shared in the show, we can all “remember the truth that once was spoken: to love another person, is to see the face of God”.
The collaboration necessary to deliver the show's philosophically challenging message involves tremendous effort on a day to day basis.  Technical Theatre students, twenty-three in all, have been diligently working on production elements of the show including costume and set design, theatrical make-up and lighting. Under the guidance of Choreography Director, Mrs. Kelly van Sluys, and Ms Hounjet, the talented performers have been learning the demanding vocal score and movement. Mr. Keary has been busy with the acting and blocking portion; rehearsals will continue on an onerous schedule until opening night February 4th. The Main Stage Parent Guild are also tremendous contributors through co-ordinating ticket sales, front of house, the Gala evening, fund raising and set construction.
On a school basis, a major portion of FCHS/AHSFA students are exposed to Main Stage productions through roles as performers, staging assistants or as fans.  Teachers, outside the program, also donate considerable time with supervision and production support. Few other programs offered at the high school level reach so many within a learning community; that involvement reflects its value. Main Stage promotes the concepts of leadership, accountability and confidence building as well as develops strong communication and time management skills. Main Stagers must make a considerable commitment beyond what is ordinarily offered in comparable school programs, while meeting all their curricular requirements. This extra investment pays off in large ways. There are the obvious ones, such as students consistently delivering quality productions and for some, preparing to pursue careers in professional theatre. Yet, Main Stage students also benefit outside of theatre walls. Employers and post secondary education institutions agree that the life skills acquired in Main Stage are extremely desirable.
The Directors of this year's Main Stage production of Les Mis know that their students will go "beyond the barricade” as they bring 1815 to life. The show will be a most proud achievement; students will surely “hear the people sing” of their accomplishment for many years to come.
Tickets for Les Mis go on sale commencing December 8th; just in time for Christmas giving.
The production runs February 4th, 8th, 10th, 11th, 12th, 15th, 17th, 18th & 19th, 2011, with Gala (dinner and show) on February 5th, 2011. Tickets for evening shows are $20; shows start at 7:00pm. Gala costs $45.00; dinner is at 5:30pm with show to follow.
Tickets can be ordered by calling the Ticket Line @ (403) 540-6574 or you can email
mainstagetickets@hotmail.com