LES MISÉRABLES THE MUSICAL PHENOMENON

 DALLAS ENGAGEMENT AT MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

APRIL 24 – MAY 6

Yes, the much loved LES MIZ has been around (32 years to be exact) but if you think it’s tired, think again. It’s musical theater at its best and has the most powerful music and performances that have ever been seen at the stage.  LES MISÉRABLES is still the world’s most popular musical, breaking box office records everywhere.  It’s also the 5^th longest running Broadway of all time.  There’s a reason for that! If you’ve never seen it you need to go to experience it. If you have seen it before you need to go again because  this new production has been revamped with imaginative new staging and stunning scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.  It’s really spectacular!

Here’s the plot:    LES MISÉRABLES takes place in 19th century Frances and is the epic tale of broken dreams, love, passion, sacrifice and redemption. The story follows the fugitive Jean Valjean and his journey from a 19 year imprisonment for stealing a loaf of bread and the prison officer, Javert who makes it his life’s goal to hunt him down.  Jean reinvents himself as a mayor and factory worker and meets the tragic Fantine and becomes the guardian of her beloved young daughter Cosette.  The musical will thrill you and delight you at the same time.    The musical features one of the greatest scores of all time, with the much loved songs such as “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Stars,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” “Do You Hear the People Sing”.

This production is filled with first rate talent and  incredibly powerful voices.  Nick Cartell portrays the fugitive ‘Jean Valjean.’ Josh Davis performs as ‘Javert,’ J Anthony Crane as ‘Thénardier,’ Allison Guinn as ‘Madame Thénardier,’ Mary Kate Moore as ‘Fantine,’ Matt Shingledecker as ‘Enjolras,’ Emily Bautista as ‘Éponine,’ Robert Ariza as ‘Marius’ and Jillian Butler as ‘Cosette.’  Elsa Avery Dees and Sophie Knapp alternate in the role of ‘Little Cosette/Young Éponine.’  Julian Emile Lerner, Sammy Middleton and Jonah Mussolino alternate in the role of ‘Gavroche.’   All of their performances are energetic, strong and heartbreaking.

And yes, I cried throughout because the music is truly wonderful and full of raw emotion, realism, and love.   One of my favorite lines from the finale of LES MIZ is “And remember The truth that once was spoken, To love another person is to see the face of God!” This is one of my all time favorite musicals.   Go..See..LES MIZ! 

Looking for a a great spring date night or a girl’s night out idea?  I have the perfect chose for you!   I took my son, Jared to see it and he loved it!  Tickets start at just $35 and can be purchased online or at the Music Hall at Fair Park Box Office.   To purchase tickets, visit dallassummermusicals.org/shows/les-miserables, call 214-691-7200 or visit the Music Hall at Fair Park Box Office at 909 1st Avenue. Ticket prices start at $35. For a sneak peek, please visitwww.LesMiz.com.

Following the thrilling run of LES MISÉRABLES, DSM‘s 2017-18 season will continue with Disney’s The Lion King, winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, June 13-July 7, 2018; the spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies: The Phantom Returns, July 24-August 5, 2018; and closing the season will be the hilarious new musical School of Rock, based on the hit film, August 15-26, 2018.

MARCH 28 – APRIL 8, 2018

 It’s an “easy as pie” decision to grab some girlfriends and go see the cooking themed musicial Waitress!   The musical is all about friendships, relationships, motherhood, loyalty, love, and pies! I mean who doesn’t like a good musical and pie, right? The production is uplifting and full of laughs, and tears.  Warning tip:  Don’t go hungry or you will die of starvation because of all the pie talk!

The musical is based on the beloved 2007 movie Waitress.  It is all about women and their struggles and it was created by a team of women that features the original music and lyrics by 6-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (“Brave,” “Love Song”), a book by acclaimed screenwriter Jessie Nelson (I Am Sam), choreography by Lorin Latarro (Les Dangereuse Liasons, Waiting For Godot) and direction by Tony Award® winner Diane Paulus (Hair, Pippin, Finding Neverland).  .

Here’s the plot: It’s the story of Jenna who is a downtrodden waitress who works in Joe’s Pie Diner making amazing homemade pies.  Her beloved mother passed on the talent to her in the hopes that it could help her be successful but she’s trapped in a small town in the south in a dead-end job and in a loveless marriage.  She dreams of escaping both but now finds herself in a real predicament – she’s pregnant.   If that’s not enough to deal with, she pays a visit to her long time doctor only to find that she’s retired and there’s a handsome new doctor in town who’s more interested in her than her baby OR her amazing pies.  There’s only one big problem with the new man in her life – he’s married.  Oh, what’s a girl to do?  Well, if you’re Jenna you bake more pies and give them hilarious personal, life names such as  “Betrayed by My Eggs Pie”, “My Husband’s A Jerk Chicken Pot Pie”, “Marshmallow Mermaid Pie” and “I Don’t Want Earl’s Baby Pie”.

Jenna  loves to create new pies with lots of sugar of course but also some very creative ingredients.  She demonstrates through song “What’s Inside” how she makes her pies and with the song “What Baking Can Do” how it helps her deal with her depressing  life.    But there is some hope on the horizon for Jenna.  There’s a baking contest in a nearby county that may be the way out of her dead-end existence.  And just maybe the new doctor in her life might actually be the answer to her love life.  Meanwhile Jenna’s best friends and fellow waitresses, the frisky and feisty Becky and the dorky but adorable Dawn are by her side to lift her up with advice, laughter, and support as she deals with this new wrinkle in her already beat down life.  Becky (Charity Angel Dawson) delivers the “been around the block” strong and sassy role with a big and soulful voice that will leave you wanting more.

Jenna not only makes magical pies but she’s also loved by everyone who knows her including the grumpy and grouchy diner owner Joe.   Their banter in the diner is endearing and sweet and it’s a real showstopper when Larry Marshall who plays Joe belts out “Take it From an Old Man”.   Another standout performance that will have you seriously laughing out loud is Jeremy Morse as the hysterically manic character Ogie.  He’s Dawn’s new (and first) love interest that she’s met on a dating site  and goes by the online name “OKC with a Bullet” (that should give you a hint to his level of coolness).   His song “Never Ever Getting Rid of Me” is brilliantly funny and when you put Ogie and Dawn together they will become your new favorite couple.

Desi Oakley delivers a solid and believable performance as Jenna.  She’s sweet as southern pecan pie and balances that with a sorrowful sadness that feels genuine.  She can also belt out the songs in a big voice which reminded me a little of Reba McIntire.  When she sang “She Used to be Mine” in the second act she had me and most of the audience in tears.   Her interaction with her jerky husband Earl (played almost too well by Nick Bailey) will break your heart and will make you want to break Earl’s head.

All the performances are strong and contribute to the fun that Waitress brings to life.  The young actress Eliza Chabot who plays LuLu is pure delight when she makes her appearance at the end of the performance the audience cheers! I love it when that happens!   The sets are creative with the diner interchanging easily with Jenna’s tired and sad home.  I also really liked the ingenius way the band slides on and off the stage and becomes part of the diners set.   This musical is not heavy on dancing but I found myself not really caring because it is heavy on the  music.  I don’t always have a desire for the sound track but I do for this one.

As funny as it is, Waitress deals with a lot of real issues and sometimes uncomfortable subjects but it does so with heart and some adult humor (leave the kids at home for this one).   There are moments where most of us can relate.  Bad relationships, career disappointments,  unrealized dreams,  and yes, the one that got away.  But through it all we have our friends and family who love us anyway, the knowledge that there’s always tomorrow, and oh yes, there’s always pie.

Waitress is a perfect girls night out!  Single tickets for the Dallas engagement of Waitress, starting at $20 (pricing subject to change), are now on sale atDallasSummerMusicals.org or by phone at 1 (800) 745-3000. They can also be purchased in person at the Music Hall at Fair Park Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dallas Summer Musicals 2017-18 season continues with the thrilling, spectacular and unforgettable Les Misérables, April 24-May 6, 2018; Disney’s The Lion King, winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, June 13-July 7, 2018; the spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies: The Phantom Returns, July 24-August 5, 2018; and closing the season will be the hilarious new musical School of Rock, based on the hit film, August 15-26, 2018.

FEBRUARY 27 – MARCH 11, 2018

MUSIC HALL AT FAIR PARK

 The first national tour of the Broadway musical hit ON YOUR FEET is performing right now at Dallas’ Music Hall and you need to get your tickets right now!  The musical is based on the life story of seven-time GRAMMY® winning international superstar Gloria Estefan and her husband, 19-time GRAMMY® winning producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan.  Together the Estefans and their group The Miami Sound Machine has sold over 100 million records.   Never before has a Latin pop musical group become such a sensation and taken over the music industry.  They endured many roadblocks along the way but through ingenuity and endurance (and a lot of talent) they became a radio and music video sensation in the 80’s with dozens of smash hits.  But that’s only half the story.  This is an incredible true story about an immigrant girl from Cuba from modest means who finds the kind of success that one could only dream of and oh the way finds love too.  You can’t make this stuff up.

Here’s the plot:  A young Gloria (incredibly talented Amaris Sanchez) is living in Miami where she and her family have moved after the Cuban revolution.  Gloria is an inspiring songwriter and singer who’s encouraged by her father, Jose who is serving in Vietnam.   José believes in his daughter’s talent and tells her “You’re a born artist, my angel. And one day you’re going to be a big star!”  After the war when he returns home, Gloria’s father tragically develops  multiple sclerosis and Gloria takes on the role of her father’s caretaker (along with her mother and little sister).   A struggle develops between Gloria’s mother and the new man in Gloria’s life, Emilio Estefan.  Emilio wants Gloria to partner with him and his Latin band and fulfill her dream in the music world.  Gloria’s mother meanwhile is more than a little vocal in her disapproval of Gloria’s ambitions because of jealousy and fear of losing her dutiful daughter.  Meanwhile her biggest support is her darling grandmother (a real jewel played by Debra Cardona) – she’ll make you smile throughout the performance.

This jukebox musical is energetic and makes it hard to stay in your seat.  Such huge hits such as “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “1-2-3,” “Get On Your Feet,” “Mi Tierra,” and one of my personal favorites “Don’t Want To Lose You Now”.   I had forgotten how huge this musical group was, what a cultural impact they made on pop music, and how much I loved their music until I saw the musical!

If you know Gloria Estefan’s story  you’ll also remember a horrific accident that almost takes her life and definitely changed it.    You will rejoice at the resilience she has and be reminded that this is what made Gloria the superstar she is in the first place.  The beautiful original song “Reach” written by Gloria and her daughter Emily is performed during this point of her story and will have you in tears.

The sets are simple yet project both the Miami of Gloria’s childhood and her old Havana roots.  The performances vibrate with energy, spice, and passion and are really fun.   Gloria is captured well by the very talented Christie Prades and Mauricio Martinez who plays Emilio is a total delight.   The dancers are perfection and will seriously make you want to go get on your feet and go take salsa lessons.

It’s no secret that I love musical theater and I loved this performance from beginning to end.  This was a story that was made for the stage because it has everything we love –  music that is familiar (and we know all the words to), great choreography, and an epic love story.  It’s a true American dream story that will have you in awe of their success.  Go and enjoy the journey.   My husband and I are still singing the songs.

Single tickets are available for ON YOUR FEET! On line at: DallasSummerMusicals.org or by phone at 1 (800) 745-3000. They can also be purchased in person at the Music Hall at Fair Park Box Office Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Dallas Summer Musicals 2017-18 season will continue with WAITRESS with music and lyrics by Sara Bareilles, March 28-April 8, 2018; the thrilling, spectacular and unforgettable LES MISÉRABLES, April 24-May 6, 2018; Disney’s THE LION KING, winner of six Tony Awards®, including Best Musical, June 13-July 8, 2018; the spellbinding sequel to The Phantom of the Opera LOVE NEVER DIES: The Phantom Returns, July 24-August 5, 2018; and closing the season will be the hilarious new musical SCHOOL OF ROCK, based on the hit film, August 15-26, 2018.