ATP Kids theater presents ‘Les Miserables’
ATP Kids theater presents the sweeping musical "Les Miserables" today through Sunday, April 27-30, at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center. (Photo provided by Alpine Theatre Project)
Ethan Schott
Audrey Hanley
Conner Keith
Elijah Walrath
Gabriel Walrath
Kathleen Keith
Lavena James
Lucas Counts
Katie Benkelman
Fifty-five high school students from around the Flathead Valley will show audiences the transformational power of forgiveness, mercy, justice and love in an ATP Kids production of the Broadway musical “Les Miserables.”
“It doesn’t get more epic than this musical,” Alpine Theatre Project Artistic Director Betsi Morrison said. “It’s a soaring, gut-wrenching, sweeping tale of love, loss, and redemption. And this year had such an amazing roster of students, we decided to double-cast the principal roles to give more students an opportunity to shine. We couldn’t be prouder of the work they’re doing.”
Les Miserables tells the story of the struggle against adversity in 19th-century France. Imprisoned for stealing a loaf of bread, petty thief Jean Valjean is released from his 19-year term and not only becomes an honest man but the mayor of a prosperous town and a loving adoptive father, violating his parole in the process. The relentless inspector Javert, who makes a decent life for Valjean impossible, consequently pursues him. Only years later, after Valjean proves his mettle during a bloody student uprising and saves the life of a young man hopelessly in love with Valjean’s adopted daughter, does the ex-convict finally feel fully redeemed.
Many roles have been double-cast in “Les Miserables” to provide participating students with more opportunities. Through ATP Kids, an after-school program based in Whitefish, students learn about theater through performance from Broadway professionals.
Performances will be held April 27-30 at the Whitefish Performing Arts Center, 127 Spokane Ave, Whitefish. Tickets are $10 for students and $20 for adults.
Performances begin at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday. On Saturday, there will be a 2 p.m. and a 7 p.m. performance. Sunday’s performances are set at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Tickets may be purchased online at atpwhitefish.org.
Now in its 15th year, the ATP Kids program has become the most popular theater education program in the Valley, with over 3,000 students participating to date. Led by ATP’s Broadway professionals, ATP Kids is an after-school program of theater education through performance. No student is ever turned away.
