Broadway in Norfolk Starts Off with the Epic Les Misérable

"One Day More" from Les Misérables. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

Words by Penny Neef. Images as credited.

The wildly popular and long running musical Les Misérables is returning to Chrysler Hall in Norfolk September 10 – 15 as the first show of the Broadway in Norfolk 2024 – 2025 season.

Les Miz, as it’s known around the world, is based on the French epic novel by Victor Hugo, published in 1862. It’s as epic as epic can get. The novel clocks in at 5 volumes, 48 books, 365 chapters and 655,478 words. The book centers around the struggles of ex-convict Jean Valjean and the people he meets along his journey to redemption and peace. This all takes place before and during the French Revolution. Who among us has read all 655,478 words? Maybe some French literature scholars. Haley Dortch, who plays one of the female leads, Fantine, admits to only reading the parts of the novel involving her character.

Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, two Frenchmen, managed to turn this epic book into an epic musical that has become the 2nd longest running musical in the world and winner of 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. It is a sad, complicated story, totally sung through, with a large cast and no dancing. 

Even though the ending is tragic, it is a story of survival of the human spirit, the power of persistence and love. Fans of Les Miz come back to see the show again and again. There is probably not a more committed group than the Mizzies. My theory of the popularity of Les Miz is the music. It is wonderful. Much like the musical Cats, where it’s tough to follow the plot, but the music is great, Les Miz music and lyrics have transcended into iconic.

“I Dreamed A Dream” - Haley Dortch as Fantine in Les Misérables.

Photo by Matthew Murphy & Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade

Back to Haley Dortch, who as Fantine, sings some of those iconic numbers, like “I Dreamed a Dream”. This song starts out soft but builds to a crescendo of anguish and longing. It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve heard it; it will pull at your heart and bring tears to your eyes.

Haley Dortch is living their dream right now. Dortch, a 6-foot-tall black woman who’s pronouns are they/them says, “I’m hard to miss.” They were in the middle of their sophomore year in musical theater at University of Michigan (GO BLUE!) and were looking for a summer job. Dortch sent audition tapes all over the country and hit the jackpot. They started rehearsals for the touring company of Les Miz in August of 2022 and hit the road in October. This company is the North American tour. Dortch has traveled all over the United States and Canada for the past two years.

Life on the road, eight shows a week with Monday off as a travel day, is brutal. Dortch had to learn to “eat clean and exercise” to keep up the pace. It’s made easier by Dortch’s faithful companion, 20 pounds of doggy fluff named Bear. This company of Les Miz might be the most dog-friendly touring company ever. Dortch has counted 13 dogs touring with the cast and crew, and not one of these dogs appears on stage.

Bear on the Beach! Photo courtesy of Haley Dortch.

Dortch’s contract with Les Miz will be up soon. They are not sure if they will head back to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor to complete that degree or will just start “hitting auditions hard”. Dortch says they will “see where the wind blows me.” After all, they had some great luck the first time around.

Fun fact – Dortch gets a 30-minute break between the time their character dies a tragic death (it’s sad), and the time they return as a spirit to guide Valjean to Heaven (even sadder). They take that time to hydrate and catch a breath, but if you look closely in the background of the barricade scene, depicting the 1832 Paris Uprising, you will see a six-foot-tall black woman, belting out the number with the rest of the cast.

Feel free to come to Les Miz just for the music. It is absolutely fabulous. There is a lot of plot packed into 3 hours. Read a synopsis before you come if you want to understand what’s going on, but it’s not necessary. You will hear the power of love, redemption, and survival in the music. You will probably become a Mizzie.

For more information and to purchase tickets, go to - https://www.sevenvenues.com/events/detail/les-miserables-1