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'Les Mis' takes stage at Glenbard North High School

Posted May 06, 2010 11:00 pm

By Marco Santana

Tom Horvath has come a long way since his freshman year at Glenbard North High School.

At the time, he sang a song that clearly did not match his voice and failed to impress anyone at an audition for a performing arts festival. So much so, that theater department head Donna Burke told him to leave, change his outfit and audition again - this time with a Josh Grobin song, one Burke told him matched his voice much more accurately.

Now a senior, Horvath is taking on the lead role in the school's performance of the musical "Les Miserables," the last role of his high school career. He said performing in a musical has become his favorite part of theater.

"It's my passion," said Horvath, who heads to New York City in the fall to study musical theater at Wagner University. "I think I get a lot more acting done through song and expression that way than just straight theater."

And he will get plenty of chances to do so. Horvath will portray the lead role of Jean Valjean this weekend in the story of revolutionaries in France. The tale follows an ex-convict, Valjean, as he takes a journey toward redemption. Along the way, he meets many characters who help get him there.

The story, set in 19th-century France, is not foreign to junior Hayden Ashley, 17, who plays the policeman Javert. Last month, he played the lead role of Jean Valjean in a performance of the Victor Hugo novel by the Chicago-based Christian Youth Theater, with shows in Elmhurst. He said his knowledge of Horvath's character has helped him.

"It's nice because I went through that whole role and now I know what's going through his head," Ashley said. "I know how to react more to his stuff because I feel both parts now."

While many members of the cast have read the Hugo novel as part of their sophomore year, freshman Bethany Crosby did not have that luxury. She said playing the role of Fantine was one of her dream roles.

"When I found out, I was overjoyed," she said. "I didn't think I had a chance at one of the leads."

She said getting a jump-start on acting as a freshman in a major role gives her a great chance to get the most out of her time at North. But she also admitted the rehearsals and shows are completely different.

"I want to keep up on my sleep so I don't get sick," she joked.

Although the cast has been at it on a nearly daily basis, Horvath said that doesn't make it much easier.

"'Les Mis' is a very difficult show," Horvath said. "Musically, physically, it's demanding and you have to be up on your game every song."

'Les Mis' castJean Valjean: Tom HorvathJavert: Hayden AshleyFantine: Bethany CrosbyBamatbois: Blake Lambert hackFauchelevant: Brian BedounLook alike Valjean: Chris StevensonJudge: Tom KossakYoung Cosette: Amber GilliandMadame Thenardier: Marissa TalaricoYoung Eponine: Arielle GonzalezThenardier: Zach JonesGavroche: Alex NauertMarius: Kevin HujarEnjolras: Zach MarquartSolo Urchin: Kristen UrbanCosette: Stephanie SprauerFeuilly: Matt SlusarskiCourfeyrac: Michael FaganJoly: Alex DahlquistGrantaire: Jason EisentrautEponine: Nikki TolentinoMontparnasse: Michael FaganBrujon: Chris HuppBabet: Eve Edmuds-DiezClaquesous: Justin IslerLesgles: Andrew RosenbergFalse720540The student cast at Glenbard North is performing the challenging "Les Miserables" this weekend at the Carol Stream high school.Photo courtesy Donna BurkeFalse If you goWhat: "Les Miserables"When: 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday, May 7-8 Where: Glenbard North High School, 990 Kuhn Road, Carol StreamTickets: $8Info: (630) 681-3399 or <a href="http://www.glenbardnorthhs.org" target="new">www.glenbardnorthhs.org</a>

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