ADULT PRINCIPAL ROLES

JEAN VALJEAN

A poor peasant who rises to affluence, he has great natural nobility and dignity. A powerful figure, with a character of operatic size and passion. The voice needs to have a pop/rock sound or a classical sound of extraordinary textual clarity.

Playing age: 35-45 years

Gender: Male, Transgender - male, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: Sings to B, high lyric baritone or tenor, with both strong low notes and a strong falsetto.

JAVERT

Must have a natural gravitas with ability to be expressive and dynamic. Policeman who relentlessly hunts Valjean. An imposing character. The ultimate ‘law and order’ figure. Obsessed, to the point of irrationality, with a rigid and merciless moral code.

Playing age: 35-45 years

Gender: Male, Transgender - male, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: Baritone, sings to G.

FANTINE

Poor but beautiful and elegant factory girl, struggling to support her fatherless daughter. Later is a pauper, a prostitute, a consumptive and a ghost. Earthy and poignant. Although she is finally defeated by circumstances, she should appear to be strong and a survivor. She puts up a valiant fight against the horrors of her life.

Playing age: 20-30 years

Gender: Female, Transgender - female, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: Belts up to C, sings to E flat.

EPONINE

Daughter of the Thénardiers but in no way behaves like them. Fired by an unrequited love for Marius. Small, gamine, waif-like. Hasn't learned to disguise her emotions; wears her heart on her sleeve.

Playing age: 18-25 years

Gender: Female, Transgender - female, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: An enormous and beautiful belt voice, with a contemporary edge. Belts to C sharp, sings to E flat.

COSETTE

Petite and pretty with a playing age as young as possible. Fantine’s daughter (first seen as and played by a child) delicate, elegant, vulnerable and beautiful. Falls in love with and later marries Marius.

Playing age: 18-25 years

Gender: Female, Transgender - female, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: Soprano to high C but a light, young ‘floating’ sound, without heavy vibrato.

MARIUS

Member of the revolutionary student movement. Attractive and romantic but in a sensitive, 19th century ‘Byronic’ way.

Playing age: 18-25 years

Gender: Male, Transgender - male, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: High baritone, sings to A with a strong bottom to A.

ENJOLRAS

Handsome, charismatic political figure, leader of the revolutionary movement.

Playing age: 22-30 years

Gender: Male, Transgender - male, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: High baritone/tenor to G sharp / B flat. Very strong singer.

THÉNARDIER

Strong comic character role. A crooked innkeeper, later a petty, amoral thief. Greedy, irreverent, selfish, boorish, vulgar.

Playing age: 35-45 years

Gender: Male, Transgender - male, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: Baritone, sings to F sharp.

MADAME THÉNARDIER

Tough, sharp, coarse, boorish, vulgar. Strong character comedienne role.

Playing age: 30-40’s

Gender: Female, Transgender - female, Non-Binary

Appearance: African-American, Black-African, Black-Caribbean, Black-Other Areas, Eastern European, Mediterranean, Scandinavian, White, Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Filipino/Malay/Thai, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Pakistani, Hispanic, Latin American, Maori, Middle Eastern, Mixed Race, Native American

Voice: Belter.