Principal Lead Roles (Male)
Jean Valjean: A paroled convict and the protagonist and moral center of the show. Failing to find work with his yellow parole note and redeemed by the Bishop of Digne’s mercy, he tears up the parole note and conceals his identity to live his life as an honest man. He redeems himself repeatedly with selfless acts of generosity and love. He steps in to save Fantine. He adopts Cosette and ultimately gives his blessing to her and Marius, allowing them to marry. He rescues Marius from the barricade.
Javert: Police Inspector who relentlessly pursues Valjean for breaking parole. He sees the world and its people in shades of black and white, and believes that no one—including himself—is capable of change or redemption. He is NOT the villain, but his idea of the law is merciless and unbending
Thenardier: An opportunist who has survived by robbing, cheating, stealing and looking out for himself, above all. Crooked, irreverent, selfish, boorish, vulgar. He plays the “bon vivant” host because it serves him well, and later leads a gang of dangerous thieves. Comic relief along with his wife Madame Thenardier.
Marius: A young student who is searching for himself and his purpose through his studies and through the revolutionary ideas of his peers. He is a casual friend of Eponine, but falls in love with Cosette instantly at a chance meeting. Marius’ experiences at the barricade age and mature him.
Enjolras: Charismatic leader of the student revolutionaries. He believes that “the people” will join him in the fight to make a better world. Friend to Marius and the ABC students– who are willing to follow him to the barricades and beyond.
Principal Lead Roles (Female)
Fantine: Desperate, haunted, terrified, hopeful, proud and fiercely protective of Cosette, Fantine is a woman who has been abandoned and seeks to support herself and her child, first by reputable work and then by selling everything that she has, including herself. As she dies of consumption, she asks Valjean to look after Cosette. Ultimately, she appears as a spirit and escorts the dying Valjean to paradise.
Eponine: Daughter of the Thenardiers, she has followed in her parents' footsteps to life on the street. Once pampered, now a ragged waif, she has learned to take what she needs and wants from anyone not strong enough to protect it. The only thing she can’t have is the love of Marius.
Cosette: Fantine’s daughter, she has become beautiful under Valjean’s care. She is lively, personable, curious and mischievous. She challenges him, behaving with dignity and imagination when seeking information about her past. She falls instantly in love with Marius, changing her world and her priorities.
Madame Thenardier: Opportunistic wife of Thenardier. She is coarse, greedy, larger than life, and able to improvise in any situation. Scheming, comic and quick to see an opportunity.
Young Cosette: Fantine’s young daughter. Boards with The Thenardiers. She is mistreated, worked like a drudge, beaten by Madame and bullied by young Eponine. She is fearful, lonely and dreams of something better.
Young Eponine: The Thenardiers spoiled, pampered daughter who bullies young Cosette mercilessly.
Gavroche: A child of the streets who has made his way with intelligence, honor and a cocky courage that endears him to the student revolutionaries. He sees himself as one of them.
Ensemble Roles - This is a large cast and the ensemble plays a critical part in the production with multiple roles.
Featured Ensemble Roles
Male ABC SOCIETY: Students and workers, part of a secret society to fight for freedom. The students are from wealthy families, the workers are a stark contrast. They include:
Combeferre: a philosopher and believer in peace. He is gentle, humane, strong and brave.
Feuilly: a worker, self-educated and an orphan. A Believer in “nationality”. Affectionate, warm, poetic
Courfeyrac: a student, He is youthful, passionate and fearless.
Joly: a medical student. Eccentric and lighthearted, although occasionally morbid. His name is from the English “jolly”.
Prouvaire: a student of social studies. He is kind, soft spoken and at the right moments strong and masterful. He is a poet.
Lesgles: a student, cheerful, laughing at life but unlucky. Close friends with Joly.
Grantaire: a student, the opposite of Enjolras. He believes in nothing. He admires Enjolras, but loves to mock him. Witty and often drunk, he is happy being with the group and they put up with him because of his good humor. He keeps a watchful eye on Gavroche and is most heartbroken when Gavroche is killed.
Thenardier’s Gang of Thieves. They include:
Brujon: Physically strong. The body of a bear, unintelligent, a gangster, dense and evil.
Babet: Physically frail, but lean and manipulating.
Claquesous: “He is the night.” tough, dangerous and secretive Montparnasse: a teenager, handsome and dangerous. Kills with a knife. Possessive of Eponine.
The Foreman: The foreman of the factory where Fantine works. He is sleazy and even a bit menacing
Bamatabois: The “customer “who taunts Fantine into violence. Wealthy, dissolute young man who thinks of himself as a gentleman. Drunk, sadistic and feels he can buy anything-even Fantine.
The Pimp: Controls the ladies at the dock. Mean, aggressive and abusive. Small solo line in “The Docks”
Other ensemble roles: Chain Gang, Farmers, Laborers, Sailors, Constables, Citizens, Beggars, Wedding Guests, Waltzers
Featured Ensemble Roles
Bishop of Digne: Houses Valjean after his release from jail and gives him gifts of silver and absolution. His act of kindness inspires Valjean to improve himself and escape the label of “criminal”.
Factory Girl/Woman 1: Fights with Fantine. Mean, catty and threatened by Fantine’s beauty. Jealous of the attention that the foreman pays her.
Old Woman: This is the woman who bargains with Fantine for her hair.
Other ensemble roles : Farmers, Innkeeper’s Wife, Whores, Factory Workers, Citizens, Beggars, Wedding Guests, Waltzers.
A word about the School Edition of Les Miserables. The School Edition is the only version that is allowed to be performed by high schools. There are not that many differences between the two. Some of the songs have been arranged in different keys to make them more manageable for high school voices. No characters or songs have been eliminated from the show, but some verses have been eliminated or cut down. For this reason they have renamed some of the songs. In the list below, parentheses surround the names of the songs from the original.
Act I
Prologue (Work Song, What Have I Done) At The End Of The Day
I Dreamed A Dream
The Docks (Lovely Ladies)
The Cart Crash (Who Am I)
Fantine’s Death (The Confrontation)
Little Cosette (Castle on a Cloud)
The InnKeeper’s Song (Master of the House) The Bargain
The Beggars (Look Down)
The Robbery
Stars
The ABC Café (Red and Black)
The People’s Song (Do You Hear the People Sing) Rue Plumet (In My Life)
A Heart Full Of Love
The Attack On Rue Plumet
One Day More
Act II
Building The Barricade (On My Own)
Javert At The Barricade (Little People, A Little Fall of Rain) The First Attack
The Night (Drink With Me, Bring Him Home)
The Second Attack
The Final Battle
The Sewers
Javert’s Suicide (Turning)
The Café Song (Empty Chairs at Empty Tables) Marius & Cosette
The Wedding
Epilogue