Pulling off one of Broadway’s most iconic musicals is no easy feat, but with a talented cast and crew, the Vicksburg Theatre Guild will present Les Misérables Friday night at the Parkside Playhouse on Iowa Boulevard.
“This is a huge show, said Paul Ballard, the president of the VTG and director for the production, “and the wisest thing I could possibly do is assemble folks with the skill sets we need.”
Ballard said he has a cast of 48 members including locals Mitch Cochran as Jean Valjean, Ryan Kelly as Javert, Clarissa Walker as Cossette, Sonia Arrendondo as Éponine, Jacob Llyod as Maius, Alex Hill as Enjolras and Clinton native Jamie Ferguson as Fantine.
Crewmembers include Paul Ingram on lights, Jason Fairchild — sound, Lauren Bussey — costumes, Bobby Newell — sets and Jim Shirley as the assistant director. The orchestra consists of 11 musicians.

Les Misérables, the musical based on French poet and novelist Victor Hugo’s novel of the same name, opened on Broadway in 1987. More than 65 million people worldwide have seen the musical, which is the winner of more than 100 international awards.
The story is set in 19th century France and focuses on Valjean, a French peasant who has spent 19 years in jail just for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving child. After Valjean’s release from prison, he winds up breaking his parole in an attempt to make a new life. He is caught stealing silver, and after an act of mercy by a kindly bishop, Valjean is given a second chance at freedom. His soul becomes stirred by the bishop’s grace, and Valjean decides to change and become a man who also leads a life of compassion and productivity. Valjean’s story continues, however, with the continuous pursuit by his parole officer, Javert, in what the police officer thinks is a quest for justice.
“I think the story is easy enough to follow,” said Ballard. “It is about one man over a period of 17 years and takes place in France between the French revolutions.”
The VTG’s production of Les Misérables will include 15 set changes and songs which have become classics including “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own” and “One Day More.”
Ballard said it has been of upmost importance for the cast and crew to pay attention to the details of the show.
“When things are done right you don’t notice, but if they are wrong it comes across amateurish,” he said. And for those that attended last year’s performance of the VTG’s production of “Cats,” they know this community theater makes every effort to get it right, even when the group has had only 10 weeks of preparation and two weeks on stage.
“It is almost unheard of that a theater could pull off a performance of this magnitude, but talented people seem to gravitate towards a project like this,” Ballard said.
“This is theater at its best! You come, you laugh, you cry and you feel good when you can see your neighbor or your neighbor’s kid or people you work with getting involved,” he said.
Performances for Les Misérables will begin at 7 p.m. at 101 Iowa Blvd. and will run Saturday and Aug. 15-16, and at 2 p.m. Aug. 10 and 17. Tickets are $20, $12 for ages 65 and older and $10 for ages 12 and younger. Tickets are available at the door and online at www.vicksburgtheatreguild.com. For more information, call 601-636-0471.