Pittsburgh students take the stage in professional ‘Les Mis’ at the Byham

Photos courtesy of PMT.

Nearly 100 students from the Pittsburgh area are busy preparing for their big moment: The opening of “Les Miserables” at the Byham Theatre on Nov. 2.

When the curtain rises on this “school edition” of the award-winning musical known as “Les Mis,” these talented young actors, singers and musicians will have a chance to shine in this professional production jointly staged by Pittsburgh Musical Theater (PMT) and the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

“The production is the annual collaboration between PMT conservatory students and the CAPA student orchestra,” says Quinn Patrick Shannon, PMT’s conservatory director. “We did it last year with Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid.’ It’s a great collaboration.”

The show will feature approximately 50 young PMT performers on stage and about 50 CAPA student musicians in the orchestra pit.

“If you haven’t heard the CAPA orchestra, they’re incredible — really, really talented,” Shannon says. “And what’s impressive is the students only rehearse for three weeks before two days of tech in the theater and then opening the show.”

“Les Mis” will run from Nov. 2 through Nov. 5, with three evening performances and two matinees. (Get tickets here.)

“It’s a great way for us to share with CAPA and a great way for CAPA to share with PMT,” Shannon says. “And it’s a unique and unmatched opportunity for students in the city to be a part of a professional, fully produced production at the historic Byham Theatre in the Cultural District.”