My favorite musical by far is Les Miserables. We’ve seen this show many times, watched multiple movies, and read the book over and over. We even listen to the music in the car on long roadtrips. Sharing it with our little ones is a bit tougher, though, because of the content and language. We end up skipping quite a few songs, and we haven’t let them see any of the movies.
That’s why we were so excited to see South Valley Youth Theater presenting a more child friendly version of Les Miserables. Best of all, they managed to do this without losing the content. The production included the songs we love so much, but Master of the House, for example, was cleaned up a bit so we didn’t have to cover our boys’ ears.
The play still had all the heart (and tears) of the original production. From Eponine’s heart-breaking, “On My Own” to Valjean’s poignant, “Bring Him Home”, the 18 years and younger cast did a great show. As always at the South Valley Youth Theater, we were blown away by the level of talent on stage. We were especially impressed with little Gavroche. He was only 10 years old, but was very confident singing and acting.
We have seen other shows performed by the South Valley Youth Theater (Annie and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), and we enjoyed both of them very much. They perform in the outdoor Alder Amphitheater at SLCC. The shows are always well choreographed, the costumes great, and it’s a very family friendly environment. We especially like the $1 concessions.
If you’d like to share Les Miserables show with your little ones, this is the perfect opportunity. They can enjoy the music without the language, and the adult themes tend to go right over their heads. The show runs through August 11. For more info, visit their site: South Valley Youth Theater.
Tips for Families
- Bring a blanket or pillows to sit on. There are benches, but a little comfort is nice for the entire play.
- You can bring your own snacks and water.
- Concessions are cheap if you’d like to buy candy bars or soda for $1.
- The amphitheater is outside, so dress for the weather.
