45°
The countdown for Les Miserables, Norwalk High Schools spring musical begins. Hell week is over. Dress rehearsals are on Tuesday and Thursday. All of this, of course, is in preparation for opening night this Friday.
As with all of Norwalks school musicals, there is a tremendous amount of hard work that goes into these shows--countless hours of rehearsal and a community of students and parents coming together to work on sets, props, costumes and promotion. This year, however, the anticipation and emotion around the play is heightened. This is the last musical before Jeff Smith, Norwalk High School band director and Deborah Block-Cutuli, choreographer, retire. Les Miserables was selected because it is Mr. Smiths favorite production and aptly, it is an emotional powerhouse of a play. As one student said, We owe it to them to make it great. This week, The Daily Norwalk is doing a series of profiles of the cast and crew with interesting behind the scene stories.
Siblings Share Stage for Les Mis
Gina and John Cunsolo spend a lot of time together these days. Not only are the Norwalk High students playing lead roles in Les Mis, but they are also sister and brother. At a recent rehearsal they took a break to talk about what its like to be in the same play as siblings. Their answers were full of affectionate teasing. I dont ever get a break from him, says Gina, a senior. Its sometimes a headache because shes a year older and she nags me like a second mother, says John, a junior, grinning at his big sister. The Cunsolos say that their respective roles highlight their strengths. John is able to show off his singing voice as Jean Valjean and Gina is able to showcase her theatrical talents at Madame Thenadier, the inn owner.
Music definitely runs in this family. John and Gina come from a family of musicians going back many generations, and their father is also a singer. Music is a big part of our family. We are all always singing, says Gina who with her brother and father sings regularly at church on Sundays.
John and Gina are unique because both play lead roles in the play, but they are certainly not the only siblings in the cast. Three Bonebrake sisters ranging in age from 17 to 7 are performing in the play together. Emily, a senior plays a prostitute and Sarah, a junior and Caroline, 7 are part of the ensemble. Les Mis uses students from middle school and elementary school to play younger parts. Emily and Sarah love sharing the musical experience with their little sister, Caroline. Im a senior so I dont get to spend as much time with her as I like, so this is really special for me, says Emily. Caroline is the youngest of the seven Bonebrake siblings. She feels very cool, part of the all the jokes."
Music is also a big part of the Bonebrake family. My Dad always has a guitar around his shoulder and plays in a couple of jazz and rock bands, says Emily. The older sisters, who also play violin, practice singing together at home and, of course, share a little backstage gossip. Since we are in different grades we know different people. Theres so much to talk about, says Sarah.
Eloise Libre, a senior who plays a prostitute, is sharing the stage with her seventh grade siblings, Max and Margo, who are in the ensemble. Its a really nice family experience, says Eloise. "It gives them a preview of what it is like to be in high school and what to look forward to."
Suzi Pettibone, the music director of the play, says that she sometimes forgets who is whose sibling. They are their own people. Each one is unique. It really doesnt occur to me.
This years performances will be on April 30, May 1, 7, 8, 14 and 15 at 8:00 p.m. in the Norwalk High School Auditorium. There will be a special matinee performance on Sunday, May 2 at 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available at a cost of $12.00 for adults, $10.00 for students and senior citizens. Ticket Order Forms are available at the Norwalk High School front office or on the web at www.norwalkhighmusical.com. You can also purchase tickets at 6:30 p.m. each night of the play.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
