Les Mis Houston TUTS cast

It's sad to see TUTS still rarely casts locals in any leading roles. It's the Equity Catch-22. Actors work their asses off to get an Equity card so they can be compensated fairly and be eligible for benefits, but are competing for spots in a handful of theatres and even then are lucky to be considered for a featured role at best.

---

Oh, I grew up in Houston and know TUTS inside and out. I'm just saying with the abundance of talent in Houston, it's a shame they cast leads outside the local talent pool. I agree that NY actors would love to work there, but other than the odd celebrity to generate ticket sales, there is no reason why TUTS shouldn't be giving leading roles to Houston actors. I've known several actors to give up their Equity cards in frustration due to the lack of faith in their own actors, many of which TUTS trained.

---

I saw Rivette as Fantine at Sacramento Music Circus. She was generic, but good.

---

Oh, wow, I LOVED Rob Hunt as Javert. His "Stars" was the best I've heard. And he worked well with Rob Evan's Valjean, so it's great to see them together in the show again.

Actually, there are a LOT of cast members who were also in the show when I saw it at Wolf Trap. Anderson Davis as Marius and Ed Watts as Enjolras were both in the show (and very good!) and I recognize at least three of the ensemble members.

Good luck in the show, Neverandy!

---

Hi, Andrew.

---

"there is no reason why TUTS shouldn't be giving leading roles to Houston actors."

Since TUTS wouldn't have to pay to house Houston actors, it would be cheaper to hire them... which is exactly what TUTS would do if they truly were on par with the NY talent getting hired. Your heart is in the right place, but your logic is flawed. Every theater company is dollar conscious and they wouldn't be spending the extra money to fly in and house out-of-state actors unless they were the best actors for the roles.

---

hello Lizzie.

---

<3 Andrea Rivette!

---

Yawn. It's TUTS, who cares? Presenting bland and safe productions for the past number of years. The best thing about going to a TUTS production is going to The Hobby Center.

Thank you but I'll go to: The Alley, Stages Rep, Main Street, DiverseWorks, Ensemble Theatre, UH Theatre, Rice Theatre, etc... before I go to a TUTS show.

---

Updated On: 2/27/09 at 06:56 PM

Agreed, Caroline. TUTS has produced an exciting piece of theatre since at least 2002 (that's as far back as I remember off the top of my head).

The tour of Les Mis was just in Houston about three years ago. Rent was just here last year, and it's coming back for another weekend this season.

I have no reason to pay the money to see a TUTS show. The tours are usually okay quality, but they're never exciting pieces of theatre (this year Color Purple, Legally Blonde, Rent), and the TUTS produced shows are underwhelming and disappointing. The cast members they bring in from New York are usually miscast (the one notable exception being Max von Essen as Tony in West Side Story, but even he couldn't save that show).

Other Houston companies are producing good-quality shows for less, like Masquerade (Parade, Chess, Lucky Stiff, Jane Eyre), Stages (Grey Gardens, Baby, Spitfire Grill), and Main Street (Light in the Piazza and Caroline or Change). Theatre Lab has of late been doing new, less well-known musicals (Bright Lights Big City and Nursery School Musical).

My grandmother loves TUTS. She likes to go see musicals there and she loves them, no matter what. She loves all the flashy sets and costumes and high-energy dance numbers. I took her to see Parade at Masquerade- she said it was boring because there wasn't any "dancing or shiny costumes or high-kicking showgirls." She thought Legally Blonde was a lot of fun.

TUTS has its audience; I choose not to be part of it.

---

ha ha! While I'm sure it's now obvious who I am, I have no idea who Lizzie is!

It's ok, when I said Andrew I didn't mean you, but I like you anyway.

---

Obviously I'm heavily biased :) but since TUTS brings in Large National Tours all year, doesn't it make sense that they populate their self-produced shows with Broadway/New York people as well? Right or wrong ,the subscription buyers certainly take those things into consideration.

---

Updated On: 2/28/09 at 12:29 PM