A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR

When I learned that I would be coming to Laura Secord in June of last year to teach Drama, I knew that it would also mean directing this year’s school musical. At the time, I did not yet know what that musical would be. When Ms. K. Sacco and I had our first phone call after I accepted the position, she told me that they wanted to do something big for Laura Secord’s 60th anniversary. She told me that they had chosen Les Misérables. Then she asked me if I still wanted the job.

Staging one of the world’s most famous and demanding musicals—and arguably one of the most musically and technically challenging shows of the last 50 years—certainly satisfied the “big” requirement that Ms. Sacco had in mind. My immediate question was a simple one: Do we have the kids for that?

I can say wholeheartedly that from the moment I stepped foot into Laura Secord and met the talented, brave, and deeply driven students who make up the cast and crew of this production, I knew that we did. The passion, energy, and enthusiasm for the Arts are alive and well within these halls, and there is no doubt in my mind that you will see that reflected onstage tonight. We’ve been rehearsing, talking, thinking, and singing about this show since the first day of school, and we are so excited to show it to you.

Les Misérables, at its heart, is a timeless story of redemption, integrity, and courage. Jean Valjean must reinvent himself in order to survive and learn to forgive himself for the so-called mistakes of his past. The students and revolutionaries who take to the streets of Paris must learn how to stand up and fight for what they believe in. Cosette, Éponine, and Fantine each face their own challenges for the first time—love, heartbreak, and loss.

These characters, and the challenges they face, are not so different from the world our students inhabit in high school today. Each student at Laura Secord, over the four years they spend here, goes through their own individual “revolution.” It is during high school that they begin to discover who they want to be in an ever-changing world, how they want to live their lives, and what truly matters to them.

The stories written into the hallways of this school—over the past sixty years—are echoed in the songs and scenes of Les Misérables. That is what makes this production not only a powerful and ambitious choice for Laura Secord’s 60th anniversary, but also a deeply fitting one. We wanted to celebrate and honour the students here today, and all of those who have come before us.

As you enjoy tonight’s performance, whether you were once a Patriot or are just here to support one of your own, we hope you’ll be strong and stand with us. After 60 great years of Laura Secord, we are excited to celebrate the past and the future of this amazing school.

Do you hear the people sing?

Mr. C. Baker

Director