Nick Cartell’s journey with the Tony Award-winning musical Les Misérables started in 2017 when, by chance, a role opened up and he started the audition process.
“It was quite a process. I went for five auditions and callbacks and here we are now,” says Cartell who plays Jean Valjean, a French convict looking for redemption. “They have to put you through the works to be sure. It’s a massive role, a big undertaking vocally, physically, and emotionally.”
Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Misérables, on stage at Altria Theater December 2nd through 7th, tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. It has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.
Les Misérables is a huge production. The show travels with 11 tractor trailers containing over 1,000 costumes, 120 wigs, and hundreds of props. It takes approximately 21 hours to load into the theater, with the help of 61 local stagehands.
He Dreamed a Dream That Came True
Cartell, who has been on tour with the show since 2022, considers Jean Valjean to be his dream role.
“This is a character I connect with,” says Cartell, an Arizona native. “He has a sense of trying to make others feel better, feel included. He is a man that is broken in a way, but once we get into the show, we see him trying to figure out how to make the lives of people he comes in contact with better. I connect with that — what can I do in my life to help my fellow man in some shape or form.”
The role can be all consuming, he adds. “It’s a myth that we only work three hours a night,” he says. “For me, I am warming up five to six hours a day before the show. It takes about nine hours a day to be able to do what I do every night. It does take a toll physically.”
In that regard, Cartell goes to the gym for about an hour every day. He does cardio three to four times a week.
“We have to lift people, carry people through the sewers, lift carts, climb barricades, and I get thrown to my knees a lot, punched, and we fight physically,” he says. “I have to make sure my body is prepared for that. I want to give, and I need to give 100%. You can’t walk in there and do 50%. There is no hiding in Les Mis. If I am not 100%, I can’t do the show.”
An Emotional Ride
Cartell can’t and doesn’t leave his character at the stage door. “I use the frustration in my life and channel that into Jean Valjean,” he says.
For him, there are personal connections to the show. His mother passed away a day before his final callback. He had to go into that callback knowing she had just passed.
“This is what she wanted. She told me, ‘This is my dream for you.’ I think of the sacrifices she made when she was having chemo. I channel all of that into Jean Valjean,” he says.
Now that Cartell has a daughter of his own, he’s constantly thinking about the sacrifices he can make for her. “It’s all come full circle,” he says. “She is the best part of my life. I got so choked up over Jean Valjean’s adopted daughter, Cosette, in the musical. It’s all so connected to my personal life.”
When audiences see the show, many have emotional moments like Cartell does. “They don’t know when it will hit them,” he says. “It brings on tears. It’s therapeutic in a way to have these moments. It gives us a chance to have the musical as an outlet.”
A Timeless Classic
The show, which opened on Broadway in 1987, is as relevant today as it was then.
“It speaks to every generation because it’s about a group of people that are fighting to be heard. There will always be people fighting to have their voices heard because they feel like no one is listening to them,” he says. “It has great cultural significance. Last year, it was part of the opening ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in Paris.”
People will walk away humming the tunes — “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” and “Bring Him Home” to name a few — and take home the message of doing right by your fellow man, he adds.
“And you can carry that into your community and hopefully make the world a better place.”
Les Misérables is on stage at Altria Theater December 2nd through 7th. Tickets are available at altriatheater.com. Take note of Altria’s new bag policy when you visit their website.
