Les Miserables

Prompt - Thomas G.: Talk about a piece of media (book, movie, musical, etc) that you feel has influenced your life in some way

I was about 5 or 6 when my dad played me the first musical I ever listened to: Les Misérables. I still remember the first time the horns played the first two notes. My brother and I were in the backseat of the car, backing out of the driveway when my dad plugged in his phone and started playing it. Look down! I thought they were telling me to look down, but all I saw was my feet and the car floor. My dad would pause the music to explain what was going on in the story. It may have not been the most appropriate material for a 6-year-old, let alone my 3-year-old brother, but the music was truly legendary. I thought old Cosette was a fat girl who was trying to impress people by singing. My favorite character was Eponine (eh-pohn-ine). Or how I call her Eponin (eh-pen-in). The next musical we listened to was The Phantom of the Opera. I thought Christine was a fat girl who was trying to impress people by singing. My imagination wasn't as original back then I guess.

The national tour of Les Misérables was also the first professional musical I saw on stage (it was at the Mahila Jackson Theatre in New Orleans) that I remember. That production changed my favorite character to Gavroche. I started to love singing and acting. My first big role in a play was –– you'll never guess –– Gavroche when we did Les Misérables at school. That show has been the first in many areas of my favorite thing in the world. I listen to a new musical every week. I am part of every show I can be. My love for theater all started that day in the car, listening to Les Misérables.