Montréal native Alex Gaumond is returning home to take on the iconic role of Jean Valjean in the upcoming Quebec production of the beloved musical Les Misérables, set to premiere June 20th at the Théâtre Saint-Denis.
The musical, created in 1980 by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Alain Boublil, and Jean-Marc Natel based on Victor Hugo’s novel, has captivated audiences worldwide, having been performed in 22 languages across 57 countries and earning over sixty awards. This new production promises to bring the timeless story to a fresh audience.
The show previously enjoyed a six-month run at the Théâtre Saint-Denis in 1998, playing to sold-out crowds. This latest iteration is produced by Juste pour rire in association with the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, SPJL Productions, and France TV Distribution.
Alex Gaumond will portray Jean Valjean.
Photo : Juste pour rire / Eric Carriere
The production will feature a cast of over 50 performers, including 16 musicians and 37 actors. Klara Martel-Laroche will play Fantine, Debbie Lynch White will take on the role of Mme. Thénardier, Dominique Côté will portray Javert, Nathan Bois-McDonald will be Marius, and Éric Paulhus will play Combeferre.
Benoit Landry is serving as the resident director, working closely with the original director, Ladislas Chollat, while David Terriault is the musical director. The production will involve more than 100 artists, craftspeople, and professionals throughout Quebec.
The cast gave a preview of their performances to the media on Tuesday, performing four songs. Gaumond already impressed with his powerful voice and commanding presence in the role of Jean Valjean, a character he’s dreamed of playing since his teenage years.
The cast of the musical “Les Misérables” gave a first performance to the media on Tuesday at the Théâtre Saint-Denis.
Photo : Juste pour rire / Eric Carriere
A Homecoming for Alex Gaumond
Born in Montréal to French-speaking parents, Gaumond moved to the United Kingdom in 1997 to study at the Guildford School of Acting, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in 2000.
Relatively unknown to Quebec audiences, he has built a notable career across the Atlantic, including roles as Galileo in the musical We Will Rock You, based on the repertoire of Queen, and Emmett in the London production of Legally Blonde.
His role in Les Misérables will mark his first professional stage performance in Canada, and his first professional show performed in French. And for his Quebec debut, he couldn’t have asked for a better role than Jean Valjean.
“The first show I ever did in my life, at Cégep Édouard-Montpetit, was Les Misérables. At 17 years old, I played Enjolras, and that show is what gave me the desire to create a career out of it.”
Thirty years later, Gaumond is coming full circle, revisiting the piece that sparked his passion, this time in the role of Jean Valjean—a monumental part that presents a significant vocal challenge.
“I’ve played a lot of roles in my career that were very demanding, notably Galileo in We Will Rock You with all the songs by Queen. That was very difficult to sing,”
he explains.
“Les Misérables represents [the same kind of] challenge, so I hired one of the best vocal coaches in England to grant me the necessary tools.”
Klara Martel-Laroche, From Quel talent! to Les Misérables
Gaumond will share the stage with Dominique Côté as Javert, and Klara Martel-Laroche, who will portray Fantine.
The mezzo-soprano, trained at the Montréal Conservatory of Music, has been gaining momentum since her acclaimed appearance last year on the Noovo show Quel talent!, where she reached the semi-finals.
Singer and actress Klara Martel-Laroche will play the role of Fantine.
Photo : Juste pour rire / Eric Carriere
Audiences may also recognize her from her 2022 performance as Maria in the musical The Sound of Music. Like her co-star, her beginnings were also marked by Les Misérables.
“When I was a teenager, I played Cosette. To play [her mother] Fantine now is a dream come true. I really wanted to be in this show,”
the actress explains, expressing her enthusiasm. “I’m meeting people I admire and working with them!”
A Musical Debut for Debbie Lynch-White
Accustomed to both the small and big screens, actress Debbie Lynch-White also says she is fulfilling a lifelong dream with this first role in a musical. She will star alongside Roger Larue as the Thénardiers.
“Olivia Coleman played her on TV, as did Helena Bonham Carter in the film and Karine Fortin in the latest production at the theatre. To be able to join that lineage of artists who have played Mme. Thénardier is a dream. And I’m very interested in the character,”
she explains.
Actress Debbie Lynch-White is realizing a childhood dream by playing in her first musical.
Photo : Avanti Groupe / Karine Dufour
The Thénardiers are little scoundrels, very dishonest people who are made fun of. But what’s captivating is that Mme. Thénardier is a very unhappy woman too. That’s where we strive to find the humanity in the character.
While audiences are familiar with Lynch-White’s vocal talents, having notably played La Bolduc in film, the scale of the Les Misérables production is awe-inspiring, she says.
“It’s a task that can be daunting, but I’ve put everything in place to enjoy it. […] I think it’s really great, because I feel like I’m achieving what Debbie, in tenth grade, didn’t even dare to hope for.”
Les Misérables will be presented from June 20th to July 5th at the Théâtre Saint-Denis in Montréal, and from August 7th to 16th at the Grand Théâtre de Québec.
Due to the overwhelming demand for tickets—25,000 sold before the cast announcement—Juste pour rire has added 12 additional performances in Montréal (July 8th to 19th) and 6 in Québec City (August 18th to 22nd).
