"Meet the Cast of Les Miserables" blog series #3: Madame Thenardier!

Cara Kennedy, our Madame Thénardier

In “real life”, Cara works at an independent Northshore school in the Advancement Office, working in alumni relations, fundraising, and special event planning. She attended Merrimack College and studied History and French (though she admits to mispronouncing many character names in the show!). Most of her free time is devoted to friends, family, and of course her ACT Family. She has been on the board for ACT since 2010 and does everything from taking notes to planning special events and fundraisers. She is also very proud of her participation in the ACT Jr. Summer Theater Intensive, in which she’s been involved since its inaugural performance (three summers ago) of Les Misérables (School Edition). It's like coming full circle! 

What was your first experience with Les Misérables?

I had heard the songs throughout my life, as most people will have, but my first true experience with the show was when Andover High School performed it, in 2003 I believe. Having graduated just a few years before, I knew many of the cast members. I just remember sitting in the audience, in total awe. I can't remember many details, but I remember this amazing feeling, that I've never forgotten. Ever since then, it has been a dream to be able to perform this show, on stage, and possibly give someone else that memory and feeling. To have that chance... it is absolutely incredible! 

What has it been like to prepare for your role?

My real personality is a lot more like Mary Poppins, so to have to dig deep and find my inner villain... it's pretty fun! That being said, the first rehearsal when I had to be to mean to the little Cosettes, I felt awful! I love working with Steve [Filipiak], who is playing Thénardier. Together we've come up with really fun interactions. He's the perfect partner in crime! Overall, Madame Thénardier is a great character; she's evil enough that you hate her, but you cannot help but laugh at her jokes. 

What about this production excites you the most?

I would have to say the fact that this show has never been performed at the local level, and that we are the first to do it! It's very humbling to know that this is such an epic show, and THE MUSICAL, for so many. To have the privilege to be on stage performing it, words really cannot express how it feels. I also love the fact that there are so many new faces on stage with many of our returning ACT members. We love welcoming new people to the "family," and this show seems to have brought a pretty great group together. 

How has local theatre and performing enriched your life?

Having found ACT four years ago, after a long hiatus from theater since my days at Andover High School, I can honestly say it's really changed my world. I've always loved to sing, but never dreamed after college it would ever happen again on stage. The fact that I am able to do something I love so much, while still having a full time job and adult responsibilities... it's just not something I expected. More so than the chance to be onstage though, are the friendships that have been forged through the process of putting on a show. One of my favorite quotes of all time, is from Kermit the Frog (I LOVE THE MUPPETS!). He said "I have a dream too, but it's about singing and dancing and making people happy. It's the kind of dream that gets better the more people you share it with. And I found a whole group of friends who have the same dream, and that makes us sort of like a family." Well, that pretty much sums up how I feel about ACT and local theater. 

Is there anything else you would like to add?

People should come to see this show for so many reasons. It's an amazing story about redemption, the power of love and forgiveness. I often sit in rehearsals with chills because of the power of the words my cast mates are singing and the story they are telling. If I can still be getting chills after seeing and hearing it for over a month... I can't wait to see what happens when there is a live audience to experience it!

"Meet the Cast of Les Miserables" blog series #2: Meet Enjolras!

David Dodge, our Enjolras

David lives in Hudson, MA and works as a therapist. He admits to not being involved in a show in almost twenty years! He served in the military for three years before working for a bit and pursuing school, eventually earning two Masters Degrees from Boston College. He has been a fan of Les Misérables for over 20 years and, since he was finished with school, jumped at the chance to be part of ACT’s production.

What was your first experience with Les Misérables?

My first experience was seeing the 10^th Anniversary Dream Cast Concert on Channel 2. Then I went to Broadway and saw (and met!) Craig Schulman, who played Jean Valjean. Craig also represented the USA in the special bonus performances of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” and “One Day More” for the 10^th Anniversary Concert —16 different Jean Valjeans from around the world singing in different languages!

What has it been like to prepare for your role?

It is a huge honor to be allowed to portray Enjolras. I find that my time in the military has helped me greatly in conveying the appropriate mindset to the students in convincing them to die for my cause.

What about this production excites you the most?

That I get to play a key role in one of the greatest musicals of all time!

How has local theatre and performing enriched your life?

It is good to have an activity outside of working as a therapist where I can distract my mind from my work and help tell one of the greatest stories of all time.

Welcome to our "Meet the Cast" blog series for our blockbuster fall musical, Les Miserables. 

Amy Wilkins Blanchette, our Fantine

Les Misérables will mark Amy’s 14th production with ACT Theater Company. Amy is a native and current resident of Andover. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre and Minor in Dance from Elon University in North Carolina. When not performing, Amy can usually be found working choreography for many of the ACT Jr. productions or for ACT's summer theater intensive. She is also the Artistic Director for The Andover Youth Services TheatreWorks program and a Mom of three daughters. Favorite past roles (locally) include Peggy Sawyer in 42nd Street, Angel in The Best Whorehouse in Texas, and Dorothy in The Wiz.

What was your first experience with Les Misérables?

My parents first took me to see Les Mis in Boston when I was a kid. I fell in love with the music the moment I heard it. Like every other theatre kid, I always wanted to be Young Cosette on Broadway.

What has it been like to prepare for your role?

I try to put myself in Fantine’s shoes. What would it really be like to have to give my child to someone because I could not care for her? How would I feel if I was sick and had to leave her behind with life so uncertain? Being a mother of three girls has made it easier to feel what that would really be like. At one of the first rehearsals, I broke down crying because these were very heartbreaking thoughts. I couldn’t even get the words out I was so upset. After that rehearsal, I actually had to pull back from the reality of what this all would feel like because it was too much. For this show, my challenge will be working on the balance between making it look real, and not going so far that I can’t keep it together on stage.

What about this production excites you the most?

Just the fact that I get to be in Les Mis!! When I made the decision to move back to Andover and start a family instead of doing theatre professionally, I didn’t think I would be able to continue filling the part of me that loves to be on stage. Then, I found ACT and I realized that I didn’t have to give that up after all! When ACT found out they got the rights to Les Mis, everyone in the company could hardly contain their excitement. There was a HUGE turnout for the auditions! When I got the call that was going to play Fantine, I almost fainted. From the very first rehearsal, the cast sounded AMAZING.  I knew at that moment this was going to be a show I would never forget.

How has local theatre and performing enriched your life?

I started in local theatre in Andover when I was in First Grade. I was a munchkin in The Wizard of Oz with The Merrimack Junior Theatre. I wasn’t as good of a student as some of my friends, but I loved to sing and dance. It was really great to find something that I excelled at. Theatre taught me self-confidence and poise. It taught me how to work as a team to put on an amazing production. The theatre kids were like my extended family. We would cry at the end of every production because we didn’t want it to end. When I joined ACT as an adult, I knew I would still love performing, but what I didn’t expect is that I would meet the most amazing people. I meet new people in every show and they are all so different. We bond through our one common interest—it’s very rewarding. Some of these people have become my very best friends. I seriously cannot imagine my life without them or without having a rehearsal to go to.  It’s like the T-shirt that says “I can’t, I have rehearsal”. That is my life.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I am very lucky to have an amazing husband, Michael, and a family that support me. Life gets pretty crazy with three kids and all of our schedules! Without my family to help me out, I could never balance everything. I am very thankful for them.