"Meet the Cast of Les Miserables" Blog Series #7: Thenardier

Steve Filipiak, our Thénardier

Steve lives in Swampscott. By day he is an Associate Director of Human Resources for Ipsen, a bio-pharmaceutical company.

What was your first experience with Les Misérables?

1988, 10th grade field trip to Boston to see the First National Tour. My teacher tried to tie it to us reading "A Tale of Two Cities", although Les Mis take place about fifty years later. 

What has it been like to prepare for your role?

Surreal. After twenty-five years of rehearsing this show in the shower, I finally get to take it "on stage".

What about this production excites you the most?

Being around 80 other people who have been singing this show in the shower the same amount, if not more, as me. Pretty cool being around that amount of people who are as passionate about this as me.

How has local theatre and performing enriched your life?

It allows me to pursue something I'm passionate about with others who are passionate about the same thing. It is a team sport on stage. Better yet, it gives me an opportunity to show my three boys that it is ok to get up in front of people and sing, dance and act all the while being confident about yourself and who you are.