"Meet the Cast of Les Miserables" Blog Series #6: Marius

Sam Pazicni, our Marius 

Sam is thrilled to make his ACT Theater Company debut as Marius in this wonderful production of Les Misérables. Past favorites with other companies include Hair (Claude), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Pseudolus, Hysterium), Little Shop of Horrors (Seymour), and Sweeney Todd. Ironically, he’s been “More Miserable” in a production of Forbidden Broadway! Sam lives in Portsmouth, NH and puts his theatre chops to good use every day—as a chemistry professor at the University of New Hampshire.

What was your first experience with Les Misérables?

The cassette tape of the Original Broadway Cast in my walk-man! However, the show didn’t become “alive” for me until I watched the 10^th anniversary concert on PBS. This initiated a cascade of events, including reading the Victor Hugo novel, purchasing other soundtracks, and learning to play “Stars” and “On My Own” on the piano!

What has it been like to prepare for your role?

Preparing the role of Marius has been a fulfilling, educational and sometimes overwhelming experience. My last acting experience was back in January 2009 (Young Buddy in Follies with Ann Arbor Civic Theatre); stepping back onto the stage and working my way through Marius’s emotional journey has been challenging. Luckily, I'm surrounded by a group of incredibly talented individuals that are wonderful at helping me through the process and I'm learning a lot about myself and about Marius along the way.

What about this production excites you the most?

Ohmygosh, where do I even begin? First, it would have to be the fact that I’M MARIUS IN LES MIS. Those lyrics I’ve sung my entire adult life (“Black–the color of despair!”, “In my life… she has burst like the music of angles, the light of the sun…”, “There’s a grief that can’t be spoken…”)—I get to sing those in front of a huge audience with a huge orchestra! Ohmygosh! Orchestra!! I’m a total music geek and so my favorite rehearsal in this process is the sitzprobe. I can’t wait for that! Third, I get to punch Steve (who place Thénardier); who wouldn’t be excited by that?!

How has local theatre and performing enriched your life?

I’ve been a bit of a nomad—I grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania, went to graduate school in Madison, Wisconsin, worked in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and currently reside in coastal New Hampshire. So many starts and stops! Fortunately, community theatre has always been there and quickly given me sets of friendships that I continue to cherish to this day.