My guest on this episode is Samantha Hill who played Cosette in the 2013 Toronto production and 2014 Broadway revival of Les Miserables. 

Originally from Winnipeg, Canada, Samantha Hill has called New York home for over 8 years. Following a successful acting career in Canada, Samantha moved to New York to star as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. She then went on to join the original Broadway cast in the revival of Les Mis as Cosette. Since then, Samantha has starred off-Broadway and in regional theatres across the US in numerous productions including South Pacific and The Mousetrap.  Selected Canadian credits include Christmas at Pemberley, August:Osage Counry (RMTC) Gracie, (PTE), Cats, Beauty and the Beast, Annie (Rainbow Stage), The Light in the Piazza(Patrick Street Productions), Chicago (Mayfield) and Les Mis (Mirvish Productions). She studied acting at the University of Winnipeg as well as at the prestigious University of Alberta Acting Conservatory where she received her BFA in Acting. Samantha loves coaching musical theatre students, working to encourage and build their overall confidence as performers. 

Samantha not only had some great stories about her time in Les Mis and her unique approach to Cosette’s character, but we also had insightful conversations about mental health and self care for performers. Plus we discussed which Hogwarts house Cosette would be sorted into!

Follow Samantha on Instagram and Twitter @samjeannehill
Visit her website: www.samanthajeannehill.com

Thanks for listening and be sure to follow me on Instagram @beyondthebarricadepodcast!

My guest on this episode is Gavin James whose most recent appearance in Les Mis was as the Factory Foreman in the 2019 All Star Staged Concert. Prior to that he was in the West End cast for three years starting in 2008, was part of the 25th Anniversary concert at the O2, and even did vocals for the Les Mis movie!

Obviously we had a lot to talk about! I absolutely loved getting to hear Gavin’s perspective as someone who has been part of some the biggest events and milestones in the show’s history!

Thanks for listening and be sure to follow me on Instagram @beyondthebarricadepodcast!

I am so excited for you all to hear this episode featuring Arbender Robinson who was an ensemble member and cover Marius in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Miserables. 

Arbender has been steadily working on Broadway for the last 17 years including roles in Hairspray, Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Hair, Ragtime, Disney’s The Lion King, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Les Miserables, Shuffle Along, In Transit, and Book Of Mormon. He is a Chicago area native and a proud graduate of Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI.

We dove deep into the music, characters, and story of Les Mis and he even had a pretty awesome revelation about his own relationship to the show while we recorded this. He also shared some incredible insights about his experience as a working actor and I could listen to him talk for hours so I’ll definitely have him on again!

Follow Arbender on Instagram @arbender2
Arbender is a vocal coach at New York Vocal Coaching!

Thanks for listening and be sure to follow me on Instagram @beyondthebarricadepodcast!