Pacifica Stories

My favorite musical is Les Misérables. Over two decades ago, a friend purchased a personalized license plate numbered 2460ONE and gave it to me. Les Mis enthusiasts know that 24601 is Jean Valjean’s prison number, which is tattooed on his chest. So of course, I take the plate off my car and carry it with me when I attend performances of Les Misérables. Whether it’s at the West End of London, the Pantages in Los Angeles, New York’s Broadway, or Pacifica’s Main Stage, I have the placard in hand. It is a way to show my fidelity to the production and Hugo’s legacy.

I was excited to attend the Pacifica production and eager to see how teenagers would bring Hugo’s ideas, Boublil’s lyrics, and the sounds of Schonberg to life. I was not disappointed. The performances, staging, design, orchestration, and more were riveting from start to finish. Themes of grace, redemption, friendship, justice, love, and vengeance permeated the show. The stunning voices did not disappoint. The cast and crew honored the Les Mis journey throughout the night, and I was deeply moved.

As the curtain closed and the cast stood before the packed house, I raised my 2460ONE plate above the crowd. It caught the eye of Colin Comer—our Jean Valjean. Colin ripped open his shirt, his bare chest displaying the tag 2460ONE, and smiled at me. At that moment, I knew something extraordinary had taken place. I knew that Victor Hugo, Les Misérables fans and cast worldwide, and our little group were honored. They stepped into a legacy and pushed it forward. That night, I heard the people sing. Bravo PacArts!!!

Previously published in The Wolf Post.