Local actor Gabe Brown returns in touring ‘Les Misérables’

BOB ABELMAN | COLUMNIST columnists@cjn.org

It doesn’t happen often, but occasionally a small sliver of paper falls out of the playbill you’ve just been handed as you take your seat at the theater. On it is the announcement that a character normally played by a particular performer will be played by someone else.

In the national tour of “Les Misérables,” which is in Cleveland through Nov. 18, that someone could very well be Gabe Brown.

Brown, who was raised in University Heights and celebrated a bar mitzvah at Temple Israel Ner Tamid in Mayfield Heights, graduated in 2016 from Baldwin Wallace University in Berea. He is an ensemble member and principal understudy by profession.

The principal understudy is a member of the on-stage ensemble and replaces one of the marquee actors in the case of illness, injury or a much-needed day off.

Brown, who has been in the touring

Touring ‘Les Misérables’

WHERE: Connor Palace Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleveland

WHEN: Through Nov. 18

TICKETS & INFO: $10-$125, call 216-241-6000 or visit playhousesquare.com company’s ensemble since its first performance in September 2017, plays Joly – one of the ill-fated revolutionary schoolboys known in Victor Hugo’s novel as Les Amis de l’ABC – and is one of three understudies for Marius, the show’s romantic lead.

“I was auditioning for ‘Miss Saigon’ and apparently impressed the production team, who was also producing ‘Les Mis,’” said Brown by telephone during the show’s five-day engagement in North Charleston, S.C. “They pretty much fasttracked me through the audition process and then the tour began. It’s been an incredible ride.”

Brown has performed as Marius a dozen times across the tour’s 400-plus performances and only after three rehearsals of his scenes and one full rehearsal run of the show with the entire cast.

“I didn’t get to actually play the role until 3½ months later,” he said. “Such is life on the road.”

Unlike most “drop-ins,” the actor playing Marius gave Brown a heads-up of a day off so he could invite his parents to Seattle to see his debut in the role.

Bob Abelman covers professional theater and cultural arts for the Cleveland Jewish News. Follow Bob at Facebook.com/BobAbelman3 or visit cjn.org/Abelman. 2018 Ohio Media Editors best columnist.

Forget Baghdad

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2

JMiller Band concert, 8 p.m., Music Box, 1148 Main Ave., Cleve. $10 adv, $12 day of show. For more info, visit bit.ly/2NQ00jP.

convergence-continuum’s “THIS MUCH (or An Act of Violence Towards the Institution of Marriage), 8 p.m., Liminis Theater, 2438 Scranton Rd., Cleve. $8-$15 at convergence-continuum.org or 216-687-0074. Thru Nov. 3.

WHY? “Alopecia” 10-year anniversary show, 7:30 p.m., Beachland Ballroom, 15711 Waterloo Rd., Cleve. $16-$18 at bit.ly/2OYfOlf.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes, 7:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at playwrightslocal.org or call 216-302-8856. Thru Nov. 18.

Horns & Things concert, 8:30 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. Hts. $20 at nighttowncleveland.com.

“A View From the Bridge” performance, 7:30 p.m., Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleve. $20, $5 for students at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

River Side Valley Players Improv “RSVP Comes Clean,” 7 p.m., CVLT, 40 River St., Chagrin Falls. $10 at cvlt.org or 440-247-8955.

River Side Valley Players Improv “RSVP Gets Dirty,” 9:30 p.m., CVLT, 40 River St., Chagrin Falls. $10 at cvlt.org or 440-247-8955.

Valley Art Center’s 47th Juried Art Show open house, 6-8 p.m., VAC, 155 Bell St., Chagrin Falls. Show runs thru Dec. 12. Free and open to the public. For more info, visit valleyartcenter.org.

“Made of Clay” art exhibition, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., The Gallery at Lakeland Community College, 7700 Clocktower Dr., Kirtland. Free. For more info, contact Mary Urbas at 440-525-7029.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” performance, 8 p.m., Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Tickets at 330-562-1818 or auroracommunitytheatre.com. Thru Nov. 17.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

CWRU University Chorale and Case Men’s Glee Club performance, 8 p.m., Church of the Covenant, 11205 Euclid Ave., Cleve. For more info, visit music.cwru.edu.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 7:30 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 3 convergence-continuum’s “THIS MUCH (or An Act of Violence Towards the Institution of Marriage), 8 p.m., Liminis Theater, 2438 Scranton Rd., Cleve. $8-$15 at convergence-continuum.org or 216-687-0074. Thru Nov. 3.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes,

7:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at playwrightslocal.org or call 216-302-8856.

Thru Nov. 18.

Sammy DeLeon Latin Jazz Sextet concert, 8:30 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. $15 at nighttowncleveland.com.

“A View From the Bridge” performance, 7:30 p.m., Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., Cleve. $20, $5 for students at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 1:30-7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” performance, 8 p.m., Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Tickets at auroracommunitytheatre. com or 330-562-1818. Thru Nov. 17.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 7:30 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4

“OUR VOICES: DEMOCRACY RE:visited” performance, 7 p.m., Maltz Performing Arts Center, 1855 Ansel Rd., Cleve. Free, RSVPs required at 216-368-6062 or case.edu/maltzcenter.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes, 2:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at playwrightslocal.org or call 216-302-8856.

Thru Nov. 18.

“Paris Underground-Sunday Jazz Series” concert, 5 p.m., Paris Room, 7 N. Franklin St., Chagrin Falls. $55 at chagrinarts.org or 440-247-9700.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 1 and 6:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“The Addams Family: A New Musical Comedy” performance, 3 p.m., Aurora Community Theatre, 115 E. Pioneer Trail, Aurora. Tickets at auroracommunitytheatre. com or 330-562-1818. Thru Nov. 17.

Artsyism Speaks benefiting Northeast Ohio Autism Speaks event, noon-4 p.m., 3620 Perkins Ave., Cleve. Free.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 3 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 5

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

CWRU Collegium Musicum performance, 7:30 p.m., Harkness Chapel, 11200 Bellflower Rd., Cleve. For more info, visit music.cwru.edu.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

How To Submit

Calendar listings appearing in The Arts should be submitted at least 14 days prior to publication date. Send to calendar@cjn.org. Questions? Contact Bob Jacob, managing editor, at 216-342-5207 or bjacob@cjn.org.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8

2018-2019 Cleveland Orchestra Music Study Group series, 1:15-2:45 p.m., CCPL Orange branch, 31975 Chagrin Blvd., Pepper Pike. For more info, visit the library, call the Orchestra’s Education & Community Programs office at 216-231-7355 or visit clevelandorchestra.com. Prices vary on series length, $50-$100.

Saucy Brew Works BluesTime Concert Series presents Toronzo Cannon, 8 p.m., Music Box, 1148 Main Ave., Cleve. For more info, visit musicboxcle.com/bluestime.

Jeff Lorber Fusion concert, 7 and 9 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. $40 at nighttowncleveland.com.

“Les Miserables” theatrical performance, 7:30 p.m., Connor Palace, 1615 Euclid Ave., Cleve. Tickets at playhousesquare.org or 216-241-6000. Thru Nov. 18.

“Grand Gestures” large paintings by Christine Ries and Doreen Grasso exhibition, 8 a.m.-6 p.m., 200 Public Square, Cleve.

“A Day of Absence” performance, 7:30 p.m., Arena Theatre, 2355 E. 89 St., Cleve. $25-$40 at 216-795-7077 or karamuhouse.org. Thru Nov. 18.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9

Tri-C Jazzfest “Flying Home” series: Phillip Jones concert, 8:30 p.m., Nighttown, 12383 Cedar Rd., Cleve. $10 at nighttowncleveland.com.

Twin-bill performances of “Above and Beyond” by Faye Sholiton and “The Silence of Dr. and Mrs. Caligari” by Robert Hawkes, 7:30 p.m., Creative Space at Waterloo Arts, 397 E. 156th St., Cleve. $12-$18 at