VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Les Mis Opening at Landmark Theatre
Jonah Weintraub: Well tonight a slice of Broadway is opening right here in Central New York.
Nurielle Auguste: NCC News Reporter Ilana Epstein joins us now in downtown Syracuse with the details before the curtain goes up. Hey Ilana.
Ilana Epstein: Hey there Nurielle and Jonah, it’s looking and feeling absolutley wonderful here tonight. The weather tonight is just perfect as I’m sure Charlie told you. But it’s also the perfect night for the opening of Les Mis, right here behind me at the Landmark Theatre just about five minutes from the NCC Studios. The show opens at 7:30 tonight in just a few hours so people are going to be lining up pretty soon. But I have to say the energy in the air, the excitement is just incredible, you can feel it everywhere in Syracuse.
Beth Bernardone: It makes you laugh it makes you cry it makes you happy and it’s a great feeling.
Epstein: There’s something exciting about Syracuse at this time of year and no…. it’s not just the changing of the leaves.
Bernardone: It’s just an absolutely beautiful show.
Epstein: She’s talking about Les Mis. The award-winning musical that many people are a fan of.
Blake Gatison: I love the story you know.
Pat Jones: I love all the music from there I have the CD and just all those songs are great.
Epstein: Lucky for these Syracuse residents, Les Mis is opening at the Landmark Theatre tonight. And the cast is performing their 800th show. Ryan Gardner is the production stage manager who travels with the cast and crew to every city. He says that the 16 hours that it takes to load the 11 tractor trailer trucks is well worth it.
Ryan Gardner: Seeing people’s faces when we come out the stage door knowing this show has impacted them. It’s pretty cool with such a legendary show like Les Mis that we’re able to have those generational ties.
Epstein: President and CEO of visit Syracuse Danny Liedka also emphasized the economic benefit that the show has.
Danny Liedka: It will drive people from afar, especially from Canada. The choice between going to see the show in Toronto versus Syracuse, it’s probably a third of the price to come to Syracuse.
Epstein: Hotels aren’t the only thing to get something out of it. Local restaurants benefit as well.
Gatison: You can go to Oh My Darling and get a cup of espresso before you come. There’s phenomenal restaurants to eat at before you get there.
Jones: Probably going to Oh My Darling before the show.
Epstein: The residents, the crew…
Gardner: I can tell you I know the words to the entire show.
Epstein: Everyone is excited for Les Mis.
Epstein: Yeah guys, everyone is so excited for this show. Everyone I spoke with today had a smile on their face. Now I know me personally, I will be buying a ticket and going to this show. I mean how could you miss it. I hope you guys will be joining me, but that’s all I’ve got right now. Reporting live from the Landmark Theatre in Syracuse, Ilana Epstein, NCC News.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — Les Misérables opened at the Landmark Theatre on Tuesday night, and it’s safe to say that many people in the city of Syracuse are excited. The show, which many people say is a larger production than most, brings in a cast and crew of around 90 people which includes, musicians, guardians, tech crew and more.
Ryan Gardner, the production stage manager, says that it takes around 16 hours in each city to load 11 tractor-trailer trucks worth of equipment, including everything that is seen on stage. While it’s a lot of work, he loves it.
“Seeing people’s faces when we come out the stage door knowing this show has impacted them… it’s pretty cool with such a legendary show like Les Mis that we’re able to have those generational ties,” he said.
Local residents love seeing shows of this caliber. Pat Jones is a Syracuse resident who often attends Landmark Theatre musicals. She told NCC News that she is most excited for the rotating stage.
“I love all the music from there. I have the CD and just all those songs are great,” Jones said.
While local residents will be enjoying the show, so will tourists. CEO and President of Visit Syracuse, Danny Liedka says that people will come to see the show from far away, even from places like Canada.
“The choice between going to see the show in Toronto versus Syracuse, it’s probably a third of the price to come to Syracuse,” he told NCC News.
Not only will those tourists be staying in hotels, but they’ll also be going to local restaurants near the theatre. And local residents will be joining them.
“I would say probably the ambiance around the city. You can go to Oh My Darling and get an espresso before. There’s phenomenal restaurants to eat at before you get there,” said Syracuse resident Blake Gatison.
Les Misérables will be playing at the Landmark Theatre until Oct. 27, and there are still tickets available. Head to the Landmark Theatre website for more information.