Samantha Barks Talks Finding Her Inner Child, Honing Her Vocal Skills, and More in AMELIE

Samantha Barks has returned to the musical stage in a role that has taught her about her voice and helped her to explore her childish side.

"I've enjoyed exploring a softer tone of my voice. Yes, the story is about a quiet young girl who's trying to find her voice, but she's not so much shy or doesn't know how to communicate," Barks says of Berkeley Repertory Theatre's premiere of AMELIE, A NEW MUSICAL, based on the film. "She's more socially isolated, so she has moments where she's singing inside her head. And there are still moments that are "vocal fireworks" even though she might be singing to herself, like an inner frustration."

From the start, the LES MISERABLES film's standout believed the film would do well as a musical, and she says it has been faithful to the film, "I remember the film vividly. It's so vibrant and the story is beautiful, and it seemed to me like something that would translate perfectly into a musical because of her moments of fantasy. When I first heard only two or three songs, the style and tone were exactly how I'd pictured it, and I fell instantly in love with it. It really feels like you're going along her journey and exploring inside her head. If you completely loved the film, you're going to love the musical."

She also says she can relate to her character, because much like Barks herself, Amelie goes out into the world as a young woman independently and finds she needs something more.

"I left home early, when I was 17 or 18, and it's so exciting to be this independent person in this world and you take every moment for yourself. But as you step into your mid-twenties, where I am now, you stop to realize how important it is to connect to people. Yes, it's great to be independent and on your own journey, but also the relationships with family and friends that you create along the way are the ones you take with you forever."

"Amelie comes to Paris to start her new life, and she does good deeds for everybody anonymously and thinks that can be her thing that connects her to other people -- but of course, she's doing them anonymously, so she's not actually connecting with anybody. That personally resonated for me."

When asked how she hopes the audiences will respond to the show, she says, "I hope they feel they've been a child again and watched somebody grow up with them. The journey in Amelie's head is so much fun for me to go through every day, so I hope they feel they've been on a magical journey."

Berkeley Rep presents its 2015-16 season opener, the theatrical world premiere presentation of AMELIE, A NEW MUSICAL, starring LES MISERABLES' Samantha Barks. The show began previews on August 29, opens on Friday, September 11, and runs through Sunday, October 4, 2015.

Amélie captured our hearts in the five-time Academy Award-nominated 2001 French film. Now she comes to the stage in an inventive and captivating new musical directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon, who is known for her work on Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Clybourne Park. With a book by Craig Lucas (An American in Paris, Prelude to Kiss), the musical features a stirring score by Daniel Messé of the band Hem and lyrics by Messé andNathan Tysen (The Burnt Part Boys). Amélie, A New Musical is produced by special arrangement with Aaron Harnick, Triptyck Studios, and SBR Productions.

Samantha Barks' most recent theatre credits include City of Angels, Cabaret, and Oliver! in London's West End, and Chicago at The Hollywood Bowl. She will be joined by Randy Blair (Hipolito), Adam Chanler-Berat (Nino), Alison Cimmet (Amandine/Philomene), Carla Duren (Gina), John Hickok (Raphael/Bretodeaux), Alyse Alan Louis(Georgette/Fluffy/Sylvie), and Paul Whitty (Joseph).

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has grown from a storefront stage to an international leader in innovative theatre. Known for its core values of imagination and excellence, as well as its educated and adventurous audience, the nonprofit has provided a welcoming home for emerging and established artists since 1968. In four decades, four million people have enjoyed nearly 400 shows at Berkeley Rep. These shows have gone on to win five Tony Awards, seven Obie Awards, nine Drama Desk Awards, one Grammy Award, and many other honors. In recognition of its place on the national stage, Berkeley Rep received the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre in 1997. Its bustling facilities - which include the 400-seat Thrust Stage, the 600-seat Roda Theatre, the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, the Osher Studio, and a spacious new campus in West Berkeley - are helping revitalize a renowned city. Learn more at berkeleyrep.org.

Source: THR