BWW Interviews: Betsy Morgan Talks LES MISERABLES, Fantine and Life on Tour

Me: How did you get into theatre?

Betsy Morgan: I actually started working professionally when I was a kid in Chicago. So, I started really young. The very first thing I did was CAROUSEL at the High School in my district. I was, I think, eight or nine and got cast in the High School production as one of the Snow Children. Then, after that, I auditioned for one of the professional theatres in Chicago, and kind of started working in that circuit for a bit.

Me: You said you got started professionally as a kid, but when did you know this was the profession you wanted to pursue?

Betsy Morgan: That early. It wasn't that I decided I wanted to do it, I just never thought about anything else. You know, there was never really a question.

Me: Is there a story behind how you came to be involved in this production of LES MISERABLES?

Betsy Morgan: Yeah. I was actually performing in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC on Broadway at the time, and the idea of leaving a successful show like that to pack up and go on tour, I wasn't sure if that the right thing to do or not. But after talking with the creative team and hearing the amazing ideas that they had about this new production, I knew it was kind of a no brainer. I know that a lot of my castmates went through very extensive audition processes for this show and my audition process was very simple. I auditioned once, and I came back later, I think it was the same day, to sing for Claude-Michel [Schönberg], and I knew within 24 hours.

Me: The current touring production of LES MISERABLES is different from the last one that came through Houston. What changes can audiences look forward to?

Betsy Morgan: Well, what we've done is we've kept the parts about LES MIS that everyone loves-the classic parts like the characters, the music, and the story-all of those things are still exactly the same as everyone would remember. What we've done, we've given the show a rethink as far as today's standards are concerned. The show was created 27 or 28 years ago now. Technology has come a long way, and what the audience is willing to go along with as far as reality and grittiness has come a long way. So, we've kind of brought it up to today's standards as far as what people are willing and wanting to see from a story of this magnitude. My favorite changes though are the new orchestrations. I love the new orchestrations and I love the projections.

Me: I've heard the big revolve is gone.

Betsy Morgan: Yeah, the revolve is gone.

Me: I haven't seen this new production myself, so I feel the changes will be eye opening for me.

Betsy Morgan: Yeah!

Me: Every night, Fantine sings what many consider to be the most popular and recognizable song of the show. What is like getting to perform the iconic "I Dreamed a Dream?"

Betsy Morgan: Well, if you isolate it, just for the song, of course it's incredible because it's a beautiful, brilliant song. Every night though, when I look at it, it's just this tiny little speck in this very large show. I don't approach the song...[Pauses]...you know, when a lot of cabaret performers or the TV stars sing "I Dreamed a Dream" the performance is a three minute performance, and you give it all in that one song, and that's not what we do in this show. You know, "I Dreamed a Dream" is just a little bit of the whole show, and we can't peak too soon. It's only about 25 minutes into the show when "I Dreamed a Dream" happens, so I try not to give it that kind of weight in the performance every night. I try to keep in mind Fantine's story for me and also the entire show for the audience because, as Fantine, I still have a long way to go too. "I Dreamed a Dream" is the soft place where she starts and she kind of goes through a lot after that. So, I try not to give it too much and I try not to build it up too much on a nightly basis and just kind of keep it in perspective with both the part and the show.

Me: There's a lot of anticipation about Tom Hooper's film adaptation of LES MISERABLES. Do you think this has an impact on your performance in any way?

Betsy Morgan: Oh no, not at all! But, we're so excited! I mean the movie doesn't affect us at all because we haven't seen it, and we're with the rest of America just in anticipation of seeing it. But no, it doesn't affect us. The movie is recreating the musical on the big screen kind of like we've recreated the first version of the musical for the stage. It's a completely different setting, and we can't wait to see it. [Laughs]

Me: I agree. I am excited to see it too.

Betsy Morgan: Yeah, we're excited.

Me: What is touring in LES MISERABLES like?

Betsy Morgan: Well, touring is a unique and amazing experience because we get to the see the country, and we get to see it on a schedule that really allows us to see everything that these cities have to offer. So, not only is the job part of it amazing that I get to come in everyday and I get to do LES MIS, but I wake up in the morning, and I'm in Saint Louis right now, and I'm looking out my window and the arch is sitting right there. We were in Oklahoma City a couple of weeks ago and I got to the visit the memorial museum and see the memorial, and just kind of having those experiences is really an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Me: What is your favorite aspect of touring?

Betsy Morgan: I think seeing the country, that's number one.

Me: Is there a least favorite aspect to touring?

Betsy Morgan: I do get homesick. I live in Brooklyn with my boyfriend and my family's in Chicago, so it does get...[Pauses]...well, it's hard to be away for so long. It takes a toll on your body. It's a lot of traveling. [Laughs]

Me: Are you and Fantine alike in any way?

Betsy Morgan: I think that the biggest parts about Fantine are her perseverance and her hope, and this idea of protecting this child no matter what. I have a younger sister who just got married and two little twin nephews, and that idea of just wanting as much as is possible for another person, I can certainly relate to.  Not to mention her strength qualities that I can relate to.

Me: What are some unique challenges you face in playing Fantine?

Betsy Morgan: Fantine is so beautifully written that as long as I keep my ears open every night and listen to the words as though I've never heard them before and let everything hit me for the first time every single night, as long as I do that part of my job, the part comes very naturally to me. I'd say that on a physical level, she does a lot of physical work in the show, and that's been a big challenge, keeping my body in shape physically so that I can take the beating that is the first act of LES MIS for Fantine. But my biggest job is just to make sure that I let the story sink in and if I do that, which I try to do every single night, the part's pretty well written that it takes care of itself.

Me: Are you involved in any other projects other than LES MISERABLES?

Betsy Morgan: I'm a purebred musical theatre girl [Laughs]. I just do theater. I'm not really interested in film or TV. I'm not getting into the recording studio at all other than original cast albums. [Laughing] I just love doing musical theatre. I'm kind of one of the few who is like that. I have done little TV things here and there. I just prefer the process of theatre.

Me: I can completely understand. I did community theater as a kid, and in high school my dad got me involved in screen acting lessons. I hated it. But, I did see that you did an episode of one of my favorite shows, FLIGHT OF HE CONCHORDS.

Betsy Morgan: I did, and it was actually really fun because doing that show was actually kind of like doing heater. Those guys [Bret McKenzie and Jemaine Clement] are improvisation geniuses, and it's very fun.

Me: What advice do you have for others hoping to get into the business?

Betsy Morgan: I think, and everybody has a different opinion on this and a different path that works for them, but I think education is so important. I think that anybody who is interested in the arts to get an education is number one, and especially if you want to be an actor. I think that the more you know as a human being, not just about the arts or performance techniques, but the more you know as a person, the more experiences you can have, the better actor you will be. And, I think that is just number one. And then, after at, I just tell people you have to love it because at the top of the game, it's still hard. You know, you're still auditioning and you're still not getting parts and struggling to make sure that you're fulfilled artistically, so you just have to love it.

LES MISERABLES storms into Houston on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Audiences can hear the people sing through Sunday, November 11, 2012. LES MISERABLES is almost completely sold out for this highly anticipated engagement, but a few tickets are still available. Don't get caught in a little fall of rain, be the master of your house and make sure you have your tickets now! For tickets and more information, visit houston.broadway.com or call (713) 315 – 2525.

Betsy Morgan as Fantine in the current tour of LES MISERABLES.

Betsy Morgan singing the iconic "I Dreamed a Dream" in the current tour of LES MISERABLES.