Nick Cartell is no stranger to the grand stage, having graced more than 1,400 performances as
Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. While the applause and standing ovations are part of the
experience, it’s the quieter moments that mean the most to the Broadway veteran — especially
when he’s on the road with his wife and 4-year-old daughter, who travel with him wherever his
career takes him.
Before heading to the Hub City for his Lubbock debut at Buddy Holly Hall, Cartell was gearing
up for a visit to San Antonio’s famous Riverwalk with his family. One of his first stop’s in the
area? Naturally, to grab some tacos — a Texas staple that’s a must-have any time he’s in the
Lone Star State.
Cartell’s journey to the iconic role of Jean Valjean has been built on passion and perseverance,
spanning Broadway, national tours and Off-Broadway stages. From various roles in Cirque du
Soleil’s Paramour to The Phantom of the Opera and Jesus Christ Superstar, his career has
taken him far and wide. Yet it’s his portrayal of Valjean that continues to leave a lasting mark,
bringing to life one of the most powerful stories ever told.
The iconic musical, based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, has captivated the minds and hearts
of more than 130 million people in 53 countries and 438 cities, winning 8 Tony Awards, including
Best Musical. Its stunning set design blends Hugo’s artwork with cutting-edge projections to
bring 19th-century France to life on stage, all while weaving a powerful theme of resilience and
sacrifice.
As Les Misérables prepares for an eight-performance engagement at Buddy Holly Hall of
Performing Arts and Sciences from Feb. 11-16, we caught up with Nick to discuss his journey,
the central role his family plays in his work, and what keeps him inspired as he brings Valjean to
life each night.
Local LBK: How is life on the road for you? You get to see so many places, which must
be amazing, but I’m sure it also comes with its challenges.
Nick Cartell: There are great points and hard points about it. A touring show like this is big, and
most of our stops are one-week stops, though sometimes we get two or three weeks. Our day
off from the show is often our travel day, so we’re traveling to the next city and settling in before
starting on a Tuesday night. The joy of this is getting to see the cities, enjoy the culture, find
local places to eat, and discover hidden gems. I’ve toured to many cities, but I haven’t been to
Lubbock, so I’m excited to explore and see what the city has to offer. It’s always fun talking to
the local crew in each city to ask, “What’s your favorite place to eat?” They always give great
recommendations, which is fun.
LL: So, it’s amazing that you’re performing Les Misérables, a show that connects with so
many audiences. The emotional impact is different for everyone.
NC: It is. It is very cool. But also, you know, I think that the one of the reasons that there’s so
much staying power with Les Mis is because the story just impacts so many people with where
they are in their lives, right? So regardless of where you sit on the political spectrum, you can
find commonalities in this story, and you can root for the students that are trying to make their
lives better, this collection of people that are just trying to make their lives better and the lives of
those around them better. And I think that that echoes now more than ever before, especially in this post-pandemic world that we’re living in. People can kind of recognize themselves in Valjean and recognize themselves with these students, and it’s one of the reasons that people continue to come back to this show, not only for the music, but also for the story.
LL: I agree—it’s such a relatable story. Speaking of the music, what’s your favorite song
in the show to perform?
NC: My favorite to perform is “Bring Him Home.” Valjean, he never stops moving. His character
is very chaotic at the beginning; there’s a very animalistic quality. And I never get a chance just
to really sit – I’m always moving; I’m always carrying people or lifting a cart or things like that.
And so the fact that it is a moment where I can just sit on the barricade and connect to this story
and be able to sing this music, with this beautiful orchestra that we have. But also, to think of the
parallels of how Valjean is singing about this boy – because he knows he’s not going to be
around forever – and he’s singing about this boy that he will be the person that will protect his
daughter. To think about my own daughter and how I would do anything for her, and as a parent,
as you know, it’s having your heart outside your body. The fact that I can think about that in that
moment, it really brings it full circle for me.
LL: That’s beautifully said. It really is a relationship-focused story, and I think everyone
can relate to the raw emotion of it, whether or not they have children. It’s something
universal. I’m sure fans also connect in different ways, as they experience the show at
different stages in life.
NC: Exactly. The fans of the show are people that have seen the show before, and they keep
coming back to the show. And maybe the first time that they saw the show, they were
teenagers, right? And they were connecting with Marius and Cosette and Eponine and those
student roles, but now they’re parents themselves, and they’re able to bring their children. A lot
of them are bringing their children to the show. And now, we’re exposing that show to a new
generation of theatergoers that are falling in love with it as well.
LL: That’s so true. I saw Les Mis years ago on my first anniversary with my high school
sweetheart, and it’s a memory I’ll never forget. I’m sure many others have memories like
that, too. So, are you planning on sticking with the show for the long run?
NC: I am planning on sticking with the show for a while. Like I said, I still find joy. I still find
moments in this show that are new to me. And the audience plays such a part; the audience is a
reason why this show continues. It’s because they’re a character in this show with us. The way
that they respond, the way that they react to certain moments in the show really does make this
show different every single night. And I think that’s also one of the joys of live theater.
LL: Definitely! I imagine it’s tough to choose a favorite character since each one feels like
a different side of you. It’s kind of like trying to pick a favorite child, right
NC: You know, this is one of those roles that is a dream role for musical theater. This show,
there’s so many people in this line of work that this is a dream for them and to get to say that I
get to live this dream every night and play this character, which truly has been a dream come
true for me, will be very hard at some point to let it go, but right now, I’m enjoying continuing on
this journey with it.
LL: So how does this role shape your everyday life? Do you find some of the attributes of
it just pouring out of you unintentionally just as you live?
NC: Valjean is a character that is very giving to his fellow man, right? He’s very aware of
everyone else, and for me, that is who I am, innately as a person. I try to make everybody feel
included and lifted up and supported. I think that that’s kind of a parallel between myself and
Valjean at certain moments in this show. But then there are other things, and I am one of those
actors that I don’t leave everything at the stage door when I walk in, depending on how my day
has gone. I can use frustrations that I have, and I can put them into this show and into this
character. And so, I find, actually, it can be very therapeutic in a way that I can get out some of
my emotions … maybe I’ve had a bad a day or something hasn’t gone right, and I can get out
some of my aggressions, especially at the beginning of the show, when there’s his more
animalistic quality. I’m able to actually get some of that internal strife out, which is also very
therapeutic.
LL: Absolutely – I love that you’re able to take that passion and use it as your outlet.
Since you’ve mentioned parenthood and relationships so much, I have to ask —do you
see yourself bringing your little one on stage with you someday?
NC: So, she’s a little young still for the show, yeah? But we hope that we can make that happen
at some point in the future.
LL: Aw, well that’s awesome. I hope so, too. Anyway, thank you for taking the time to talk
with me. I’m excited for the show.
NC: We’ll see you in a couple weeks!
Les Misérables has eight performances at the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences
from Feb. 11-16. Tickets can be purchased online at buddyhollyhall.org.
Other performances scheduled for Broadway at Buddy Holly Hall include ‘Pretty Woman: The
Musical,’ ‘Annie,’ ‘Champions of Magic,’ ‘Chicago’ and ‘The Addams Family.’