North Farmington Senior Cast in 'Les Miserablés' at Meadowbrook

Mick Jutila has loved musical theatre since he first performed as a sixth grader in a St. Fabian Catholic School production of Cinderella.

Now a North Farmington senior, he will perform this summer in a play he loves, Les Miserablés, a wildly popular musical based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name. Produced by Spiro Productions, in partnership with The Other Mirror, the show opens June 30 at Meadowbrook Theatre in Rochester.

"Ever since I first saw it, I've been a giant fan of the show," Jutila said. "I thought, I need to play Jean Valjean (the show's protagonist) once in my life." 

In the Meadowbrook production, Jutila is a member of the chorus, one of a very few high school seniors chosen. He said he enjoys the whole process of rehearsals, watching the cast grow together and making new friends. But he has other interests as well, and other accomplishments.

Last month, Jutila became an Eagle Scout, the highest award in Boy Scouting. In addition to earning the required merit badges, he had to complete a project and chose a garden project for a local church. In addition to completing the physical work, he raised $400 through a can drive to cover project expenses. 

In addition to theatre productions at North, he has been a member of the National Honor Society, the Northern Lites singing group, the Raider marching band and the TV-10 crew, among other activities. He's also a member of the St. Fabian Catholic Church youth group and part of a youth band that performs during services. 

Jutila will attend Western Michigan University this fall. He's undecided about his major, but not his career goal.

"I want to move to New York and become a Broadway actor," he said. 

Jutila may find some inspiration in the show's director Katherine Carter. A Michigan native and Andover High School alumna, she is now a freelance director living in New York. Carter is artistic director of The Other Mirror, which creates theatrical art based on event, text, or myth, to better understand how communities have developed, for better or worse. 

Performances of Les Miserablés are scheduled June 30, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and July 1 and 2, 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.