A multi-talented Éponine inspires in ‘Les Miz’

Christine Heesun Hwang, 23, is a queer Asian American actor who plays Éponine in the Broadway touring company’s version of Les Miserables, opening Nov. 2 at the Academy of Music, part of the Kimmel Cultural Campus. “I’m not the only queer person of color among the principals,” she noted. The diverse cast includes Fantine, played by Haley Dortch, a queer Black woman.

“It shows the amount of strides we’re making in our industry,” Hwang said.

Her main emotion, she said, is gratitude for a chance to work with a dedicated, diverse group of professionals.

Hwang, who is Korean American, credits the pandemic for giving the theater world enough of a pause to recalibrate its notions of who belongs on stage and why. But truthfully, she said, “I want to get to a place where it’s not part of the conversation [anymore].”

Hwang grew up in the Midwest — in Iowa, South Dakota, and Minnesota where there weren’t many Asians, period, let alone queer ones. Even so, when she came out at 16, it surprised no one. “Everybody around me knew I was queer except me,” she said.

She is upfront about her identity. It’s in the first sentence on her website’s home page. That’s deliberate because Hwang hopes that when Les Miserables plays in parts of the country where people like her are less common, some young person will look up her bio on her website and draw comfort or inspiration from her work as an actor, a playwright, a musician, and a lyricist.

“I’ve had people message me on Instagram,” she said. They identify as queer, and then express appreciation for her work. “I’m glad I can help someone else. Maybe people will be less afraid.”

For her, the themes of revolution, change, and reckoning expressed in the musical drawn from Victor Hugo’s 1852 French novel still ring true today. “More than anything, it’s the understanding that there’s light at the end of the tunnel — and, there can only be light if there is darkness. There has to be one in order to have the other. Moving forward, what can we do but persevere and carry on?”

(Nov. 2-13, “Les Miserables,” Academy of Music, 240 S. Broad St., Phila. 215-893-1999 or kimmelculturalcampus.org)

Wilma lead artistic director Morgan Green, who previously directed Wilma’s digital production of James Ijames’ Pulitzer Prize-winning play Fat Ham, directs Wilma Theater’s newest offering, School Pictures, a world premiere musical.

Milo Cramer, the playwright and the performer, drew on personal experience as a tutor to create School Pictures, describing the work as “loving musical portraits of struggling students,” Cramer said in a statement.

“Milo sings sincerely and vulnerably about his tutoring students, who are subject to the unfair pitfalls of our school systems and the outsized pressure placed on students these days,” Green said in the same statement.

(Nov. 2-20, “School Pictures,” Wilma Theater, 265 S. Broad St., Phila, 215-546-7824 or wilmatheater.org)

Murder is not funny … unless you are at the Bristol Riverside Theatre watching Clue, a madcap murder mystery based on the board game by toymaker Hasbro. Six guests show up to a dinner party at Boddy Manor where the butler politely offers each a weapon. Unfortunately, the host can’t greet the arrivees because, well, he’s dead. Now the six, including Miss Scarlett, Professor Plum, Colonel Mustard, and Mrs. Peacock, must try to sort it all out before the Boddy body count stacks up.

(Nov. 1-20, “Clue,” Bristol Riverside Theatre, 120 Radcliffe St., Bristol, 215-785-0100 or brtstage.org)

Desperate times call for desperate measures; which is why a group of struggling monks have resorted to selling the bones of the newly deceased on their newly established black market for the relics of Catholic saints. Incorruptible, Michael Hollinger’s dark Dark Ages comedy, is set in 1250. Drucie McDaniel directs this priestly production by the South Camden Theatre Co.

(Through Nov. 13, “Incorruptible,” South Camden Theatre Co. at the Waterfront South Theatre, 400 Jasper St., Camden, 404-480-4489 or southcamdentheatre.org)

Based on what we’ve been reading in the news, it’s no secret that the pandemic has affected the mental health of children. When a child is suffering, whose job is it to intervene? That’s the question posed in Gidion’s Knot, the season-opener from Curio Theatre Co. Written by Johnna Adams, the play centers on a parent-teacher conference between a grieving mother and an overwrought teacher, who try to grapple with the tragic suicide of fifth-grader Gidion. It’s a wrenching but important topic, and Curio wants to facilitate conversation. After 8 p.m. performances on Nov. 3, 10, and 17, and 3 p.m. matinees on Nov. 5 and 19, Curio will host talk-backs led by mental health professionals from the Phoenix Center for Experiential Trauma Therapy in Media. Audiences should be aware that Gidion’s Knot includes descriptive acts of violence and sexual assault. Trice Baldwin-Browns plays the mother; Tessa Kuhn plays the teacher, and Gay Carducci-Kuhn, Curio’s cofounder, directs.

(Through Nov. 19, “Gidion’s Knot,” Curio Theatre Co., Calvary Center for Culture and Community, 4740 Baltimore Ave., Phila. 215-921-8243 or curiotheatre.org)

In Azuka Theatre’s season opener, a hit dog will holler, a popular social commentator has a big problem. Online, she pushes hard for activism. But in reality, her agoraphobia makes her afraid to venture out to engage in the very activism she promotes. Then a community organizer invades her space. Both have fears to confront. Written by Inda Craig-Galván, a hit dog will holler is directed by Reva Stover, one of Azuka’s two co-artistic directors. (Rebecca May Flowers is the other.) Actors are Jessica Johnson and Adaeze Nwoko. Audience members pay what they wish after they’ve seen the play.

(Nov. 2-20, “a hit dog will holler,” Azuka Theatre at the Louis Bluver Theatre at the Drake, 302 S. Hicks St., Phila., 215-563-1100, or azukatheatre.org)

Narberth Community Theatre presents Crazy For You, Nov. 4-19, Overbrook Presbyterian Church, 6376 City Ave., Phila., 610-245-4525 at mynct.org. Old Academy Players offers Agnes of God, Nov. 4-20, 3544 Indian Queen Lane, Phila., 215-843-1109 or oldacademyplayers.org.

Check with individual venues for COVID-19 protocols.