I tangently and briefly touched on this casting concept in my post ranking the songs from The Swan Princess, how is that for an introduction?
But in all seriousness there exists in musical theatre three roles from musicals based iconic French literary works where the principal antagonist is motivated by his obsession. Honestly there is more than likely more titles than three* but Javert and The Phantom are from musical smash-hits and The Hunchback of Notre Dame/Notre Dame de Paris is more under-appreciated shows in the musical theater space, at least in North America. Notre Dame de Paris is a little more beloved in other parts of the World.
So if you have guessed the roles are Javert, The Phantom and Frollo or as I call them “Obsessive French Man Musical Trio of Roles” though at first I used the word “triumvirate,” but “trio” as a word works a little better with the music theme.
Originally I had thought there was one performer that had, at least some capacity, played all three role thus completing the trio but alas it turns out I was wrong. One, Joesph Tokarz was in ensemble of a Yeston’s Phantom production and not the Opera Ghost himself. However since I proved myself wrong there I decided to dig a little more to see if there was a Notre Dame de Paris former cast member who fit the criteria and I’m sad to say that we were so close. Wim van den Driessche was cast as Firmin and as one of the Phantom understudies for the canceled Mogador 2016 Paris cast. Could be another performer who has actively played all three roles of Frollo, Javert and the Phantom? Maybe but haven’t found that performer as of yet. But there is also hope that it could happen one day.
For the more well-known version the musicals many performers have played two out the three roles, mainly The Phantom and Javert so let’s go for broke and suggest a musical performer for a Frollo who has also played Javert and The Phantom in high profile productions; Norm Lewis.
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which rumor has it she beat Taylor Swift for. Prior to that Barks was part of reality show where the winner got to play Nancy in Oliver, called I’d Do Anything (appropriate name for a reality show) and played Eponine on stage. Since Les Mis (and at the time I’m writing this post) she has been in two other movies, 
, and a minor role in 
. However Barks is in a few upcoming movies, so we’ll see how her career goes.
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that I got for Christmas.
because they tote the name but when I first saw it I thought, “Dear god, this ending is pretty uplifting!” So at the end Jean Valjean is dying and he seems pretty cool with it. Cossette doesn’t want him to die but Fantine, who is a like a vision, is all like Jean you have been awesome now come to Heaven it’s awesome here. Sure Jean is dying but he’s not sad, in fact this musical makes death look pretty nice. Everyone who is died seems pretty happy and they’re super hopeful. I guess the Miserable people are still alive? This musical promised me Miserable people and you don’t really get it at the end. Don’t misunderstand, I love the ending and it’s great but miserable it is not.
ending proper, Le Miz is even more upbeat. Esmeralda has just been executed and Quasimodo is mourning her while asking her to dance once again and heavily implies his own impending death. This ending is so sad that after the curtain call the tradition is to have the cast reprise the opening song while smiling so that audience is totally bummed.