SU alum brings iconic role to life in national Les Misérables tour

“I get to be a main character in one of the best musicals of all time. What an incredible part of history to call my job,” says Syracuse University alum Victoria Huston-Elem, who portrays the comedic yet cunning Madame Thenardier in the national tour of Les Misérables. 

As the show heads to Syracuse next week, Huston-Elem reflected on her journey from SU to the Broadway stage and how she brings levity to the iconic production.

Huston-Elem explained that Madame Thenardier’s role as comedic relief offers a balance to the dark themes in Les Misérables. “She’s a woman making impossible choices to survive in impossible times.” 

While most of the characters in Les Misérables are guided by a strong moral compass, the Thenardier couple operate with a slightly different set of values and a “left of center” compass, as Huston-Elem describes it. Despite the darker undertones, Madame Thenardier’s antics provide a much-needed humorous element to the narrative. 

The scale of the Les Misérables tour is nothing short of impressive. With 11 tractor-trailers transporting sets, costumes and hundreds of wigs, the coordination and execution of such a massive production is a testament to the meticulous planning and teamwork required to bring it to life night after night.

“People don’t realize how many hours it takes to make a show like this happen,” Huston-Elem said. “We might do eight shows a week, but between rehearsals, fight calls and travel days, it’s a lot more work than it seems.”

Traveling between cities can be an exhausting and grueling task, especially when a day off is spent on the road.

“Travel days can be really draining,” she admits, “but at the same time, I get paid to see North America. That’s something I’m incredibly grateful for.”

Despite the physical and emotional demands, Huston-Elem has a routine that helps her stay grounded.

“I’m a creature of habit,” she shares. A typical show day includes eating breakfast in her hotel room, reading in a park and exploring each new city before warming up her voice and body in the afternoon. And, of course, candy. 

Indulging in small joys like Sour Patch Kids “helps keep me balanced,” she states. “I feel like the things that I learned most about being on tour are about myself. It’s about how to maintain my spaces, keep my mental health in a good place, and how to continue to move through life in a positive way, in an upward trajectory.” 

Courtesy of Matthew Murphy

“Beggars at the Feast” – (From L) Matt Crowle as Thénardier and Victoria Huston-Elem as Madame Thénardier in “Les Misérables” touring production.

Huston-Elem credits her time at Syracuse University with preparing her for life on the road and the professional demands of theater, describing Syracuse Stage as an equity production and recalling the structure and rigor of her training. From stage managers to timed breaks, everything was run like a professional show. 

She also fondly remembers the impact of Rodney Hudson, one of her most influential professors, who recently passed away. “He valued hard work above everything. It wasn’t about talent; it was about your work ethic. He really shaped the way I approach my career.”

Huston-Elem’s advice to aspiring performers echoes this belief: “It’s not about the productions you do in school—it’s about what you put into your education. You have to demand that your teachers give you everything they can to prepare you for the real world,” she advises. “And remember to be a good person. People won’t always remember how talented you are, but they’ll remember how you made them feel.”

This isn’t Huston-Elem’s first tour, but Les Misérables stands out for its sheer scale and legacy.

“It’s a gargantuan beast,” she said, reflecting on the elaborate sets that bring the show to life. “But I think everything I’ve done before this helped prepare me for the magnitude of this production.”

As she prepares to take the stage in Syracuse, Huston-Elem reflects on the enduring power of Les Misérables.

“At its heart, it’s a story of hope and redemption, which is something we all need right now,” she says. “After everything we’ve been through in the last few years, this story resonates more than ever.”

Catch Victoria Huston-Elem and the cast of Les Misérables at the Landmark Theatre from October 22 through October 27.