For the Schaumburg siblings, the school’s production of “Les Miserables” is more than just a play; it’s a journey of discovery and connection. As they step onto the stage and into the world of theater, their relationships evolve unexpectedly, offering a glimpse into the powerful bonds forged behind the scenes.
For sophomore Lincoln Schaumburg, this means spending hours in the pit orchestra, where the magic of live music connects seamlessly with the on-stage drama. Through this role, Lincoln has enhanced performance, discovered new skills and developed a deeper appreciation for collaboration.
“I learned a lot from playing in pit. [It’s great for] learning an instrument, learning new musical terms,” Lincoln said. “And it’s really, really exciting when the actors and pit come together for the first time.”
Senior Lily Schaumburg is Lincoln’s older sister. She plays Fantine in the musical. Although the time commitment can be challenging, Lily has worked in theater since middle school.
“I have always loved to sing, and it’s just so much fun to be on stage,” Lily said. “I only got a lead last year and this year in my high school career, but even being in the ensemble is just so much fun to me for Les Mis.”
In addition, Lincoln has played the tuba for several years, aspiring to go above and beyond in programs such as Wind Ensemble and pit orchestra.
“I’m playing the lower notes, and those tend to get underheard. This year, we have more people playing lower instruments,” Lincoln said. “So now those low notes tend to shine. I am playing everything down an octave so that it also sounds a lot louder as well.”
Being down in the pit, Lincoln does not get much time to see his sisters working on their parts on stage.
“I can’t really [interact with my sisters]. They sometimes wave down at me in the pit, but since I’m not up there moving around, it’s pretty hard,” Lincoln said.
However, Lily gets to spend more time with her younger sisters. Fourth grader Ruby Schaumburg plays Cosette, the daughter of Lily’s character.
“It’s pretty cool because she’s playing my daughter in the show. She’s on stage a few times, and then I die pretty early,” Lily said. “Her character grows up, so we have some time together.”
Both older siblings are proud to work with their families and see them become involved in production. Eighth-grader Edie Schaumburg helps apply microphones and works with sound design in the musical.
“It’s really special to hear my older sister singing about my little sister wearing a mic that my other little sister put on while I’m playing that song,” Lincoln said. “It’s all coming together, and it’s really fun to have all of us in.”
However, It is common for individuals to experience interpersonal challenges with family members, even when they hold pride and affection for them.
“Sometimes it’s annoying, you know, they’re still my siblings, and they’re all younger than me,” Lily said. “But I think overall, it’s really cool.”
Despite the perceived ease of working on an iconic production such as “Les Misérables,” this quartet commits several hours each day after school to rehearsal.
“Rehearsals end at 7 p.m., and at the start of pit, they ended at 4:30 p.m.,” Lincoln said. “So it’s a pretty big jump, and next week, they end at 7:30, so it’s a lot.”
Both older siblings love working with the theater department and hope to inspire others to work on future productions.
“If you even have a part of you that wants to do it. Do it. It’s so much fun. If you’re scared of being on stage alone, you don’t have to be,” Lily said. “You can be with other people. There’s a lot of options for how much you want to be involved, and I think it’s great for everybody.”
