Professional Conservatory of Musical Theatre at New York Film Academy (PCMT at NYFA) alum Christopher Lee Viljoen has been cast in the new 25th Anniversary Tour of Les Misérables, a career highlight for the promising singer and actor.
In the famed musical based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo, Vilijoen will play Couferac, as well as understudy for former PCMT at NYFA instructor Nick Cartell, who will be staring as Jean Valjean.
“What it feels like to understudy Nick,” Vilijoen tells NYFA, “it’s humbling, first off, because I know the teachers that come here — they’re incredible and passionate and they’re working actors, and they care for the students and they care for what we want to achieve.”
Cartell is just one of many NYFA faculty members who are also working professionals in films, TV, and on- and off-Broadway. This includes Creative Director Kristy Cates, who has starred in Wicked (Broadway, First National Tour, Chicago) as Elphaba, as well as playing Miss Bassett in Finding Neverland (Broadway) and Grandma Josephine in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Broadway), and instructor Deidre Goodwin, who has acted in the original revivals of Nine, Rocky Horror Show, Jesus Christ Superstar, A Chorus Line, and Chicago.
Vilijoen, who was born in South Africa, attended the 2-year Conservatory at NYFA’s musical theatre program in New York City. While there, he acted in four different shows, and finished the program with a movie musical titled Landed.
Perhaps fatefully, Viljoen credits Les Misérables as the show that inspired him to go into musical theatre. After seeing its production on the West End, Vilijoen tells NYFA, he knew “This is what I need to be doing.”
The National Tour kicked off on September 21, 2017. The New York Film Academy congratulates PCMT at NYFA instructor Nick Cartell and alumnus Christopher Lee Viljoen on their roles and encourages everyone who can to check out the show!
Please note: NYFA does not represent that these are typical or guaranteed career outcomes. The success of our graduates in any chosen professional pathway depends on multiple factors, and the achievements of NYFA alumni are the result of their hard work, perseverance, talent and circumstances.