Yoga With Samantha Barks, Backstage Toasts and French-Style Fun! Backstage Pics at Amélie

Maria-Christina Oliveras Takes Us On the Trail of "Breadcrumbs" to the New Musical Amélie, Starring Samantha Barks

Bonjour! Thrilled to be offering some tidbits and adventures from the magical world of our Montmartre and Berkeley, and a glimpse into some of the breadcrumbs that have brought us here…. Maria-Christina Oliveras

“We form a trail of breadcrumbs, but what are they leading to…” Allow me to start with a gnomenclature (sorry, couldn’t resist) of the <em>Amélie</em> family… — “We form a trail of breadcrumbs, but what are they leading to…” Allow me to start with a gnomenclature (sorry, couldn’t resist) of the *Amélie* family… Maria-Christina Oliveras

This fine gnome (not to be confused with a smurf or a dwarf) watches over our green room and a bevy of snacks for those of us not "glutton"-free… Maria-Christina Oliveras

Alas, I digress…Meet the brilliant Savvy Crawford—our resident genius—she is the cast’s go-to acting coach, but sorry folks, she’s pulled a <i>Hamilton</i> and is booked through the next decade. — Alas, I digress…Meet the brilliant Savvy Crawford—our resident genius—she is the cast’s go-to acting coach, but sorry folks, she’s pulled a *Hamilton* and is booked through the next decade. Maria-Christina Oliveras

Here she is giving notes to Randy Blair as he signs in… Maria-Christina Oliveras

Don’t fret--If he can’t live up to Savvy’s exceptionally high standards, he’s also a fantastic writer—his production of <i>Gigantic</i> will be going up at the Vineyard Theater later this winter—check it out! — Don’t fret--If he can’t live up to Savvy’s exceptionally high standards, he’s also a fantastic writer—his production of *Gigantic* will be going up at the Vineyard Theater later this winter—check it out! Maria-Christina Oliveras

And here is Tony Sheldon, spreading his dazzling love and light in our dressing room pre-show… he is originally from Down Under… Maria-Christina Oliveras

http://cdn-images.playbill.com/ee_assets/Aiken/ameri/aaaaaa/am/fff/ameliefeature-08.jpg — Maria-Christina Oliveras

We also have another import from across the Pond, specifically from the Isle of Man, Samantha Barks. Maria-Christina Oliveras

Now Samantha is beautiful and super talented and blah blah blah, but she gets the most props from me for being, on her own, the only person crazy enough to do 6:30 AM yoga with me… Maria-Christina Oliveras

Oliveras has appeared on Broadway in Machinal and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Other New York credits include Zorba and the world premieres of Here Lies Love, Pretty Filthy, And Miles To Go, Reading Under the Influence, The Really Big Once, Slavey and After. Film and television appearances include "The Humbling," "St. Vincent," "Time Out of Mind," "Manhattan Nocturne," “Nurse Jackie,” “Damages" and “Person of Interest.” Dedicated to developing new work, she is the recipient of the Charles Bowden Actor Award from New Dramatists.

The new musical starring Samantha Barks (Eponine in the film adaptation of Les Misérables) plays an extended run through Oct. 18. The new musical officially opened Sept. 11. It is directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?).

Barks is joined by David Andino (Blind Beggar/Garden Gnome), Randy Blair (Hipolito), Adam Chanler-Berat (Nino), Alison Cimmet (Amandine/Philomene), Savvy Crawford (Young Amélie), Carla Duren (Gina), John Hickok (Raphael/Bretodeaux), Alyse Alan Louis (Georgette), Shannon O’Boyle (Swing), Maria-Christina Oliveras (Suzanne), Tony Sheldon (Dufayel/Collignon), Perry Sherman (Lucien), Jacob Keith Watson (Swing) and Paul Whitty (Joseph).

Amélie is written by Craig Lucas (An American in Paris, Prelude to a Kiss) and features music by Daniel Messé with lyrics by Nathan Tysen (The Burnt Part Boys, Tuck Everlasting) and Messé.

Samantha Barks Is Perfection in First Playful Promo Shots From Amélie

Here's how Berkeley Rep bills the new musical: "Embark on a mesmerizing journey with inquisitive and charmingly shy Amélie as she turns the streets of Montmartre into a world of her own imagining, while secretly orchestrating moments of joy for those around her."

The show has scenic and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Kai Harada, projection design by Peter Nigrini with music direction by Kimberly Grigsby and choreography by Sam Pinkleton.

For more information, call (510) 647-2949 or visit BerkeleyRep.org.