Growing up in Franklin, Kaitlyn Sumner always wanted to be a gymnast. But that was before she discovered musical theater. After joining a friend for theater camp in the fourth grade, Sumner threw herself into the local arts scene, taking classes at Franklin Brentwood Arts Academy and performing regularly with Act Too Players, The Gift of Song, Pull-Tight Players and more. While a student at Franklin High School, Sumner earned two Nashville High School Musical Theatre Awards — better known as TPAC’s Spotlight Awards. She would go on to graduate from the prestigious Boston Conservatory at Berklee, making her national tour debut with Les Misérables in 2024.
Ahead of Les Mis arriving at TPAC this week, Sumner spoke with Scene sister publication the Williamson Scene about growing up in Franklin, the thrill of stepping into one of the theater world’s biggest musicals and life on the road.
How did you first get interested in the arts, and do you have any special memories of either performing or seeing shows as a kid?
I did a weeklong musical theater camp in the fourth grade and was immediately hooked. I started learning everything I could in the arts — I studied singing, a cappella, dance, guitar, piano and acting at Franklin Brentwood Arts Academy, and that quickly became a second home for me. I just loved it, and was there three or four times a week, right up until I graduated from high school.
It was all such a new experience for me. Before that, I wanted to be a gymnast; that was my big dream. But then I did that theater camp and just fell in love with it. It really opened up a different world for me. It’s funny, because growing up, I was really introverted and quiet. Maybe that’s what I loved so much about being on stage — I felt like I could be this totally different person. I got to reinvent myself and take up space in a way that would normally scare me in my personal life. In high school, I would go to all these open mics, and people were always kind of surprised or confused. It was like: ‘Oh, Kaitlyn Sumner? That’s the really quiet girl that sings.’
I won the Spotlight Awards in 2018 and 2019 for my roles in Grease and Bring It On, so that was pretty special. My family was there to cheer me on, and my sister was screaming at the top of her lungs. It was really fun, and I really felt like the coolest person in the world that night. My sister Kylie is two years younger than me, and she’s also very involved in the arts. She’s about to graduate from Belmont University, with [a degree in] theater performance, which is exciting, too.
But I saw a lot of shows at TPAC with my family growing up. In fact, I actually saw Les Mis there. I was pretty young, so a lot of the story sort of went over my head at the time. But I definitely remember loving the music — it was just so exciting. So to go from seeing so many shows in the audience over the years, to being up on that stage with Les Mis feels very full circle. I can’t wait to get there.
I understand that you’re part of the ensemble and also understudy the role of Éponine. How tough is it to switch gears between the two, and what’s it been like taking on such an iconic role?
Since I’ve been on tour for almost two years, I’ve had a lot of experience going on as Éponine, and I’ve been able to sort of craft my own version of her. I love that she’s very tough, very strong-willed, but there’s also this other side to her that’s super tender and soft and warm. I love that she gets this moment with the audience to really open up and show what’s going on — that’s always been really exciting to me. And, of course, she gets to sing one of the best songs in the show, “On My Own.”
Understudying is super fun and an awesome responsibility. I get to learn from the principal actor that I’m understudying, and get advice on how they approach the role, while also finding space to make it my own. Getting the opportunity to go on — whether it’s planned ahead of time, like with a vacation or something, or I just get notice that same day — keeps it fresh. And I feel like I have a great foundation with the role, so I don’t really freak out or anything like that. It feels more like an exciting opportunity. It’s also cool that I’ve had the chance to go on with so many people, the principal Marius and all the Marius understudies. And even when I’m performing in the ensemble, I’m on stage every night with the principal Éponine, so I’m constantly watching and learning, and thinking about little adjustments I might want to make. So I feel like I get to evolve with the character, which keeps it fresh and fun.
But I love being part of the ensemble too. There’s a lot to think about, and movement-wise, it’s super juicy to dive into because I play so many different characters, often from very different social standings. So for example, I’m a beggar in Paris, so that movement is very internal. But then I hold myself very differently when I’m a guest at Marius’ wedding — very posh and upper class. So to get to go to such extremes is really interesting and fun.
Photo courtesy of Kaitlyn Sumner
How demanding is the show, and how do you stay healthy on the road?
It’s definitely a big show! It’s like three hours long, and as soon as the downbeat happens at the beginning of the show, it’s like getting shot out of a cannon, especially with the ensemble. You really don’t stop for about 40 minutes. There are all these quick changes to the next scene and the next scene and the next scene, and then you finally get a little break. It’s sort of a madhouse backstage, with people coming and going. When I first joined the tour, I think I was more nervous about that than anything happening onstage, because if you don’t time it just right, you’ll miss it.
As far as life on the road, it’s been interesting. I grew up in a military family, and we moved states every four years or so until my dad retired. But that still did not prepare me for life on the road, touring with the show. I had to grow up so much, and so quickly, because I booked this tour pretty soon after graduating college. Living out of a suitcase, away from your family, isn’t easy. It’s extremely hard on your mind, as well as your body. And moving to a new city every week — with new weather or altitude or humidity — can definitely be a shock to your body, and especially your voice. I’ve really had to learn to take care of myself. I humidify, I take immunity and hydration packs, and I use a nebulizer all the time. And I try to get plenty of rest, but it’s hard. The show usually gets out around 10:30 p.m., so you’re home by like 11 p.m., but you just finished a mega-musical, so your adrenaline is still really high, and it takes some time to wind down. It’s tough, but we do our best.
Is there a particular song or scene that you look forward to performing each night?
Getting to do “One Day More,” and hitting those last three notes — when it’s just us singing — is probably one of my favorite moments every night. Les Mis is such an ensemble-based show. It’s literally about people all coming together to try and change the world they’re living in, and that message is so incredibly important in the world we’re living in right now. So to be on that stage with all my castmates, all singing together in this huge, powerful moment in the show, is so cool. I look forward to it every single night. It never gets old.
How does it feel to be bringing Les Mis to your hometown crowd at TPAC? Any big plans for while you’re in town?
You know, I would love to go to The Loveless Cafe. I’ve only been there a couple of times, but it’s so good. It’s such good Southern comfort food, so I’ve been wanting to get back there. And I definitely would like to walk around downtown Franklin, and The Factory. I mean, I barely recognized The Factory the last time I was there, so I really want to go back and check it all out. But mostly, I think I’m looking forward to being home and seeing my family. I’m so thrilled to be performing at TPAC, and can’t wait for everyone to see the show.
This article was first published by our sister publication, the Williamson Scene.
