If a general sense of music in the air at Vintage High School is not enough of an indication something special is in the works, perhaps the prevalence of "Les Misrable" T-shirts and sweatshirts on students is the giveaway.

Students have been rehearsing since December, and this weekend and next the Vintage High School Concert Choir will perform the entire school edition of the immensely popular musical based on the Victor Hugo epic.

Choir director Mark Teeters decided this is the year he has the star power in his concert choir to pull it off with style, and the students have signed onto the project with enthusiasm. The entire production, which will be performed with non-student professional orchestra, has been cast from students in the concert choir.

"Mark and I both love 'Les Mis'" said Jan Lanterman, assistant choir director at Vintage. "We've seen it three times in the past five years including in London last March and on Broadway a couple of years ago, so we're very excited to be producing it with our students at Vintage. We're trying out a new concept with this production in that we're using it as curriculum for our concert choir, and all rehearsals until the last couple of weeks are actually taking place during regular class time. It seems to be working very well, and all the cast members are students enrolled in concert choir."

"It's my favorite musical," Teeters said, adding that many of the students got to see the production in London when the chamber choir toured England last year. Others had seen in New York or San Francisco.

Published in 1862, "Les Misrables," was a popular hit, dramatizing the plight of the poor in France, through the trials of Jean Valjean, a man sent to prison for 19 years for stealing a loaf of bread. Rich with memorable and heart-rending characters, "Les Misrables" was as much about the re-envisioning of a nation through revolution as it was about the redemption of Valjean.

The stage version of the work, by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schnberg, with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer opened to similar acclaim in London in 1985.

A hundred and forty years after the novel was published, the message still resonates, Vintage students said in a recent session with the Register where they discussed their upcoming work.

"It's not your typical musical," said Kai Hoffman, a freshman in the production. "It's about injustice."

"Mistakes, unrequited love, you can still relate," added Monica McCamish.

Lawrence Black, who plays the principal role of Jean Valjean, described it as "a musical where you have to go inward, to get the depth."

The students have been wearing "Les Misrables" gear to generate interest on campus, rehearsing now, both in class and after school at the District Auditorium.

Despite the long extra hours of rehearsal they've been putting in the last few weeks, the students seemed to think they were gaining more from the experience than they were putting into it.

"It's so wonderful to be something you're not," Rebecca Novak said as she described the challenge of creating a role and singing.

"I just like going to rehearsals," Hoffman said.

Courtney McAllister, who plays the role of Fantine, the dying prostitute who consigns her child Cosette to the care of Valjean called the production "a huge bonding experience."

"Their enthusiasm is equaled by their talent," Lanterman said, adding that students sang excerpts from the show at their winter concert "and received a spontaneous standing ovation and cheers from a large and enthusiastic audience."

Teeters said the idea started rather smaller than a full scale production but just kept growing; fueled by the students' interest and commitment, they expanded from the idea of singing parts of it to presenting the full-scale production, hiring a professional orchestra and costumer.

"I think Napa is ready for 'Les Miz,'" he said.

The Vintage High School Concert Choir and a professional orchestra under the direction of Music Director Mark Teeters will stage eight performances of "Les Misrables" at 7 p.m. Feb. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, and 18 and at 2 p.m. Feb. 12 and 19. All tickets are $15 and are on sale now, through the box office at 299-2520. Purchasers should indicate their preference of side or center orchestra or balcony seating as seats will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

"Les Miserables"

Vintage High School Concert Choir

7 p.m., Feb. 9, 10, 11, 16, 17 and 18

2 p.m., Feb. 12 and 19

District Auditorium, 2425 Jefferson St., Napa

All tickets $15; Box Office 299-22520