Laura Downing-Lee is no stranger to challenges.

Not only is Downing-Lee directing “Les Misérables,” but she is also a full-time Santa Rosa Junior College instructor. Together the jobs are nearly 24/7. When asked how she balances such a hectic schedule, she said it comes down to taking it moment by moment and remaining present, which is important as a director.

Downing-Lee also says it is important to do things outside of work, such as spending time with friends, to refresh herself so she doesn’t burn out. As an instructor and director, the cycle of giving and receiving energy is constant and time to recharge is necessary.

The production of “Les Misérables” presented a challenge in itself because of its large-scale adaptation to the SRJC stage. It was a challenge because it’s not an ordinary musical, but a Broadway-opera, meaning that the show is entirely sung.

Since music moves and punctuates the story, Downing-Lee says she had to learn a new perspective in directing, working with the music to guide actors through the script.

Luckily, theater is not a solo act but a collaboration. Downing-Lee worked with co-director Jody Benecke to coach the actors for the vocal demands of the upcoming performances. Janis Wilson, the theater arts music director, has also been a great help playing piano during rehearsals.

Teaching and directing at SRJC is more than a job for Downing-Lee, it is a joy to help students learn. Every production has a unique life brought to it by its cast members. She used last fall’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” as an example of the magic that can be created on stage with an ensemble.

When asked if she keeps in touch with former students, Downing-Lee said that they come back into her life now and then. She is always glad to hear that they are doing well. “We’re here to lay the groundwork for wherever they go and whatever they do,” she said.

Putting on a show the size of “Les Misérables” is no easy task but it’s well worth the effort when she sees the expressions of awe in the audience. “It’s so priceless,” Downing-Lee said.