Les Misérables in Concert is scheduled to play the famed outdoor venue Aug. 8 and 9 at 8:30 PM and Aug. 10 at 7:30 PM, according to the Bowl's official website. Neither casting nor a creative team has been announced for the production, although the Bowl says, "An all-star cast and the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra will bring you this sweeping story of love, passion and redemption."
Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Les Miserables was penned by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo. It features music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton.
Les Miz was first presented by Cameron Mackintosh and The Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in October 1985. The musical transferred to the West End's Palace Theatre later that year, where it played for 19 years. The production transferred to the Queen's Theatre in April 2004, where it continues today.
The original Broadway production — directed and adapted by Trevor Nunn and John Caird with Richard Jay-Alexander as associate director — ran March 12, 1987-May 18, 2003. The musical won eight 1987 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The recent Broadway revival — also directed by Caird — played Nov. 9, 2006-Jan. 6, 2008.
The beloved score includes such tunes as "Bring Him Home," "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," " Master of the House," "Castle on a Cloud," "Do You Hear the People Sing?" and "One Day More. The summer season at the Bowl will also include Julie Andrews: The Gift of Music, July 18 and 19. Andrews will host the evening, which will feature songs from The Sound of Music, The King & I and Cinderella as well as tunes from Simeon's Gift, the new musical based on her best-selling children's book. Ian Fraser will conduct the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra for the 8:30 PM concerts.
The interactive musical evening, Sing-a-Long Sound of Music, will return to the Hollywood Bowl Sept. 19. "Bring your costume (for the pre-show parade) and warm up your vocal cords for this beloved and always-sold-out event," the Bowl's website says. Show time is 6 PM.
The Hollywood Bowl is located at 2301 North Hollywood Avenue in Hollywood, CA. For tickets, call (323) 850-2000. Visit www.hollywoodbowl.com for more information.
