Prior to this date, Karimloo will not perform the Wednesday matinees on March 19 and 26. In addition, Karimloo will not perform May 19-22 due to a pre-existing professional obligation.
During these performances, the role of Jean Valjean will be performed by Aaron Walpole or Nathaniel Hackmann.
Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Miz will also offer a limited number of $37 rush tickets for each performance. Rush tickets will be available beginning 10 AM daily (and noon on Sundays as of March 30) at the Imperial Theatre box office only (249 West 45th Street).
The Broadway revival, which began performances March 1, stars West End actor Karimloo (Broadway debut, Toronto's Les Miz, The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies) as Jean Valjean, Andy Mientus (Broadway debut, Spring Awakening national tour, "Smash," Off-Broadway's Carrie) as Marius, Tony Award nominee Will Swenson (Hair, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Little Miss Sunshine) as Javert, West End and Broadway actress Caissie Levy (Ghost, Hair, Murder Ballad) as Fantine, Tony Award winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon; Fetch Clay, Make Man) as Eponine, Kyle Scatliffe (West End production of The Scottsboro Boys, Broadway debut) as Enjolras, Canadian actor Cliff Saunders (The 39 Steps, Toronto's Les Miz) as Thenardier and Tony Award nominee Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody) as Madame Thenardier.
Late in the show's rehearsal process, Samantha Hill (The Phantom of the Opera) took over the role of Cosette. The actress, who did not attend the musical's recent press event, replaced Charlotte Maltby (Les Miz at the St. Louis Muny, current musical theatre student at the University of Michigan). Press representatives declined to comment on Maltby's departure. Opening night on Broadway is set for March 23.
The Les Miz ensemble includes Erin Clemons, Emily Cramer (Mary Poppins), Natalie Charle Ellis (Forbidden Broadway), Jason Forbach, Heidi Giberson (Cinderella), Nathaniel Hackmann, Andrew Kober (Hair), Chris McCarrell, Melissa Mitchell, Dennis Moench (Mary Poppins), Adam Monley (Mamma Mia!), Betsy Morgan (A Little Night Music), Melissa O'Neil (Jesus Christ Superstar), Max Quinlan, John Rapson, Terance Reddick, Arbender Robinson (Hair), Christianne Tisdale (On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) and Aaron Walpole (Jesus Christ Superstar).
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| Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN |
The swings are Cathryn Basile (The Little Mermaid), John Brink, Ben Gunderson, Rachel Rincione and Weston Wells Olson.
The new production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley (inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo) with costumes by original designer Andreane Neofitou and additional costumes by Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter and projections by Fifty-Nine Productions. The new version inspired filmmakers to create the recent award-winning film of the same name.
The original New York production of Les Misérables premiered at the Broadway Theatre March 12, 1987, and later moved to the Imperial Oct. 17, 1990, where it played until May 18, 2003, for a total Broadway run of 6,680 performances.
This marks the third time Les Miz plays Broadway. Its first revival (staged by the original creative team, including Trevor Nunn and John Caird) was presented in 2006.
The Tony-winning score includes such classics as "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Stars," "Bring Him Home," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "One Day More," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Master Of The House" and more.
Les Miz, written by Boublil and Schönberg, is based on the 19th-century novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, original adaption by Trevor Nunn and John Caird and additional material by James Fenton.
The original Les Miz orchestrations are by John Cameron with new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and additional orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker.
The original London production is still running and is in its 29th year. The musical premiered at the Barbican Theatre in a co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1985. It transferred to the Palace Theatre in December of that year and then moved to its current home at the Queen's Theatre in April 2004 where it is still playing. Les Miz is the fourth longest-running Broadway production of all time.
For tickets phone (212) 239-6200 or visit Telecharge.com. Visit LesMis.com.
PHOTO SPECIAL: "We Meet Again..." Get to Know the Stars of Broadway's Upcoming Les Miz
Ramin Karimloo
Will Swenson
Caissie Levy
Nikki M. James
Andy Mientus
Samantha Hill
Cliff Saunders
Keala Settle
Kyle Scatliffe
