While Megan Lawrence takes a leave of absence from the Broadway company of Les Miserables, the "world's most popular musical" picks two popular former Eponines, Jessica Snow Wilson and Rona Figueroa, to cover the role of the waif girl unrequitedly besotted with the student revolutionary, Marius.
Wilson, taking the role from Aug. 31-Sept. 12, has performed Eponine on Broadway, with the American national tour (for which she won a 1995 Joseph Jefferson Award) and with the 1998 Toronto company, starring Colm Wilkinson. Wilson most recently performed Lizzie in the Roundabout's workshop of Baby. Other credits include Toffie in Zombie Prom and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
Figueroa, who played Eponine in June 1999 while Lawrence was getting married, will perform from Sept. 14 through mid-October. Figueroa made her Broadway debut as Kim in August 1993, staying with the role until July 1995. She then performed Eponine on tour with the national company of Les Miserables from April 1997-May 1998. Other credits include Grusha in the The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Madeline True in The Wild Party and the title role in Turandot. Figueroa wrote and starred in the award-winning film short, "Waiting in the Wings."
Lawrence is expected to return to her role in October. Lawrence recently married her castmate, Kevin Kern, who plays the student Jean Prouvaire and understudies Marius. A 1996 Helen Hayes Award winner for Little Red Riding Hood in Into the Woods, Lawrence's credits include Helen Hayes nominated turns in Company and Cabaret.
Continuing on with Les Miserables will be Nicholas Wyman (Thenardier), Fuschia Walker (Madame Thenardier), Peter Lockyer (Marius), Megan Lawrence (Eponine), Tobi Foster (Cosette) and Christopher Mark Peterson (Enjolras). Joining the cast Sept. 7 are Gregg Edelman, Jane Bodle and Timothy Shew, replacing Philip Hernandez, Alice Ripley and Fred Inkley as Javert, Fantine and Jean Valjean respectively. For tickets ($20-$80) for regular performances of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre call (212) 239-6200.
