On March 12, Les Miserables will start its 14th year on Broadway, with no sign of a Cats-like collapse in sight. On that day, the Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schonberg musical, based on Victor Hugo's novel, will play its 5,351st performance.
J. Mark McVey now plays Jean Valjean, having joined the cast March 7. He plays alongside the current Javert, Gregg Edelman, and Fantine, Jane Bodle.
McVey is well versed in the role of the noble, downtrodden Valjean -- he essayed the role in London and in the American national company, as well as in a previous stint on Broadway beginning in 1991.
Courtesy of the Publicity Office, which reps Les Miz, here are a few other interesting facts about the longevity of the musical hit:
* As of March 2000, the Broadway production had grossed more than $370 million, with 7.6 million people having seen the show.
* 355 actors have performed in the Broadway company.
* 1,538 people have worked on the show in various capacities.
* 210 people are currently employed in direct association with the show.
* 429 shows have opened on Broadway since Les Miserables opened.
* Nearly 400 shows have closed on Broadway since Les Miserables opened.
* The on-stage turntable has made more than 173,056 revolutions. * The last five U.S. Presidents have seen the show.
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In other Les Miz news, Nov. 23, 1999 First Night Records released the newly remastered Complete Symphonic Recording of Les Miserables, an enhanced CD featuring video clips from Germany, Austria, Norway, Czech Republic and the 10th Anniversary concert, as well as highlights from the Les Miserables interactive CD-ROM.
To create the Complete Symphonic Recording, First Night drafted performers from the Broadway, London, Tokyo, Los Angeles and Sydney productions of Les Miserables. The Grammy Award-winner has already gone gold in the United States.
Tickets ($20-$80) for regular performances of Les Miserables at the Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street, can be ordered by calling (212) 239-6200.
