Joining Colm Wilkinson on his return to Les Miserables will be seven Canadian actors, cast at auditions held in Toronto Jan. 20. Those performers will stay in the North American tour of the show, though Wilkinson will do only the Toronto gig, opening July 21 and running to Oct. 18 (with an extension likely).

The Cameron Mackintosh production will also star Timothy Howar (Marius), Susan Gilmour (Fantine), Michael Todd Cressman (Enjolras), Regan Thiel (Cosette), Jessica-Snow Wilson (Eponine -- a role she's already played on Broadway), Diana Kaarina and Sharon Matthews (Mme. Thenardier). Among the non-Canadians are Todd Alan Johnson (Javert) and J.P. Dougherty (Monsieur Thenardier). Irish-born Wilkinson has not played Jean Valjean since leaving the original Broadway company of Les Miz in 1987.

Wilkinson was last seen in Toronto at the Pantages Theatre in The Phantom of the Opera, where he played the disfigured liedmeister for five years. Toronto's Phantom is nearing its ninth anniversary. Broadway's Les Miz celebrated its 11th anniversary Mar. 12.

The Princess of Wales Theatre : 416-872-1212.