Side Show star Alice Ripley joins the cast of the Broadway production of Les Miserables Sept. 8. She will play Fantine, as first speculated by InTheater and confirmed to PBOL by show spokesman Michael Borowski (Aug. 11).

Ripley previously played Fantine in 1993 in the national tour of Les Miz. Since then, she has played such roles as Betty Schaeffer in Sunset Boulevard, Bathsheba in Disney's King David, and, most famously, half of the Hilton Siamese twins in last season's Side Show. She shared a Tony nomination with Emily Skinner for the latter performance.

Press rep Borowski said that Fred Inkley was in talks to play the part of Jean Valjean. Inkley's previous work includes a stint as the Beast in the Minneapolis production of Beauty and the Beast.

The current Fantine is Juliet Lambert, while Valjean is played by Craig Schulman. Other cast-members include Robert Gallagher (Javert), Megan Lawrence (Eponine), Nick Wyman and Fuschia Walker (the Thenardiers), Christeena Michelle Riggs (Cosette) and Peter Lockyer (Marius).

Les Miz opened on Broadway Mar. 12, 1987 at the Imperial Theatre. For tickets call (212) 239-6200.