TALKING POINT BASICS
We want to tout that this production is returning to your town DIRECT FROM AN ACCLAIMED TWO‐AND‐ A-HALF YEAR BROADWAY RUN. Other than the original West End production, this is THE definitive production now being done worldwide (including Japan and Brazil.) We want to talk about the beautiful scenic design by Matt Kinley that incorporates Victor Hugo’s artwork with advanced projection technology that gives the production a cinematic look layered in with the set. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the classic songs “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 many more. Les Misérables is the world’s longest running musical of all time and remains the 5th longest‐running Broadway production of all time (6,680 performances). We no longer reference this tour as “new” or the “25th Anniversary Production.” Once you say or type “Les Misérables” once, it is appropriate to just say “Les Miz” from then on.
CREATIVE TEAM DETAILS
Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of Boublil and Schönberg’s Les Misérables has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer from the original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. The production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo with costumes by Andreane Neofitou and additional costumes by Christine Rowlands, lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the story of Les Misérables? The action begins in 1815 as Jean Valjean, a man condemned to 19 years of hard labor for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, finds only hatred and suspicion when he is released on parole. Meeting one man who believes in him, Valjean breaks his parole to begin a new life. The story truly begins as Jean Valjean crosses the landscape of early 19th century France, always pursued by the righteous police inspector Javert. From his adoption and love of the orphan Cosette, to the darkly funny plots of the thieving Thénardiers, from the soaring revolutionary fire of the student rebels who fight on the barricade in the streets of Paris to the final confrontation between Jean Valjean and Javert, the story of Les Misérables is one of love, courage and redemption.
What is Les Misérables like? Les Misérables is a sweeping masterpiece that has been a record‐breaking success worldwide since its London opening in 1985. Les Misérables has been translated into 22 different languages and been performed in front of more than 70 million people in 45 countries and is the longest running musical in the world. The Academy Award winning film adaptation, starring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway, was released in December 2012. This tour is direct from the most recent two‐and‐a‐half year Broadway production ‐ so now is the perfect chance to see the thrilling Les Miz live on stage.
Is Les Misérables good for kids? Les Misérables has been a mainstay on the stage for over 30 years and while this epic musical is an inspiring story of love, courage and redemption it also contains many themes related to complex and difficult subject matter including social revolution, poverty and prostitution. When choosing to bring the family to Les Misérables, parents should make their own decision based on the maturity of their child. The production is recommended for ages 10 and up.
Is Les Misérables sung in French? No. While various names are French and the title is in French, the show is performed completely in English.
What is the show running time? 2 hours 55 minutes including a 20 minute intermission. We recommend always putting a positive spin on any questions regarding the length of the show.
WORLDWIDE GENERAL SHOW FACTS & FIGURES – AS OF MAY 2017
Along with the Oscar‐winning movie, Les Misérables has been seen by over 130 million people worldwide in 45 countries, 350 cities and in 22 languages o The Countries are: England, USA, Japan, Israel, Hungary, Australia, Iceland, Norway, Austria, Canada, Poland, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, New Zealand, France, Czech Republic, Spain, Northern Ireland, Eire, Scotland, Wales, Bermuda, Malta, Philippines, Mauritius, Singapore, Germany, Hong Kong, Korea, South Africa, Belgium, Finland, Argentina, Brazil, Estonia, China, Mexico, Switzerland, Serbia, The Channel Islands, The Dominican Republic, The Canary Islands, The Balearic Islands And The United Arab Emirates o Languages: English, Japanese, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian, German, Polish, Swedish, Dutch, Danish, French, Czech, Castillian, Mauritian Creole, Flemish, Finnish, Argentinian, Portuguese, Estonian, Mexican Spanish and Korean. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the classic songs “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 many more. There have been 47 cast recordings of Les Misérables (including albums, singles, symphonic and digital download albums). Both the Original Broadway cast album and the Symphonic recording won Grammy Awards. Les Misérables originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on October 8, 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on December 4, 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen’s Theatre on April 3, 2004 where it continues to play to packed houses and is the only version of the original production left in the world. The original Broadway production of Les Misérables opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987 and transferred to the Imperial Theatre on October 17, 1990 running for 6,680 performances. The original US National Tour began in November 1987 and visited over 150 cities before closing in St. Louis, MO in 2006. Broadway audiences welcomed LES MIZ back to New York on November 9, 2006 where the show played the Broadhurst Theatre until its final performance on January 6, 2008.
The new production was conceived to celebrate the 25th Anniversary in 2009, with record‐breaking productions in the UK, Australia, Korea, Japan, Spain, France, Manila, Singapore and Dubai with upcoming productions in Spain and South America. The North American Tour traveled across the US for 2 years then played a 5 month engagement in Toronto before returning to Broadway in March 2014 for over 1,000 performances.
To date, Les Misérables remains the 5th longest‐running Broadway production of all time. There are over 2,500 productions of the Les Misérables School’s Edition scheduled or being performed by over 125,000 school children in the UK, US and Australia. Over 100 professional companies have opened Les Misérables worldwide including: o London (2 Productions) New York (3 Productions), Tokyo (5 Companies & Concert Tour Company), Tel Aviv (2 Productions), Budapest (2 Productions), US National Tours 1 - 4, Sydney, Reykjavik (2 Productions), Oslo (2 Productions), Vienna, Toronto, Gydnia, Melbourne, Stockholm, Montreal (2 Productions), Canada Tour, Amsterdam (2 Productions), Odense, Paris, Prague (2 Productions), Madrid (2 Productions), Copenhagen (2 Productions), UK Tour (4 Companies), Manila, Duisburg, South East Asia, Australia National Tour (3 Productions), Antwerp, Helsinki, Buenos Aires, Sao Paulo, Estonia, Shanghai, Korea (2 Productions), Mexico, Scandinavian Concert Tour, Berlin, Danish Tour, Belgrade, Rotterdam, Brno and Warsaw Les Misérables has won over 140 major theatre awards including 8 Tony Awards and 5 Drama Desk Awards. The show recently won the 2017 Whatsonstage Award for Best West End show. There are approximately 101 cast and crew directly involved in every performance not including front of house staff, and the huge back up services including ticket sales, advertising and publicity, wardrobe staff, set contractors, maintenance and office personnel. Each performance entails some 392 complete costumes consisting of some 1782 items of clothing and 31 wigs.
PRONUNCIATIONS
Babet Baeh‐bay Enjolras On‐jer‐ras Bamatabois Ba‐MA‐ta‐bwah Éponine Eh‐po‐neen Brujon Brew‐zjohn Jean Valjean Zjohn Val‐zjohn Claquesous Klack‐sue Joly Jolie (like Angelina) Combeferre Com‐fur Lesgles Leg‐eh‐lay Cosette CO‐zette Montparnasse Mont‐peh‐ness Courfeyrac Kore‐fer‐rack Prouvaire Proo‐verre Feuilly Fhu‐ee Thénardier Ten‐NAR‐dee‐Ay
Alain Boublil Ah‐lawn Boo‐bleel Claude‐Michel Schönberg Clawd‐MEEshell Shoan‐berg
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