CONFIRMED: Ramin Karimloo to Join West End's LES MISERABLES

As reported exclusively on BroadwayWorld UK yesterday, Ramin Karimloo will star as ‘Jean Valjean' in the legendary musical "LES MISÉRABLES" at the Queen's Theatre from Tuesday 29 November 2011- Saturday 3 March 2012. Ramin joins the current West End company which includes Hadley Fraser as ‘Javert', Caroline Sheen as ‘Fantine', Alexia Khadime as ‘Eponine', Craig Mather as ‘Marius', Cameron Blakely as ‘Thénardier', Katy Secombe as ‘Madame Thénardier', Liam Tamne as ‘Enjolras' and Lisa-Anne Wood as ‘Cosette'.

Ramin Karimloo most recently played the role of ‘The Phantom' in the 25th Anniversary celebrations of "The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall", a role he has previously played in the West End. Other theatre credits include creating the role of ‘The Phantom' in "Love Never Dies" (2011 Olivier Award Nominee and Winner of the 2011 What's On Stage Award, both for ‘Best Actor in a Musical'). No stranger to "LES MISÉRABLES", Ramin has previously played ‘Enjolras' in the West End, a role he also had the privilege of performing in "Les Misérables - A Special Concert at Windsor Castle" to celebrate the centenary of the Entente Cordiale, in front of Her Majesty The Queen. He also played the role in the 25th Anniversary celebration of "Les Misérables at The 02". Other theatre credits include ‘Chris' in "Miss Saigon". Recordings include his own album "Within the Six Square Inch", the première symphonic recording of "Love Never Dies" and "The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall". Ramin has recently signed with Sony and is currently recording his first solo album.

The magnificent score of "LES MISÉRABLES" includes the 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" originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen's Theatre on 3 April 2004. When "LES MISÉRABLES" celebrated its 21st London birthday on 8 October 2006, it became the World's Longest Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by "Cats" in London's West End. In January 2010, the West End production broke another record by celebrating its historic 10,000th performance.

Seen by nearly 60 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 21 languages, "LES MISÉRABLES" is undisputedly one of the world's most popular musicals ever written, with new productions continually opening around the globe, with seven more currently scheduled. There have been 36 cast recordings of "LES MISÉRABLES", including the multi-platinum London cast recording, the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums and the recently released live recording of the New 25th Anniversary Production. The video of the 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold millions of copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling musical videos ever in the UK. 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, making it the most successful musical ever produced in schools. Cameron Mackintosh is currently developing a film of "LES MISÉRABLES" with Eric Fellner and Tim Bevan of Working Title and Universal Studios.

Cameron Mackintosh's production of "LES MISÉRABLES" is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. The original London 1985 production of "LES MISÉRABLES" was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.

Tickets for "LES MISÉRABLES" are priced £15 - £65.
Box Office 0844 482 5160.
Performances: Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm.
Matinees - Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2.30pm.
www.lesmis.com