Clayton, Varela, et al. Complete LES MIS Touring Cast

Cameron Mackintosh announced the casting of his highly acclaimed new 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables making its United States premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse prior to a major US National Tour.  The all new production of Les Misérables features glorious new staging and spectacular reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.
 
Lawrence Clayton will portray the fugitive Jean Valjean.  He will be joined by Andrew Varela as Javert, Michael Kostroff as Thénardier, Shawna Hamic as Madame Thénardier, Betsy Morgan as Fantine, Jeremy Hays as Enjolras, Chasten Harmon as Eponine, Justin Scott Brown as Marius and Jenny Latimer as Cosette. Katherine Forrester and Anastasia Korbal alternate in the role of Little Cosette/Young Eponine.  Lewis Grosso and Josh Caggiano alternate in the role of Gavroche.  At certain performances, Ron Sharpe will play the role of Jean Valjean.
 
The ensemble includes Richard Todd Adams, Richard Barth, Cathryn Basile, Julie Benko, Cole Burden, Briana Carlson-Goodman, Casey Erin Clark, Jon Fletcher, Jason Forbach, Lucia Giannetta, Ian Patrick Gibb, Cooper Grodin, Ben Gunderson, Cornelia Luna, Benjamin Magnuson, Jason Ostrowski, John Rapson, Rachel Rincione, Heather Jane Rolff, Sarah Shahinian, Alan Shaw, Joseph Spieldenner, Joe Tokarz, Aliya Victoriya and Natalie Weiss.
 
Due to popular demand, Les Misérables will now play at Paper Mill Playhouse November 19 through December 30, 2010, adding 12 performances.  Les Misérables will play the following performance schedule: Wednesdays at 7:00PM, Thursdays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM, Fridays at 7:00PM, Saturdays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM and Sundays at 1:30PM & 7:00PM. (Extension weeks have a alternate schedule. Check Paper Mill Playhouse's website for more information regarding the extension.) Single tickets are now on sale and range in price from $25 to $92.  Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, or at the Paper Mill Box Office on Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at Paper Mill Playhouse's brand new website: www.papermill.org.  Paper Mill Playhouse gift cards, available in any denomination, can be purchased at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office.  Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express accepted.  Groups of ten or more can receive up to a 25% discount or more on tickets and should call 973-379-3636, extension 2438.  Paper Mill Playhouse's premiere of Les Misérables is generously supported by a gift from the Ferolito Family.
 
For more information, please visit; www.papermill.org or  www.lesmis.com.

The London Times hails the new production "a five star hit, astonishingly powerful and as good as the original."  The Guardian proclaims "a rousing, entertaining evening of spectacular theatre." Musical Stages says "the new orchestrations, direction, staging and lighting tell the story in a stimulating and refreshing new way that enables us all to dream a new dream and take us on a new adventure that we cannot fail to enjoy." The Daily Telegraph says, "sheer passion, pace, overwhelmingly moving, with many moments that send shivers of excitement racing down the spine.  You emerge feeling stirred and exhilarated." The Daily Express says "Victor Hugo's novel is spellbindingly brought back to life" and the London Evening Standard says "a handsome and moving new staging."
 
"I'm delighted that 25 years after Les Miz originally opened in London the audience for this marvelous show is bigger and younger than ever before," said producer Cameron Mackintosh. "Over the years I have seen many successful but visually different productions, so it has been exciting to draw inspiration from the brilliant drawings and paintings of Victor Hugo himself, Integrated with spectacular projections.  The new Les Miz is a magnificent mix of dazzling images and epic staging, driving one of the greatest musical stories ever told."

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.
 
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.
 
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. When Les Misérables celebrated its 21st London birthday on October 8, 2006, it became the World's Longest-Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by Cats in London's West End. 

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the legendary musical Les Misérables made theatrical history with an international first - three different productions in London at the same time. The Original Production, (still playing to packed houses at the Queen's Theatre), the acclaimed New 25th Anniversary Production at the Barbican (where the show originally premiered) and a celebratory concert at The O2.  The O2 Concert will be presented in cinemas throughout the United States in November.
 
The Broadway production of Les Misérables originally 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 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. To date, Les Misérables remains the 3rd longest-running Broadway production of all time.
 
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 soon to be 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 Working Title and Universal.
 
The cast of Les Misérables includes:
 
Lawrence Clayton (Jean Valjean). Broadway: Bells Are Ringing, It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues, The Civil War, Once Upon A Mattress, and Dreamgirls. Off-Broadway: Crowns at Second Stage, Saturn Returns and Romance in Hard Times at The Public Theater, Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar at the Paramount Theater at Madison Square Garden. He also starred as Montel/Jesus in the New York Premier of Jerry Springer The Opera at Carnegie Hall with Harvey Keitel. He reprised the roles in the Sydney Opera House production. Small screen appearances include "The Big C," "All My Children," "Another World," "As the World Turns," "One Life to Live," "Deadline," and "Law and Order: CI."
 
Andrew Varela (Javet) is thrilled to come back to his Paper Mill Playhouse family for his FIFTH show (Romeo and Bernadette, Pirates!, Happy Days, Oklahoma!)! Andrew is a  Summit High School alum and graduate of Rutgers University. Since then he has performed on Broadway (King David, Les Misérables, Little Women, Sunday in the Park with George) and on national tours (Evita, Cats, Les Misérables, Little Women, Phantom).
 
Michael Kostroff (Thénardier) is best known for his long-running roles on HBO's "The Wire" and Disney's "Sonny with a Chance." He's guest starred on TV's "The Closer," "Without a Trace," "Brothers and Sisters," "Weeds," "Cold Case," "West Wing," "Veronica Mars," "ER," "Boston Legal," "Studio 60," and many others. Kostroff toured in The Producers, understudying Max Bialystock, a role he's since played all over the country. This production marks his return to Les Misérables, having played Thénardier in the third national tour. He's the author of Letters from Backstage, a funny, behind-the-scenes chronicle of life on the road.
 
Shawna M. Hamic (Mme. Thenardier). NY workshops: The Toymaker, Screams of Kitty Genovese, Glen or Glenda. Regional: Twist (directed/choreographed by Debbie Allen); Les Misérables; Ragtime; Hello, Dolly!; The Molly Maguires; Genesis; My Fair Lady; Mame; Kismet; Once Upon A Mattress; H2$; Guys & Dolls (in Macao, China). Named "The Next Broadway Sensation" by the NY Musical Theater Festival.
 
Betsy Morgan (Fantine). Broadway: original casts of A Little Night Music (2009 revival), The Little Mermaid, and High Fidelity (original cast recordings). New York theatre, readings, and workshops: Tales of the City, Dangerous Beauty, The Addams Family, Prairie, Leap of Faith, Memphis, The Fantasticks (original 2006 revival cast), Bernarda Alba at Lincoln Center. TV: "Flight of the Conchords" (HBO). Regional theatre: Giant, World Premiere at Signature Theatre (Leslie Benedict), Of Mice and Men at The Westport Country Playhouse, Clara in The Light in the Piazza, Maureen in Rent, and Cathy in The Last Five Years. BFA from Emerson College. Originally from Winnetka, Illinois.
 
Jeremy Hays (Enjolras) is excited to be making his Paper Mill Playhouse debut! Broadway: Les Misérables. National tour: Rum Tum Tugger in Cats. Regional: Berger in Hair (American Stage), Les Misérables (TUTS), Lancelot in Camelot (PA Center Stage).
 
Chasten Harmon (Eponine) was just seen in Once On This Island as Ti Moune at the Marriott Theatre. Broadway: Hair, winner of the Tony® Award for best musical revival. Off-Broadway: Iphigenia 2.0 (directed by Tina Landau) at the Signature Theatre, Grind (Clementine) at The York Theatre. Regional: All Shook Up (Lorraine) at the Marriott Theatre, Leader of the Pack at the Cape Playhouse. Chasten received her training at NYU from Tisch School of the Arts.
 
Justin Scott Brown (Marius) is thrilled to be a part of the new 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables! National tour: Spring Awakening (1st National). Regional: Most recently The Sound of Music (Rolf) as well as Titanic, Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, and others at The St. Louis MUNY. Favorite roles include Finch in How to Succeed . . . and Giorgio in Passion. Graduate of the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (BFA-2009).
 
Jenny Latimer (Cosette) is thrilled to be making her Paper Mill Playhouse debut with such a beautiful show. Most recently she worked alongside director Mark Lamos and Jonathan Butterell The Westport Country Playhouse's production of She Loves Me. Other favorite credits include Maury Yeston's Phantom (Christine), My Fair Lady (Eliza), Cinderella (Cinderella), and Hamlet (Ophelia). Training includes the BFA Acting program at Brigham Young University and the School at Steppenwolf.
 
Ron Sharpe (Jean Valjean Alternate) Broadway: Les Misérables (Jean Valjean/Marius), The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War, and King David. Executive Producer, Broadway: A Tale of Two Cities (Best Musical - Outer Critics Circle Award and Drama Desk nominations). Executive Producer, A Tale of Two Cities - In Concert (PBS and DVD) narrated by Michael York and international studio cast recording CD. Producer A Catered Affair (Tony® and Drama Desk nominations) and cast recording and upcoming national tour of A Tale of Two Cities.  

For more information on the production, please visit www.lesmis.com.      
 
Paper Mill Playhouse, a not-for-profit arts organization, is one of the country's leading regional theaters.  Paper Mill Playhouse programs are made possible, in part, by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, A Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and by funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.  Additional major support is provided by generous contributions from numerous corporations, foundations, and individuals.  Paper Mill Playhouse is a member of Theatre Communications Group, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, the Council of Stock Theatres, and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance.