Gemignani, Lewis, Rubin-Vega, Beach, Etc. Set for Les Miz

Principal casting for the Broadway return of Les Miserables has been announced. The epic musical is set to play a special limited six-month engagement, beginning this coming fall at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street). Previews will begin Saturday, October 21st, with an official opening slated for Thursday, November 9th.

Storming the barricades will be Alexander Gemignani (Sweeney Todd, Assassins) as noble on-the-run convict Jean Valjean, Norm Lewis (Chicago, The Wild Party, Side Show) as the persistent Javert, Tony Award-winner Gary Beach (La Cage aux Folles, The Producers) as raucous innkeeper Thenardier, Tony-nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Bernarda Alba, Anna in the Tropics, Rent) as the doomed Fantine, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thenardier, Aaron Lazar (The Light in the Piazza) as the heroic Enjolras, Adam Jacobs as romantic hero Marius, Lea Michele (Fiddler on the Roof, Les Miserables, Ragtime) as lovelorn waif Eponine and Ali Ewoldt as enamored heroine Cosette.

With music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton, Les Miserables is based on the sprawling novel by Victor Hugo.
 
Les Miserables is the third longest-running show in Broadway history and will, on October 9, pass the 21 year old record of Cats in London to become the longest-running musical ever on the West End or Broadway with 8,372 performances; a run nearly three years longer than Broadway's record-holder The Phantom of the Opera, all three shows having been produced by Cameron Mackintosh. Les Miserables has been seen by over 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985. The original Broadway production opened on March 12, 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical. The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances. It originally starred Colm Wilkinson, Terrence Mann, Judy Kuhn, Randy Graff, Frances Ruffelle and more.

Directed by Trevor Nunn & John Caird, the musical is designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and sound by Andrew Bruce.

Les Miserables was first presented by Cameron Mackintosh and The Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre in October, 1985. The musical transferred to the West End's Palace Theatre later that year, where it played for 19 years. Les Miserables transferred to the Queen's Theatre in April, 2004, where it continues today.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public in June, with group sales beginning later this month. More casting will be announced at a later date.