Casting "Les Miz" Today

[WayWicked]

Posted: 8/27/04 at 6:10pm

Since theater today seems all about the names in a show, do you think the casting for "Les Miz" today would be any different. Meaning, would they go with Brooke Shields for Cossett? Melanie Griffith as Fantine? Rip Taylor as Jean Valjean?

[Delphine]

Posted: 8/27/04 at 6:20pm

This is going to seem really mean, but I'm very nitpicky.
It's Cosette, not "Cossett".

As for your question, if it were a LM revival, I sincerely doubt that.

[Broadway Matt]

Posted: 8/27/04 at 6:35pm

Les Mis isn't too susceptible to stunt casting because it is largely an ensemble show, and the handful of lead roles are simply too difficult vocally for most non-singers to handle. This would limit them to pop music personalities, as they've already done a bit of with Debbie Gibson as Eponine and Ricky Martin as Marius. Those are 2 roles where you can pass off a pop voice, so long as they have a decent range. Also Monsieur and Madame T could be played by any set of comedic actors with decent musical ability. The majority of the other featured parts are reliant on having capable "legit" or operatic singers, otherwise why bother doing it?

The other thing with Les Mis is that it doesn't leave much room for a performer to add anything "cute" or take liberties to make themselves standout. It is a historical piece that is very demanding of every cast member and basically needs to be done a certain way. This wouldn't make it a very attractive choice for too many of these famous people who want to dabble in Broadway. Sure a few vocally-adept popstars might slip through the cracks, and if they can pull it off and are willing to work that hard, good for them. But Les Mis is not for the faint of heart, not for the Hasselhoffs and Fatones of the world.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:20pm

I would love to see Lanie Kazan as Madame T. Although it's not much of a role.

And David Hyde Pierce would make a rocking Mr. T.

[Kelly]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:44pm

He's not really a "name" in this sense (yet) but after hearing Euan Morton sing a few lines of Empty Chairs At Empty Tables, I'd probably sacrifice a limb to see him as Marius.

[POLisPOL]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:49pm

since we have a dream cast album... what about a nightmare cast?

jean valjean-david hasselhoff
fantine-melanie griffith
...

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:52pm

WayWicked: Melanie as Fantine. Oh-no...

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:56pm

You might as well shoot me now...

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 1:58pm

I agree........there really isn't a place for a big name in Les Miserables. It is not like Chicago where it is all about one or two people. There are A LOT of characters. Kind of off subject, but not......has there been any famous people in POTO?

Posted: 8/29/04 at 2:04pm

paul stanley from kiss

[NoDayButToday2]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 4:35pm

when they stunt cast les mis, there is something wrong with the world...

[venticelli]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 4:51pm

"The other thing with Les Mis is that it doesn't leave much room for a performer to add anything "cute" or take liberties to make themselves standout."

Great point regarding this show Broadway Matt - this factor alone would eliminate Rip Taylor entirely! I don't think the world is ready for a Valjean who is armed with his trusty confetti gun! oh the evils of stunt casting

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 4:54pm

I just get terrified when thinking about the Weissler's ideal SITPWG.

[Plum]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 7:41pm

Are they producing it, Priest?

[Speed]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 8:17pm

1) Theater has ALWAYS been about names in the show. If anything, theater used to be MORE star driven in the past.

2) Les Miz was never immune to casting names such as Debbie Gibson, Lea Salonga, Melba Moore, Andrea McCardle, and Ricky Martin.

[shesings]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 8:22pm

what about Frankie Muniz as the little boy? Oh and maybe we could fit the Olsen Twins in somehow ....

[KarenNYC]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 8:44pm

Don't forget Shanice, an R&B singer from the early 90s who played Eponine for a while. If the official Les Mis site is still functioning I think you can see a video clip of her in "A Litte Fall of Rain," which is all kinds of horrifying.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 8:51pm

Les Mis is too difficult for any really famous, untalented stars to sing and perform in. Ricky Martin may have been considered stunt-casting, but I'm sure he could sing and act the role, unlike many other stunt casted performers.

By the way...Lea Salonga, Melba Moore, and Andrea McArdle are not such big names. Two of them are famous only in the theater, really--stunt casting is often people come to the show just to see big stars..this isn't the case with well known incredible talented Broadway performers replace someone in a show.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 8:56pm

Jean Valjean- Ashton Kutcher
Cosette- Ashlee Simpson
Eponine- Hillary Duff (Let The Rain Fall Down will be substituted for A Little Fall of Rain)
Javert-Robin Williams
Marius- Anthony Hopkins
Enjolras- Donald Rumsfeld
Thenardier- Donald Trump
Madame Thenardier- Martha Stewart

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 8/29/04 at 9:09pm

Hilary Duff is falling for Anthoney Hopkins, hmmm mental image. I would pay money to see Robin WIlliams as JAvert, Bwahahahaha.