Claude-Michel Schonberg News

In the second act of MISS SAIGON, there is a song called 'Too Much for One Heart.' And that's how one might describe the national touring production of MISS SAIGON which opened at the Durham Performing Arts Center last night. It's just too much.

LES MISERABLES is a worldwide phenomenon, the timeless musical that tells the triumphant tale of redemption of Jean Valjean, sentenced to 19 years of hard labor for stealing a loaf of bread to save a starving child. In Morsani Hall at the Straz Center on Thursday, we, the grateful audience, were transported.

Red Concepcion grew up listening to show tunes. In fact, he remembers listening to cast albums like MISS SAIGON from the age of five. Fast forward 20 plus years and Concepcion found himself playing the role of The Engineer on the UK tour. He says although he knew the music by heart, he had no idea how big and epic the show was until rehearsals started. And for that five-year-old little boy growing up listening to the soundtrack in the Philippines, working with Claude Michel Schonberg (music), Alain Boublil (lyrics), and ?Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyrics) is a dream come true. 'It's wonderful as an actor to be in such a creative space,' he says. 'They don't write scores like this anymore.'

Not many people know the name Claude-Michel Schonberg, but everybody knows his music: as the composer of Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, Claude-Michel is present in everyone's playlist, in a songbook on everyone's piano, and in every karaoke lineup. Last night, he sat down with journalist Edward Seckerson to talk about his life, work, and inspiration, and the projects that didn't quite make it.

There is probably little to say or write about Les Miserables that has not already been said or written. Claude-Michel Schonberg's epic musical, based on Victor Hugo's equally epic 1862 novel, first captured audiences' imaginations as a concept piece in France in 1980. Since the reimagined English language version starring Colm Wilkinson and Patti LuPone premiered in London in 1985, productions, special concert events and revivals have sprung up throughout the world, including on Broadway, where the show's original run lasted over 16 years and it has twice been revived. Les Miserables has also been adapted for film, including the 2012 musical version, which starred the likes of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Eddie Redmayne, and garnered Anne Hathaway an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Indeed, after more than 30 years as part of our cultural lexicon, Les Miserables remains a musical theater juggernaut, whose enduring themes of redemption, loyalty and love, incredible score and sheer longevity imbue it with an unmatched sense of gravitas.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, opens tonight in Rochester with its much anticipated engagement at RBTL's Auditorium Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. LES MISERABLES is a 2018-2019 M&T Bank Broadway Season Special Presented by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and Albert Nocciolino.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon,LES MISERABLES, will go on sale Friday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. for its much-anticipated New Orleans engagement at the Saenger Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. Presented by the New Orleans Theatre Association, LES MISERABLES is part of the Hancock Whitney Broadway in New Orleans 2018-2019 season.

Casting for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, has been announced for its much anticipated St. Louis engagement at the Fabulous Fox Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement.

Broadway in Richmond at the Altria Theater opens its 2018-2019 season with a phenomenal bang. Boublil and Schonberg's Les Miserables returns to Richmond through October 28. Fans old and new will enjoy this garden-fresh, pitch-perfect duplication of the 2014 Broadway revival directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell. Tickets can be purchased here.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, is on sale now for its much anticipated Cleveland engagement at Playhouse Square as part of the KeyBank Broadway Series direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, will go on sale Monday, September 24 @ 10:00am EST for its much anticipated Rochester engagement at RBTL's Auditorium Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. LES MISERABLES is a 2018-2019 M&T Bank Broadway Season Special Presented by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and Albert Nocciolino.

The national tour of Miss Saigon has begun its rehearsals. The cast and creative team met the press recently, and BroadwayWorld was there! Check out the photos below.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, will go on sale September 7, 2018 at 9:30 a.m. for its much anticipated Sioux Falls, SD engagement at the Washington Pavilion direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. 

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, will go on sale Friday, August 10 at 10:00 a.m. for its much anticipated Baltimore engagement October 9-14, 2018 at the Hippodrome Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement.

Individual tickets for Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, go on sale Friday, August 3 at 10 am.  The much anticipated Mischer Neurosciences Broadway engagement at the Hobby Center is direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, will go on sale Monday, August 6 at 10 AM for its much anticipated engagement at North Charleston Performing Arts Center direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. To purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, call 1-800-745-3000 or visit the North Charleston Coliseum Advance Ticket office. Reserved seat ticket prices start at $45 plus applicable fees.

Good morning BroadwayWorld! Today's top stories: Smokey Joe's Cafe begins previews tonight, and more!

This December, the Tony-Award winning composer and lyricist Claude-Michel Schonberg comes to London for an intimate one-off 'in conversation' event with Edward Seckerson at The Bridge Theatre.

Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISERABLES, will go on sale Monday, May 7 at 10am for its much anticipated Vancouver engagement at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement.

Twintig jaar na de laatste voorstellingen In Belgie en bijna veertig jaar na de wereldpremiere in Parijs, keert de musical aller musicals terug naar ons land. Music Hall presenteert i.s.m. Cityprod een grootse, semiconcertante uitvoering van 'Les Miserables' op 22 en 23 maart 2019 in Vorst Nationaal. 'Les Miserables en Concert', naar de roman van Victor Hugo, is een adembenemende concertbeleving van 's werelds meest populaire musical. 28 topzangers en -zangeressen, ondersteund door een groot symfonisch orkest, brengen de prachtige muziek van componist Claude-Michel Schonberg tot leven als nooit tevoren. Indrukwekkende projecties en verbluffende lichteffecten vormen de decors. Onze eigen Hans Peter Janssens, de Valjean aller Valjeans, mag uiteraard ook niet ontbreken op het podium in Vorst Nationaal. Music Hall presenteert 'Les Miserables en Concert' in de originele Franstalige versie, met de teksten van schrijver Alain Boublil, voorzien van Nederlands- en Engelstalige boventiteling. Tickets & info 'Les Miserables en Concert': www.30jaarmusichall.be