It feels as though we've all been waiting a long time to say this, but it was finally no longer 'One Day More' as Les Miserables made her grand return to Toronto last night at The Princess of Wales Theatre, and with it, brought Richmond Hill native and West End star Ramin Karimloo home to a Toronto stage. The new production is a must-see, with a top notch cast and brilliant new staging that will make you fall in love all over again. Join in their crusade, you won't be disappointed.
Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group just announced the casting and initial tour schedule for their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA launching a major North American Tour in Providence, R.I. at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will be performed by a cast and orchestra of 52, making this one of the largest productions on tour in North America.
Cameron Mackintosh's latest production of Boublil & Schonberg's masterpiece, LES MISERABLES, the first show of the 2013-2014 Mirvish Subscription Season, opened September 27 at Princess of Wales Theatre. Below, check out a first look at the cast, including Ramin Karimloo, Earl Carpenter, and more raising the barricade in Toronto!
Ramin Karimloo is no stranger to the stage, he's had an impressive career making a name for himself in productions such as The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies and Les Miserables on the West End. That said, Karimloo has yet to perform in a production on a Toronto stage, despite spending most of his childhood growing up in Richmond Hill and attending Toronto theatre. Now Mirvish Productions has brought him home to Toronto, where he will perform the lead role of Jean Valjean in the Canadian Premiere of the 25th Anniversary Production of Les Miserables. BWW spoke with Ramin about his Les Miserables experience, returning to Toronto, working with fellow West End star Earl Carpenter and more.
The Canadian production of Les Miserables begins previews at the end of the week, boasting an incredibly talented cast from across the country, and a 'borrowed' West End star in the role of Javert. Earl Carpenter hails from the U.K., where he has been wowing musical theatre audiences for over fifteen years. He speaks with BWW about coming to perform in Toronto, the 'new' version of Les Miserables, and working with former West End colleague Ramin Karimloo.
The Canadian production of Les Miserables begins previews at the end of the week, boasting an incredibly talented cast from across the country, and a 'borrowed' West End star in the role of Javert. Earl Carpenter hails from the U.K., where he has been wowing musical theatre audiences for over fifteen years. He speaks with BWW about coming to perform in Toronto, the 'new' version of Les Miserables, and working with former West End colleague Ramin Karimloo.
BroadwayWorld attended the Les Miserables press preview on September 16 to see a few numbers from the show, and talk about the latest Canadian revival with the cast.
Excitement is building for the Toronto premiere of the new Cameron Mackintosh production of Boublil & Schonberg's masterpiece LES MISERABLES, the first show of the 2013-2014 Mirvish Subscription Season.
Glasgow is set to be haunted by not one Phantom but three as the Theatre Royal will play host to what has become the most exciting concert phenomenon to tour the UK in recent years!
Glasgow is set to be haunted by not one Phantom but three as the Theatre Royal will play host to what has become the most exciting concert phenomenon to tour the UK in recent years!
From the Producers of THREE PHANTOMS comes an evening of equally fantastic 'musical mayhem'. A Touch of West End comes to the Royal Armouries Hall in Leeds for one night only.
How does one write about a work of art? Cameron Macintosh's touring production of The Phantom of the Opera is exactly that and brought the house down at the Birmingham Hippodrome last night. The 19th March is apt for the final press night of the current tour as the show is also marking it's 11,000th performance in the West End. That itself shows the incredible draw that Phantom has some 27 years on.
Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group announced earlier today that their spectacular new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera will launch a North American tour beginning this November in Providence, R.I at the Providence Performing Arts Center. With newly reinvented staging and stunning scenic design, this new version of PHANTOM, the most successful musical of all-time, will play more than 20 multi-week engagements through next year, including Cincinnati, OH and Minneapolis, MN. A complete tour schedule will be announced in the coming weeks. First unveiled in March, 2012 in Plymouth, England, this reinvented PHANTOM has been an enormous box-office and critical hit throughout the U.K.
Check out photos and highlights from the newly imagined production below!
From the Producers of THREE PHANTOMS comes an evening of equally fantastic 'musical mayhem'. A Touch of West End comes to the Royal Armouries Hall in Leeds for one night only.
The highly-anticipated film version of LES MISERABLES is now in theaters! To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld brings you an in-depth look at the characters and the actors who portray them. Today, it's all about Inspector Javert (Russell Crowe)!
Birmingham Hippodrome has announced details of one of its busiest years ever, with no fewer than three West End blockbusters, a ballet premiere, new opera productions and the return of several popular favourites. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the season in the video below.
The UK touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA features Earl Carpenter as 'The Phantom' and Katie Hall as 'Christine'. They are joined by Simon Bailey as 'Raoul', Angela M. Caesar as 'Carlotta', Andy Hockley as 'Monsieur Firmin', Simon Green as 'Monsieur Andre', Elizabeth Marsh as 'Madame Giry', Vincent Pirillo as 'Ubaldo Piangi', Hannah Cadec as 'Meg Giry' and Olivia Brereton as 'Christine' at certain performances. Check out new photos of the cast in action below!
Controversy is never too far offstage in any Simon Cowell production - manufactured, actual or otherwise - and the debut season of the US edition of his international smash reality singing competition THE X FACTOR on Fox has been overloaded with drama, meltdowns, breakdowns and buckets of tears. Stars have been made and dreams have been broken - par for the course, as always, on a singing show like this. Yet, no one on the show, whether judge or participant - no, not even Paula Abdul, Rachel Crow or the flasher himself - has been met with the irate hate and all-around ire of fans and critics alike quite like new judge Nicole Scherzinger. Sure, Simon cajoles her and criticizes her too much - to much winning effect - amping up the competition amongst the four judges, as is his wont - and, really, that's the whole hook of the show, anyway. The ex-Pussycat Dolls front-woman (remember 'Don't Cha'?), Scherzinger has had middling success in her solo career post-Pussycats in the US, yet she has racked up #1 hits overseas, and, had her last album not been plagued with stateside release issues, perhaps there would be a larger audience more aware of her repertoire and irreproachable talent here on these shores. Alas, many are meeting her for the first time in her new role as an X FACTOR judge - responsible for the most difficult category, no less; the Over 30s - and perhaps that is not the best light to make first impressions under. No matter what her judging abilities are, the girl can clearly sing - and sing well - which is more than can be said of many in similar roles on other singing-centered shows (or even this one). In addition to that, she has shown a remarkable stage presence - particularly in her essaying of the role of Maureen (made famous in the original Broadway cast by WICKED Tony Award winner Idina Menzel) in RENT at the Hollywood Bowl, directed by Neil Patrick Harris - and, even more recently, has displayed her legit side with her stunning performance of the title song from Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - alongside four famous Phantoms - at the Royal Variety Performance last week for the queen. Just last night, Scherzinger took center stage on the X FACTOR's results show to sing her surprisingly strong new single, 'Pretty' - an episode which also saw the final remaining contestant under her tutelage remaining in the competition, Josh Krajcik, survive another week and make it into the Top 4 - and proceeded to positively set the night alight. Haters can hate, but Scherzinger undoubtedly proved any naysayers wrong insofar as her fierce talent and reason for appearing on the show as a judge is concerned - no question. Post-Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger seems to be flying high - lest we forget: she also won DANCING WITH THE STARS early last year - and the stages of New York and London seem a perfect place for her to show off her considerable triple-threat abilities in the future, whether near or far. Plus, if she can make it in show business with that last name, you have to at the very least appreciate her striving for authenticity at all times - like it or not. Scherzinger not only sings like an angel, she looks like one, too. She is the whole package and definitely possesses the X factor - and maybe a Y and Z, too.
Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more!
For last week's biggest events: visit THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: December 3-9 .
