LES MISERABLES Extends First Leg of 2016 Asian Tour

Manila, Philippines--There has been an increased interest for tickets to behemoth, long-running musical LES MISERABLES (LES MIS) since its major producer Cameron Mackintosh and Philippine partner Concertus Manila announced last September that the acclaimed Australian touring production of the revamped 25th anniversary production of LES MIS, which must close this Sunday, January 17, at the Lyric Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre in Brisbane, will transfer to The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resort and Casino in Manila starting Friday, March 11. Due to the high demand for tickets, which can be purchased at TicketWorld.com.ph, Mr Mackintosh and Concertus Manila have released a new set of tickets that will extend performances in Manila until Sunday, April 17, thus far.

The Australian production, which premiered in Melbourne in 2014, and continued to tour Perth, Sydney, and Brisbane, originally starred Helpmann Award winner Simon Gleeson (Jean Valjean), Hayden Tee (Javert), Patrice Tipoki (Fantine), Lara Mulcahy (Madame Thenardier), Trevor Ashley (Thenardier), Helpmann Award winner Kerrie Ann Greenland (Eponine), Emily Langridge (Cosette), Chris Durling (Enjolras), and Euan Doidge (Marius).

Mr Tee, Ms Tipoki, and Mr Ashley will not reprise their roles in Manila, though. As previously announced, BroadwayWorld UK Award winner Rachelle Ann Go, who currently plays Fantine in London's West End, and Earl Carpenter, who originally played Javert in the reimagined 25th anniversary production of LES MIS and was last seen playing the same role on Broadway, will reprise Fantine and Javert, respectively, in the Manila run, which brings forth the first Asian tour (Manila-Singapore) of the new production.

Of note, though, Mr Carpenter abruptly left the new production of LES MIS on Broadway last November 18 due to illness. In a letter to LES MIS fans posted on Mr Carpenter's official website, he said: "As much as the pain has greatly diminished, there is unfortunately still some residual impingement caused by the herniations. Having been referred to an anesthesiologist, I shall be having a small procedure that will allow me to make a full recovery... Regretfully, the medical recommendation--to ensure there is no risk of further injury that might undo the healing process-- is that I am not able to return to finish my run in LES MIS on Broadway."

Broadway actors Will Swenson and Adam Monley have since replaced Mr Carpenter in the role of Javert. Mr Tee, from the Australian production, will assume the role of Javert on Broadway starting Friday, January 29.

(Editor's note: We're praying for your speedy recovery, Mr Carpenter. See you in Manila!)

Ms Go, on the other hand, will play Fantine in London until Saturday, January 30; Ms Tipoki, from the Australian production, will play Fantine while Ms Go performs the role in Manila.

Now in its 30th year, LES MIS, based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The show is known for its hit 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," and "Master Of The House."

Mr Mackintosh's production of LES MIS is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, original adaption by Trevor Nunn and John Caird and additional material by James Fenton. The original LES MIS orchestrations are by John Cameron with new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke, Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker.

The new 25th-anniversary production of LES MIS is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, with set and image design by Matt Kinley--inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo--costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Christine Rowland, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, and projections by Fifty-Nine Productions. Musical staging is by Michael Ashcroft and Geoffrey Garratt. Musical supervision is by Stephen Brooker, and musical direction is by James Lowe.

Seen by 70 million people worldwide in 43 countries and in 22 languages, LES MIS is undisputedly one of the world's most popular musicals. LES MIS's worldwide gross is $2.5 billion.