Photo Coverage: LES MISERABLES Asian Tour Officially Kicks Off in Manila

Manila, Philippines--No less that theater impresario Cameron Mackintosh, the world's first "theater billionaire" according to Forbes, much-lauded composer Claude-Michel Schonberg, and prolific theater director Laurence Connor attended the gala premiere of the reimagined production of Schonberg and Alain Boublil's phenomenal musical LES MISERABLES' first-ever Asian Tour, which kicked off at the state-of-the-art The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resort and Casino, last Wednesday, March 16.

Former stars of "Miss Saigon" in London such as Leo Valdez and Joanna Ampil, the who's who in Philippine Theater, Australian executive producer Michael Cassel and his team, local promoter Concertus Manila's president Bambi Rivera Verzo and her team, longtime and newly converted fans of the beloved musical, and numerous media outlets, including BroadwayWorld.com, were in full force at the red carpet pre-show event at The Theatre at Solaire lobby and at the after party at Corniche, Diamond Hotel, where most of the cast and production team members have been staying since their first day of rehearsals over a month ago.

Mr Mackintosh has specially assembled an interesting mix of international casts for this production. Plucked out from the original London production, which is still drawing full houses at the Queen's Theatre after all these years, were Rachelle Ann Go (Fantine), Paul Wilkins (Marius), Helen Walsh (Madame Thenardier), and Cameron Blakely (Monsieur Thenardier). Earl Carpenter (Inspector Javert), who originated the role of Javert in the reimagined edition of the musical six years ago, directly came from the Broadway production in New York City. Fresh off from the 19-month tour of LES MISERABLES across the key cities in Australia, Simon Gleeson (Jean Valjean), Kerrie Anne Greenland (Eponine), Emily Langridge (Cosette), Chloe Delos Santos (Young Cosette), and Chris Durling (Enjolras) are reprising their roles in the Asian Tour, which will also run the Esplanade Theatre in Singapore a little over a month after the show's closing performance in Manila on April 24.

Other cast members include Claudia Ballen (Young Eponine), Billy Bourchier (Joly), Hugo Chiarella (Grantaire), Melanie Cornell (Swing), Jessica Daley (Ensemble), Mischana Dellora Cornish (Wigmaker Hair Crone), Emilie Du Leslay (Ensemble), Blake Erickson (Swing), David Francis (Claquesous), Venice Harris (Little Cosette), Matt Harrop (Bishop of Digne, Babet), Tamlyn Henderson (Factory Foreman, Brujon), Callum Hobson (Gavroche), Nigel Huckle (Feuilly), Holly-Anne Hull (Ensemble), James Hume (Bamatabois, Lesgles), Ciaran Joyce (Montparnasse), Liam Mcilwain (Resident Movement and Dance Captain), Sarah Murr (Old Woman), Adèle Parkinson (Ensemble), Joel Parnis (Swing), Kieran McGinlay (Gavroche), Michaela Powell (Swing), Lauren Soley (Ensemble), Mabel Tamone (Young Eponine), Oscar Tollofsen (Courfreyac), Natasha Veselinovic (Madame), Tom Vincent (John Prouvaire), and Sebastian Witt (Gavroche).

LES MISERABLES, produced by Mr Mackintosh, has music by Messrs Schonberg and Boublil, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Mr Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Adapted by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, the show has additional material by James Fenton.

The Asian touring production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, and Christopher Key, and designed by Matt Kinley and David Harris. Original costume design is by Andreane Neofitou, additional costume design by Christine Rowland, lighting design by Paule Constable, Simon Sheriff, and Richard Pacholski, and sound design by Mick Potter and Paule Gatehouse.

Presented by Smart Infinity, LES MISERABLES plays The Theatre at Solaire until Sunday, April 24. Tickets are available at (632) 891-9999 or visit TicketWorld.com.ph.

Photos: Oliver Oliveros, Jory Rivera