New York : Several casting changes have been announced for the Broadway production of Les Miserables . Chip Zien will join the cast as Thenardier on June 29th for a 10-week stint. Current star, Gary Beach, is taking a brief leave of absence. Megan McGinnis has already joined the musical as Eponine. She replaces Mandy Bruno. Finally, on July 6th, Robert Hunt will assume the role of Javert from Ben Davis, who has already left the production. Drew Sarich and Ben Crawford will alternate the role until Hunt joins.
They join as cast that currently includes Alexander Gemignani as Jean Valjean, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Ann Harada as Madame Thenardier, Max von Essen as Enjolras, Adam Jacobs as Marius, and Ali Ewoldt as Cosette.
The production features music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. Directed by Trevor Nunn & John Caird, the musical is designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and sound by Andrew Bruce.
Based on Victor Hugo's opus, Les Miserables tells the story of Jean Valjean, released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang, finds that the 'ticket-of-leave' he must display by law, condemns him to be an outcast. Only the saintly Bishop of Digne treats him kindly and Valjean, embittered by years of hardship, repays him by stealing some silver. Valjean is caught and brought back by the police, and is astonished when the Bishop lies to save him, also giving him two precious candlesticks. Valjean decides to start his life anew. Things go well but 8 years later, an encounter with a face from the past threatens everything he now holds dear.
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