A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In each musical style different norms have developed for the sizes and composition of different ensembles, and for the repertoire of songs or musical works that these ensembles perform.

A group of two musicians is called a duo, a group of three is a trio, a group of four a quartet, and a group of five a quintet. A musician who usually performs alone is usually termed a solo musician or solo artist.

In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families (such as piano, strings, and wind instruments) or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles. In jazz ensembles, the instruments typically include wind instruments (one or more saxophones, trumpets, etc.), one or two chordal "comping" instruments (electric guitar, piano, or organ), a bass instrument (electric bass guitar or double bass), and a drummer or percussionist. In rock ensembles, usually called rock bands, there are usually guitars and keyboards (piano, electric piano, Hammond organ, synthesizer, etc.) and a rhythm section made up of a bass guitar and drum kit.

Classical chamber music

In Western Art music, commonly referred to as classical music, smaller ensembles are called chamber music ensembles. The terms duet, trio, quartet, quintet, sextet, septet, octet, nonet and dectet are used to describe groups of two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten musicians, respectively. A group of eleven musicians, such as found in ''The Carnival of the Animals'', is called either a "hendectet" or an "undectet" (see Latin numerical prefixes). A solo is not an ensemble because it only contains one musician.

Four parts

Strings

A string ''quartet'' usually consists of two violins, a viola and a cello. An upper string quartet features two violins and two violas. A lower string quartet features 1 viola, 2 cellos and a double bass. An American string quartet features two guitars, a banjo and a drum kit.

Wind

A woodwind quartet usually features a clarinet, bassoon, flute and oboe. A brass quartet features 2 trumpets, a trombone and a tuba. A wind quartet features a horn, flute, oboe and bassoon. A lower wind quartet features a tuba, a bassoon, a bass clarinet and a trombone.

Five parts

The string ''quintet'' is a common type of group. It is similar to the string quartet, but with two violas, two cellos, or more rarely, the addition of a double bass. Terms such as "piano quintet" or "clarinet quintet" frequently refer to a string quartet ''plus'' a fifth instrument. Thus, a ''piano quintet'' is usually a string quartet plus a piano. Mozart's Clarinet Quintet is similarly a piece written for an ensemble consisting of 2 violins, a viola, a cello and a clarinet, the last being the exceptional addition to a "normal" string quartet.

Other common groupings in classical music are the woodwind quintet, usually consisting of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and horn and the brass quintet, consisting of two trumpets, one french horn, a trombone and a tuba.

Six or more instruments

Classical chamber ensembles for more than six musicians are occasionally used, such as septets (seven musicians), octets (eight musicians), or nonets (nine musicians). However, in many cases a larger classical group is referred to as an orchestra of some type. A small orchestra with fifteen to thirty members (violins, violas, cellos, double basses, and several woodwind or brass instruments) is called a chamber orchestra In the American education system, sitting groups are known as wind ensembles or concert bands (to differentiate from marching bands). Music is similar to that of a pops orchestra, orchestrated for woodwinds, brass, and percussion. A sinfonietta usually denotes a somewhat smaller orchestra (though still not a chamber orchestra). Larger orchestras are called symphony orchestras or philharmonic orchestras.

A pops orchestra is an orchestra that mainly performs light classical music (often in abbreviated, simplified arrangements) and orchestral arrangements and medleys of popular jazz, music theater, or pop music songs. A string orchestra has only strings, i.e., violins, violas, cellos and basses.

A symphony orchestra is an ensemble usually comprising at least thirty musicians; the number of players is typically between seventy and ninety-five and may exceed one hundred. A symphony orchestra is divided into families of instruments. In the string family, there are sections of violins (I and II), violas, cellos, and basses. The winds consist of the woodwind family of instruments (flutes and piccolo, oboes and English horn, clarinets [made up of the E clarinet, clarinet, and bass clarinet], and bassoons [often including contrabassoon]) and the brass family (horns, trumpets, trombones, and tuba). The percussion family includes the timpani, bass drum, snare drum, and any other percussion instruments called for in a score (e.g., triangle, glockenspiel, chimes, cymbals, wood blocks).

When orchestras are performing baroque music (from the 17th century and early 18th century), they may also use a harpsichord or pipe organ. When orchestras are performing Romantic-era music (from the 19th century), they may also use harps or unusual instruments such as the wind machine. When orchestras are performing music from the 20th century or the 21st century, occasionally instruments such as electric guitar, theremin, or even an electronic synthesizer may be used.

Jazz ensembles

Three parts

In jazz, there are several types of trios. One type of jazz trio is formed with a piano player, a bass player and a drummer. Another type of jazz trio that became popular in the 1950s and 1960s is the organ trio, which is composed of a Hammond organ player, a drummer, and a third instrumentalist (either a saxophone player or an electric jazz guitarist). In organ trios, the Hammond organ player performs the bass line on the organ bass pedals while simultaneously playing chords or lead lines on the keyboard manuals. Other types of trios include the "drummer-less" trio, which consists of a piano player, a double bassist, and a horn (saxophone or trumpet) or guitar player ; and the jazz trio with a horn player (saxophone or trumpet), double bass player, and a drummer. In the latter type of trio, the lack of a chordal instrument means that the horn player and the bassist have to imply the changing harmonies with their improvised lines.

Four parts

Jazz quartets typically add a ''horn'' (the generic jazz name for saxophones, trombones, trumpets, or any other wind instrument commonly associated with jazz) to one of the jazz trios described above. Slightly larger jazz ensembles, such as quintets (five instruments) or sextets (six instruments) typically add other soloing instruments to the basic quartet formation, such as different types of saxophones (e.g., alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, etc.) or an additional chordal instrument.

Larger ensembles

The lineup of larger jazz ensembles can vary considerably, depending on the style of jazz being performed. In a 1920s-style dixieland jazz band, a larger ensemble would be formed by adding a banjo player, woodwind instruments, as with the clarinet, or additional horns (saxophones, trumpets, trombones) to one of the smaller groups. In a 1940s-style Swing big band, a larger ensemble is formed by adding "sections" of like instruments, such as a saxophone section and a trumpet section, which perform arranged "horn lines" to accompany the ensemble. In a 1970s-style jazz fusion ensemble, a larger ensemble is often formed by adding additional percussionists or sometimes a saxophone player would "double" or "triple" meaning that they would also be proficient at the clarinet, flute or both. Also by the addition of soloing instruments.

Rock and pop bands

Two parts

Two-member rock and pop bands are relatively rare, because of the difficulty in providing all of the musical elements which are part of the rock or pop sound (vocals, chords, bass lines, and percussion or drumming) with trios or quartets. Two-member rock and pop bands typically omit one of these musical elements. In many cases, two-member bands will omit a drummer, since guitars, bass guitars, and keyboards can all be used to provide a rhythmic pulse, however one rare west coast metal and rock band In Between, consists of a drummer and a guitarist/singer. Examples of two-member bands are The Everly Brothers, Pet Shop Boys, Hella, Flight of the Conchords, Death from above 1979, Francis Xavier, I Set My Friends On Fire, Middle Class Rut, No Age, The Pity Party, The White Stripes, Big Business, erdbeerseestern, God Head Silo, Two Gallants, Lightning Bolt, The Ting Tings, The Black Box Revelation, Satyricon, The Black Keys, Panic! At the Disco, Stray Kites, Tenacious D, D.A. Dad, Simon and Garfunkel and The Pack A.D..

When electronic sequencers became widely available in the 1980s, this made it easier for two-member bands to add in musical elements that the two band members were not able to perform. Sequencers allowed bands to pre-program some elements of their performance, such as an electronic drum part and a synth-bass line. Two-member pop music bands such as Soft Cell, Blancmange and Yazoo used pre-programmed sequencers. Other pop bands from the 1980s which were ostensibly fronted by two performers, such as Wham! and Tears for Fears, were not actually two-piece ensembles, because other instrumental musicians were used "behind the scenes" to fill out the sound.

Two-piece bands in rock music are quite rare. However, starting in the 2000s, blues-influenced rock bands such as The White Stripes, Lost Dawn and The Black Keys utilized a guitar and drums scheme. However, this is predated by the Flat Duo Jets from the '80's. Death From Above 1979 featured a drummer and bass guitarist. Tenacious D is a two-guitar band; One Day as a Lion and The Dresden Dolls both feature a keyboardist and a drummer. The band Welk consists of a two-man psychedelic flute band, with the occasional synthesizer. Two-person bands have grown in popularity in experimental rock music. W.A.S.P. guitarist Doug Blair is also known for his work in the two-piece progressive rock band signal2noise, where he manages to be the lead guitarist and bassist at the same time, thanks to a special custom instrument he invented (an electric guitar with five regular guitar strings paired with three bass guitar strings). Heisenflei of Los Angeles duo The Pity Party plays drums, keyboards, and sings simultaneously. Providence-based Lightning Bolt is a two-member band. Bassist Brian Gibson augments his playing with delay pedals, pitch shifters, looping devices and other pedals, occasionally creating harmony. Local H, No Age, Blood Red Shoes, PS I Love You, The Redmond Barry's and Warship are other prominent two-person experimental rock bands.

Example line-up

Lead vocals, Bass, Guitar

Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals

or

Lead vocals, Keyboard, Guitar

Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals

or

Lead vocals, Bass, Drum machine

Lead guitar, Backing vocals Drum machine

Three parts

The smallest ensemble that is commonly used in rock music is the trio format. In a hard rock or blues-rock band, or heavy metal rock group, a "power trio" format is often used, which consists of an electric guitar player, an electric bass guitar player and a drummer, and typically one or more of these musicians also sing (sometimes all three members will sing, e.g. Bee Gees or Alkaline Trio). Some well-known power trios with the guitarist on lead vocals are The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Nirvana, Green Day, Violent Femmes, Gov't Mule, The Minutemen, Triumph, Shellac, Sublime, Chevelle, Muse, Short Stack, ZZ Top, and the original lineup of Wolfmother. A handful of others with the bassist on vocals include Primus, Motörhead, The Police, The Melvins, Blue Cheer, Dinosaur Junior, Rush, The Presidents of the United States of America, Venom, and Cream. Some power trios feature two lead vocalists, both of which play their respective instruments. For example, in the band blink-182 vocals are split between bassist Mark Hoppus and guitarist Tom DeLonge.

An alternative to the power trio are organ trios formed with an electric guitarist, a drummer and a keyboardist. Although organ trios are most commonly associated with 1950s and 1960s jazz organ trio groups such as those led by organist Jimmy Smith, there are also organ trios in rock-oriented styles, such as jazz-rock fusion and Grateful Dead-influenced jam bands such as Medeski Martin & Wood. In organ trios, the keyboard player typically plays a Hammond organ or similar instrument, which permits the keyboard player to perform bass lines, chords, and lead lines. A variant of the organ trio are trios formed with an electric bassist, a drummer and an electronic keyboardist (playing synthesizers) such as the progressive rock band Emerson, Lake & Palmer, and Atomic Rooster. Another variation is to have a vocalist, a guitarist and a drummer, an example being Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Another variation is two guitars, a bassist, and a drum machine, examples including Magic Wands and Big Black.

A power trio with the guitarist on lead vocals is popular record company lineup, as the guitarist and singer will usually be the songwriter. Therefore you only have to present one face to the public, the backing band is easy to house, and the songs will likely stay simple and accessible as the frontman will have to sing and play guitar at the same time.

Example line-up

Lead vocals, Lead guitar

Bass guitar, Keyboards

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals, Bass guitar

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals

or

Backing vocals, Bass guitar

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion, Lead vocals

or

Lead vocals, Lead guitar

Bass guitar, Backing vocals, Harmonica

Drums, Percussion

Four parts

The four-piece band is the most common configuration in rock and pop music. Before the development of the electronic keyboard, the configuration was typically two guitarists (one lead guitarist and one rhythm guitarist, with the latter on vocals), a bassist (typically the electric bass guitar) and a drummer (e.g.KISS, Foo Fighters, Weezer, Metallica, The Clash, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Kinks, The Fray, Sonic Youth, The Smashing Pumpkins, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Against Me! and the new lineup of Wolfmother). This is popular with bands for its versatility. However, it has been noted the main complaint is that it takes too much effort to keep so many instruments in tune when they are played by every member of the band.

Another common formation was a vocalist, electric guitarist, bass guitarist, and a drummer (e.g.The Who, Led Zeppelin, The Ramones, Tokio Hotel, Sex Pistols, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, R.E.M., Blur, The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen, Stone Roses, Creed, Black Sabbath, Van Halen, The Stooges, Joy Division, U2 and Coldplay). Instrumentally, these bands can be considered as trios. This format is popular with new bands, as there are only two instruments that need tuning, the line-and-counterpoint formula prevalent with their material is easy to learn, four members are commonplace to work with, the roles are clearly defined and generally are: melody line, rhythm section with counterpoint melody, and vocals on top.

In some early rock bands, keyboardists were used, performing on piano (e.g. The Seeds and The Doors) with a guitarist, singer, drummer and keyboardist. Some bands will have a guitarist, bassist, drummer, and keyboard player (for example, Small Faces, King Crimson, The Guess Who, Pink Floyd, Coldplay, The Killers, The Monkees and Blind Faith).

Some bands will have the bassist on lead vocals, such as Thin Lizzy, Chameleons, Pink Floyd, NOFX, +44, Slayer, The All-American Rejects or even the lead guitarist, such as Dire Straits and Creedence Clearwater Revival. Some bands, such as The Beatles, have a lead guitarist, a rhythm guitarist and a bassist that all sing lead and backing vocals, that also play keyboards regularly, as well as a drummer. Others, such as The Four Seasons, have a lead vocalist, a lead guitarist, a keyboard player, and a bassist, with the drummer not being a member of the band.

Example line-ups

Lead vocals

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Keyboards, Backing vocals

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

or

Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals, Bass guitar

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Keyboards

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals, piano, Rhythm guitar

Lead guitar, backing vocals

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Backing vocals

or

Lead vocals, Lead guitar

Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals, Keyboards, Harmonica

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals

or

Lead vocal, Bass guitar

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals

or

Lead vocals, Lead guitar

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Keyboards

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals, Keyboards/Piano

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion

or *Lead vocals *Lead guitar , Backing vocals *Keyboards ,Backing vocals *Drums ,Percussion

Five parts

Five-piece bands have existed in rock music since early times. The Beach Boys, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, AC/DC, Oasis, Pearl Jam, Guns N' Roses, Radiohead, The Strokes, Styx, The Yardbirds, 311 are examples of the common vocalist, lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums lineup. An alternative to the five-member lineup replaces the rhythm guitarist with a keyboard–synthesizer player (examples being the bands Journey, Nightwish, Maroon 5, Dream Theater, Genesis, Jethro Tull, The Zombies, Bon Jovi, Yes, Snow Patrol, Fleetwood Mac, Marilyn Manson and Deep Purple, all of which consist of a vocalist, guitarist, bassist, keyboardist, and a drummer) or with a turntablist such as Incubus or Limp Bizkit. Alternatives include a keyboardist, guitarist, drummer, bassist, and saxophonist, such as The Sonics and Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs. Another alternative is three guitarists, a bassist and a drummer, such as Radiohead and The Byrds. Some five-person bands feature two guitarists, a keyboardist, a bassist and a drummer, with one or more of these musicians (typically one of the guitarists) handling lead vocals on top of their instrument (examples being Children of Bodom, Sturm und Drang and Ensiferum). In some cases, typically in cover bands, one musician plays either rhythm guitar or keyboards, depending on the song (one notable band being Firewind, with Bob Katsionis handling this particular role).

Other times, the vocalist will provide another musical voice to the table, most commonly a harmonica; Mick Jagger, for example, played harmonica and percussion instruments like maracas and tambourine. Ozzy Osbourne was also known to play the harmonica on some occasions (i.e. "The Wizard" by Black Sabbath).

Line-up

Lead vocals

Lead guitar, backing vocals

Rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Bass guitar, backing vocals

Drums, percussion

or

Lead vocals, keyboards, piano

Lead guitar, backing vocals

Bass guitar, backing vocals

Rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals, rhythm guitar

Lead guitar, backing vocals

Bass guitar, backing vocals

Keyboards, synthesizers

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals

Lead guitar, backing vocals

Keyboards, backing vocals

Bass guitar, backing vocals

Drums, percussion, backing vocals

or

Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar, Piano

Lead guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Backing vocals

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Keyboards, Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals

or

Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar, Keyboards

Rhythm guitar, Backing vocals

Lead guitar, Backing vocals

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead vocals, Rhythm guitar, Percussion, Keyboards

Lead guitar, Piano, Electronics, Bass, Percussion

Lead guitar, Backing vocals, Synths, Drums, Percussion

Bass guitar, Synths

Drums, Percussion, Backing vocals

Larger rock ensembles

Larger bands have long been a part of rock and pop music, in part due to the influence of the "singer accompanied with orchestra" model inherited from popular big-band jazz and swing and popularized by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.To create larger ensembles, rock bands often add an additional guitarist, an additional keyboardist, additional percussionists or second drummer, an entire horn section, and even a flutist. An example of a six-member rock band is Linkin Park with a lead vocalist, rap vocalist/keyboardist, lead guitarist, bassist, turntablist, and drummer. The American heavy metal band Slipknot is composed of eight members, with a vocalist, two guitarists, a drummer, two custom percussionists, a turntablist, and a sampler.

In larger groups (such as The Band), instrumentalists could play multiple instruments, which enabled the ensemble to create a wider variety of instrument combinations. More rarely, rock or pop groups will be accompanied in concerts by a full or partial symphony orchestra, where lush string-orchestra arrangements are used to flesh out the sound of slow ballads.

Example line-up

Lead vocals, screaming vocals

rapping vocals, pianist

lead guitar, backing vocals

bass guitar, backing vocals

turntables, programming, samples, backing vocals

drums, backing vocals

or

Lead vocals

Lead guitar

Rhythm guitar, backing vocals

Bass guitar, backing vocals

Drums, percussion

Keyboards

or

Lead vocals, Guitar

Lead guitarist, Backing vocals

Rhythm guitarist

Bass guitar, Backing vocals

Horns (anything from saxophone to a horn section)

Keyboards, Piano

Drums

or

Lead vocals

Lead guitar, backing vocals

Bass guitar, screaming vocals

Drums, percussion

Keyboards, piano

Rhythm guitar, backing vocals

DJ, emcee, drum machine, Sampler, synthesizers

Percussion

or even

Lead vocalist

Lead vocalist

Lead guitar

Lead guitar

Rhythm guitar

Bass guitar

Drums, Percussion

or

Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

Backing Vocals, Lead Guitar

Backing Guitar, Backing Vocals

Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals

Drums, Percussion

Keyboards, Piano, Backing Vocals

Pedal Steel Guitar, Backing Vocals

Violin Backing Vocals

The above line-up was used by Bon Jovi during the Lost Highway tour.

Musical drama

Sung dramas such as operas and musicals usually have numbers where several of the principals are singing together, either on their own or with the chorus. Such numbers (''duets'', ''trios'', etc.) are also referred to as 'ensembles'.

Other western musical ensembles

In the 20th century, the Wind Symphony or Wind Ensemble became popular, especially in academic circles. A wind ensemble consists entirely of wind instruments and percussion instruments, but may also include a double bass. Schools from elementary level onward often have a school band program which is usually centered around its wind ensemble, often known as a concert band.

A choir is a group of voices. By analogy, sometimes a group of similar instruments in a symphony orchestra are referred to as a choir. For example, the woodwind instruments of a symphony orchestra could be called the woodwind choir.

A group that plays popular music or military music is usually called a band. A group that plays while marching on a football field, without being a marching band, is called a drum and bugle corps. These bands perform a wide range of music, ranging from arrangements of jazz orchestral, or popular music to military-style marches. Drum corps perform on brass and percussion instruments only. Some corps perform on bugles in the key of G, while others perform on brass instruments in multiple keys, depending on the group. Drum and Bugle Corps incorporate costumes, hats, and pageantry in their performances.

Other band types include:

Jug bands

Mexican Mariachi groups typically consist of at least two violins, two trumpets, one Spanish guitar, one vihuela (a high-pitched, five-string guitar), and one Guitarrón (a Mexican acoustic bass that is roughly guitar-shaped), and one or more singers.

See also

List of musical ensemble formats

Music

Alexandrov ensemble

References

External links

Music, Historical images. From New York Public Library Digital Gallery

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name	Les Misérables
producer	Delfont Macintosh Sir Cameron Macintosh
music	Claude-Michel Schönberg
lyrics	Alain Boublil (French lyrics)Herbert Kretzmer (English adaptation)
book	Claude-Michel SchönbergAlain Boublil Trevor Nunn and John Caird (adaptation)
basis	1862 novel by Victor Hugo''Les Misérables''
productions	1980 Paris1985 West End1987 Broadway1987 First US Tour1987 Japan1987 Israel (Tel Aviv)1988 Hungary1988 Norway (Oslo)1988 Second US Tour1988 Third US Tour 1988 Vienna1989 Original Canadian Cast1990 Sweden1991 Parisian Revival1991 Netherlands (Amsterdam)1992 Czech Republic1992 Denmark1992 UK Tour1992 Madrid1993 Original Korean Cast1995 10th Anniversary Concert1996 Duisburg1996 Värmland1998 Antwerp2000 Buenos Aires2001 São Paulo2001 Hungarian Revival 2001 Estonia2002 Mexico City2003 Czech Revival2003 Berlin2004 Norway2006 Broadway revival2008 Dutch Revival (Rotterdam)2008 Quebec2008 Denmark2009 25th Anniversary Tour and Concert2010 Poland2010 Madrid 25th Anniversary Production2010-2011 Finland (Åbo/Turku)2011 Fourth US Tour2011 Czech Republic (Brno)2011 Sweden (Malmö)2012 Iceland 2012 Barcelona Multiple productions worldwide
awards	Tony Award for Best MusicalTony Award for Best BookTony Award for Best Score }}

''Les Misérables'' ( or ; ), colloquially known as ''Les Mis'' or ''Les Miz'' , is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo.

The music was composed by Schönberg, and the lyrics were written by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, with an English-language libretto by Herbert Kretzmer. Set in early 19th-century France, the plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. An ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others joins the lead characters.

The musical opened at the Barbican Centre in London, England on 8 October 1985. It is the longest-running musical in the world. It is also the third longest-running show in Broadway history. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city. The original show was running in London's West End; the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production was running at the original home of the show, London's Barbican Centre; and the third version, the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena.

The Tony Award-winning score features the song "I Dreamed a Dream", sung as a solo by the character Fantine during the first act. Numerous artists have covered this song, including Elaine Paige, Neil Diamond, Aretha Franklin, David Essex, Michael Ball, Michael Crawford, Ruthie Henshall, Lea Salonga, Idina Menzel, Lea Michele, and Susan Boyle, as well as the show's most famous song, Jean Valjean's plea to God, "Bring Him Home", also covered by many artists.

Background

Originally released as a French-language concept album, the first musical-stage adaptation of ''Les Misérables'' was presented at a Paris sports arena in 1980. However, the first production closed after three months when the booking contract expired.

In 1982, about six months after producer Cameron Mackintosh had opened ''Cats'' in London, he received a copy of the French concept album from director Peter Farago. Farago had been impressed by the work and asked Mackintosh to produce an English-language version of the show. Initially reluctant, Mackintosh eventually agreed.

Mackintosh assembled a production team to adapt the French musical for a British audience. After two years in development, the English-language version opened in London on 8 October 1985, at the Barbican Centre. Critical reviews were negative, and literary scholars condemned the project for converting classic literature into a mere musical. Public opinion differed—the box office received record orders. This three-month engagement sold out and reviews improved.

Reception

The Broadway production opened 12 March 1987, and ran until 18 May 2003, closing after 6,680 performances. It is the third longest running Broadway show in history and was the second-longest at the time. A fully re-orchestrated Broadway revival opened on 9 November 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre.

The show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards and won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score. It placed first in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of the "Nation's Number One Essential Musicals" in June 2005, receiving more than forty percent of the votes.

It was one of several British musicals on Broadway in the 1980s along with ''Cats'', ''The Phantom of the Opera'', and ''Miss Saigon''.

Emblem

The musical's emblem is a picture of the waif Cosette sweeping the Thénardier's Inn, usually shown cropped to a head-and-shoulders portrait with the French national flag superimposed. The picture is based on the illustration by Émile Bayard that appeared in the novel's original 1862 edition.

Synopsis

Act I

Sung through, ''Les Misérables'' opens in Bagne prison in Toulon, France, in 1815, where the prisoners work at hard labour ("Work Song"). After 19 years of imprisonment (five for stealing bread for his starving sister and her family, and the rest for trying to escape), Jean Valjean—"prisoner 24601"—is released on parole by the policeman Javert. By law, Valjean must display a yellow ticket-of-leave, which condemns him as an outcast ("On Parole"). He then meets the Bishop of Digne, who offers him food and shelter. Valjean steals silver from the bishop and the police catch him shortly. The bishop, however, lies to save Valjean and helps him begin a new life ("Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven"). Humbled by the bishop's mercy and kindness, Valjean decides to follow the bishop's advice and breaks his parole. ("Valjean’s Soliloquy" / "What Have I Done?").

Eight years later, Valjean, having assumed a new identity as Monsieur Madeleine, is a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. One of his workers, Fantine, has a fight when the other workers discover she is sending money to her secret illegitimate child. The girl is living with an innkeeper and his wife ("At the End of the Day"). The Mayor breaks up the conflict, but asks his factory foreman to resolve it. The other women demand Fantine's dismissal, and because she had previously rejected his advances, the foreman agrees and throws Fantine out.

Fantine sings about her broken dreams and about the father of her daughter who abandoned her ("I Dreamed a Dream"). Desperate for money, she sells her locket and her hair, before becoming a prostitute ("Lovely Ladies"). When she fights back against an abusive customer, Javert, now stationed in Montreuil-sur-Mer, arrests her ("Fantine's Arrest"). "Madeleine" soon arrives, and realising his part in the ruination of Fantine, orders Javert to let her go and takes her to a hospital.

Soon after, the Mayor rescues Fauchelevant, who is pinned by a runaway cart ("The Runaway Cart"), reminding Javert of Jean Valjean (who was abnormally strong), whom he has sought for years for breaking parole. However, Javert assures the mayor that Valjean has been arrested recently and will be in court later in the day. Unwilling to see an innocent man go to prison in his place, Valjean confesses his identity to the court—that he is the prisoner 24601—revealing the convict's brand on his chest as proof ("Who Am I?—The Trial").

Before returning to prison, Valjean visits the dying Fantine and promises to find and look after her daughter Cosette. ("Come to Me" / "Fantine's Death"). When Javert arrives to arrest him, Valjean asks three more days to fetch Cosette, but Javert refuses to believe his honest intentions ("The Confrontation"). Valjean eventually knocks Javert out and escapes.

The next scene occurs in an inn at Montfermeil run by the Thénardiers, where Cosette has been living. The Thénardiers have been abusing the little girl, while indulging their own daughter, Éponine. Cosette dreams of a better life ("Castle on a Cloud") before Madame Thénardier sends her to fetch water in the dark. As the inn fills for the evening, the Thénardiers cheat their customers in various ways ("Master of the House"). Valjean finds Cosette fetching water ("The Bargain") and pays the Thénardiers 1,500 Francs to let him take her away ("The Waltz of Treachery").

Nine years later, Paris is in upheaval because General Lamarque, the only man in the government who shows mercy to the poor, is ill and may soon die. The young street urchin Gavroche mingles with the prostitutes and beggars on the street, while students Marius Pontmercy and Enjolras discuss the general's imminent demise ("Look Down").

A street gang led by the Thénardiers prepares to ambush Valjean, whom Thénardier recognizes as the man who took Cosette ("The Robbery"). Éponine sees Marius, whom she secretly loves, and warns him to stay away, but Marius accidentally bumps into Cosette and immediately falls in love. Javert thwarts the Thénardiers' attempt to rob Valjean and Cosette, not recognising Valjean until after he escapes ("Javert's Intervention"). Javert gazes at the night sky, comparing his hunt of Valjean and justice to the order of the stars ("Stars"). Meanwhile, Marius, although he does not know Cosette's name, persuades a reluctant Éponine to help him find her ("Éponine's Errand").

The scene shifts to a political meeting in a small café where Enjolras leads a group of idealistic students to prepare for a revolution that they believe will materialise after General Lamarque's death, ("The ABC Café—Red and Black"). Marius arrives late and when Gavroche brings the news of the General's death, the students march into the streets ("Do You Hear the People Sing?").

Cosette is infatuated with Marius, and although Valjean realises that she has grown up, he refuses to tell her about his past or her mother. ("—In My Life"). In spite of her own feelings, Éponine leads Marius to Cosette ("A Heart Full of Love"), and then prevents her father's gang from robbing Valjean's house ("The Attack on "). Valjean, convinced that Javert was lurking outside his house, tells Cosette that they must prepare to flee the country.

On the eve of the 1832 Paris Uprising, Valjean prepares to go into exile; Cosette and Marius part in despair; Éponine mourns the loss of Marius; Enjolras encourages all of Paris to join the revolution; Marius decides to join the other students as they prepare for the upcoming conflict; Javert briefs the soldiers under his command while he reveals his plans to spy on the students; and the Thénardiers look forward to robbing the corpses of those who will be killed during the coming battle ("One Day More").

Act II

As the students begin a barricade ("At the Barricade – Upon These Stones"), Javert, disguised as one of the rebels, volunteers to "spy" on the government troops. Marius notices that Éponine has disguised herself as a boy and has joined the revolutionaries. He sends her with a letter to Cosette, which will also carry Éponine to safety. Valjean intercepts the letter, promising Éponine he will tell Cosette about the letter. After Éponine leaves, Valjean reads the letter, learning about Marius and Cosette's relationship. While walking the streets of Paris, Éponine decides, despite what he had said to her, to rejoin Marius at the barricade ("On My Own").

"At the Barricade" the students defy an army warning them to surrender or die. Javert returns and tells the students that the government will attack ("Javert's Arrival"), but Gavroche exposes him as a spy ("Little People"). Éponine is shot as she returns to the barricades and dies in Marius's arms ("A Little Fall of Rain"). Valjean arrives at the barricades in search of Marius as the first battle erupts, and he saves Enjolras by shooting a sniper ("The First Attack"). As a reward, he asks to be the one to kill Javert, but instead he releases him and even gives him his address. The students settle down for a night ("Drink with Me"), while Valjean prays to God to save Marius from the onslaught ("Bring Him Home").

As dawn approaches, Enjolras realises that the people have abandoned them. He sends away women and fathers of children, but resolves to fight on ("Dawn of Anguish"). With ammunition running low during the second attack, Gavroche scurries in front of the barricade to collect more cartridges. As he runs back behind the barricade, he is shot three times and dies ("The Second Attack / Death of Gavroche"). Enjolras and the students realise that they will likely die. The army gives a final warning for surrender, but the rebels refuse, and as they continue to fight, all are killed except Valjean and Marius ("The Final Battle").

Carrying a wounded Marius on his back, Valjean escapes through the sewers. Meanwhile, Thénardier is also in the sewers, stealing valuables from bodies, laughing that he is performing a "service to the town" ("Dog Eats Dog"). Thénardier takes a ring off Marius's hand as Valjean is resting, and then escapes when he sees Valjean getting up. When Valjean reaches the sewer's exit, he runs into Javert, who has been waiting for him. Valjean begs Javert to give him one more hour to bring Marius to a doctor, and Javert reluctantly agrees. After Valjean leaves, Javert finds that because Valjean saved his life, he can't bring himself to turn him in. Torn between his own morality and his duty to the law, Javert commits suicide by throwing himself into the Seine ("Soliloquy - Javert's Suicide)".

Back on the streets, several women mourn the deaths of the young students ("Turning"). Marius also mourns for his friends ("Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"). As he wonders who saved him from the barricades, Cosette comforts him, declaring that she will never go away ("Every Day") and they reaffirm their love. Valjean then confesses to Marius that he is an escaped convict and tells him that he must go away because his presence endangers Cosette ("Valjean's Confession"). Valjean makes Marius promise never to tell Cosette, and Marius makes only a half-hearted attempt to hold him back.

Marius and Cosette marry ("Wedding Chorale"). The Thénardiers crash the reception in disguise as "The Baron and Baroness du Thénard". They tell Marius that Valjean is a murderer, saying that they saw him carrying a corpse in the sewers after the barricades fell. When Thénardier shows him the ring that he took from the corpse, Marius realises that he was the "corpse" and that Valjean saved his life. Marius punches Thénardier, the newlyweds leave, and the Thénardiers enjoy the party and celebrate their survival ("Beggars at the Feast").

Meanwhile, Valjean prepares for his death, having nothing left for which to live. Just as the ghost of Fantine arrives to take him to heaven, Cosette and Marius rush in, in time to bid farewell and for Marius to thank him for saving his life ("Epilogue - Valjean's Death"). Valjean gives Cosette his confession to read, and the souls of Fantine and Éponine guide him to Paradise, where everyone who died at the barricades ask once more: "Do You Hear the People Sing?" ("Finale").

Musical numbers

; Act I

!! Song !! Performer(s)
01	"Prologue: Work Song"	Chain Gang, Javert, and Valjean
02	"Prologue: On Parole"
03	"Prologue: Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven"
04	"Prologue: What Have I Done?"
05	"At the End of the Day"
06	"I Dreamed a Dream"
07	"Lovely Ladies"
08	"Fantine's Arrest"
09	"'The Runaway Cart"
10	"Who Am I? / The Trial"
11	"Fantine's Death: Come to Me"
12	"The Confrontation"
13	"Castle on a Cloud"
14	"Master of the House"
15	"The Bargain / The Thénardier Waltz of Treachery"
16	"Look Down"
17	"The Robbery"
18	"Javert's Intervention"
19	"Stars"
20	"Éponine's Errand"
21	"ABC Café / Red and Black"
22	"Do You Hear the People Sing?"
23	"Rue Plumet – In My Life"
24	"A Heart Full of Love"
25	"The Attack on the Rue Plumet"
26	"One Day More"

; Act II

!! Song !! Performer(s)
27	"At the Barricade (Upon These Stones)"	Enjolras, Javert, Marius, Éponine and Valjean
28	"On My Own"
29	"Building the Barricade (Upon These Stones)"
30	"Javert's Arrival"
31	"Little People"
32	"A Little Fall of Rain"
33	"Night of Anguish"
34	"The First Attack"
35	"Drink with Me"
36	"Bring Him Home"
37	"Dawn of Anguish"
38	"The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche)"
39	"The Final Battle"
40	"Dog Eats Dog (The Sewers)"
41	"Soliloquy (Javert's Suicide)"
42	"Turning"
43	"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"
44	"Every Day"
45	"Valjean's Confession"
46	"Wedding Chorale"
47	"Beggars at the Feast"
48	"Valjean's Death"
49	"Do You Hear The People Sing? (Reprise) [Finale]"

Characters

Listed in the order in which they appear.

Character	voice type>Voice	Description
Jean Valjean	dramatic tenor	Released from imprisonment after serving 19 years (five for stealing a loaf of bread and fourteen for multiple escape attempts). He decides to break his parole and turns his life around, proving that the corrupt can make themselves virtuous once more. He changes his identity, becoming the wealthy mayor of a small town. He later adopts Cosette, the daughter of Fantine.
Javert	Inspector Javert	bass-baritone
Bishop Myriel	The Bishop of Digne	baritone
Fantine	mezzo-soprano or contralto
Champmathieu	Bamatabois	baritone or tenor
Azelma	Fauchelevent	baritone or tenor
Cosette	Young Cosette	Voice type#Children's voices>treble
Thénardiers	Madame Thénardier	contralto
Éponine	Young Éponine	silent
Thénardiers	Thénardier	baritone or tenor
Gavroche	boy soprano
Enjolras	baritone or tenor
Marius Pontmercy	baritone
Éponine	mezzo-soprano (can be played by soprano with solid sound)
Cosette	soprano
Patron-Minette#Character Descriptions	Brujon	>
Patron-Minette#Character Descriptions	Babet	baritone or tenor
Patron-Minette#Character Descriptions	Claquesous	baritone or tenor
Patron-Minette#Character Descriptions	Montparnasse	baritone or tenor
Friends of the ABC	baritone or tenor
Combeferre	baritone or tenor
Feuilly	baritone or tenor
Courfeyrac	baritone or tenor
Joly	baritone or tenor
Champmathieu	Grantaire	baritone or tenor
Jean Prouvaire	baritone or tenor
Lesgles	baritone or tenor

Major casts

!Character	!Original French Cast	!Original London Cast	!Original Broadway Cast	Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert>The Dream Cast	!2006 Broadway Cast	The O2 Arena (London)>O2 Arena Cast
Jean Valjean	Maurice Barrier		Alexander Gemignani, replaced by Drew Sarich	Alfie Boe
Javert	Jean Vallée	Roger Allam	Terrence Mann	Philip Quast
Fantine	Rose Laurens	Patti LuPone	Randy Graff	Ruthie Henshall	Daphne Rubin-Vega, replaced by Lea Salonga	Lea Salonga
Éponine	Marianne Mille		Lea Salonga	Celia Keenan-Bolger	Samantha Barks
Thénardier	Yvan Dautin		Leo Burmester		Gary Beach	Matt Lucas
Madame Thénardier	Marie-France Roussel	Susan Jane Tanner	Jennifer Butt
Marius	Gilles Buhlmann		David Bryant		Adam Jacobs	Nick Jonas
Cosette	Fabienne Guyon	Rebecca Caine		Ali Ewoldt	Katie Hall
Enjolras	Christian Ratellin	David Burt	Colspan="2" align="center"	Aaron Lazar	Ramin Karimloo

Character differences: novel vs. musical versions

Several discrepancies between the 1,400+ page novel and musical exist. The Bishop has a much bigger role in the novel, taking up many pages. He appears in a single scene at the start of the show. The novel also grants more time to describing Valjean's time in Toulon and what it did to his spirit.

Javert's background is well-described in the novel. Javert faced discrimination as a child; his mother was a gypsy prostitute, his father a thief. The only hints to his back-story in the show come during "The Confrontation" where he sings, "I was born inside a jail, I was raised with scum like you, I am from the gutter, too." In the show his lifelong devotion to justice and the law is the means by which he redeems himself in God's eyes.

Monsieur and Madame Thénardier are not the humorous, curmudgeonly husband-and-wife they appear to be in "Master of the House". In the novel, they are portrayed as vile, selfish people. Madame Thénardier is referred to as the "Thénardiess", a term more suitable for a hideous female giant. In both versions, however, the Thénardiers' complete lack of morals is obvious.

In the musical, Éponine, while still ragged, has an approachable look and personality, is more ethical, more romanticized, and has been given a more sympathetic depiction. She has a younger sister named Azelma, who is not in the musical. In the epilogue of the novel, Azelma travels with M. Thénardier to America where he becomes a slave owner/trader. His wife had long since died in prison. In the musical, both Thénardiers survive while their only mentioned daughter, Éponine, (and presumably, their legacy) dies. However, in the French Concept album and the original French musical, Azelma is present.

In the novel, Gavroche is Éponine and Azelma's much ignored younger brother and the Thénardiers' eldest son. Although Gavroche appears in the musical, he speaks about the Thénardiers as if he is not related to them at all and it can be assumed that he lives on the streets, seemingly an orphan. The Thénardiers have two other sons, whom they also abandon. Like Azelma, they are cut from the musical.

In the novel, M. Thénardier was present in the Battle of Waterloo, picking gold and bullets off bodies after the battle. One barely conscious man believed Monsieur Thénardier had saved his life. This man was Colonel Georges Pontmercy, Marius' father. Marius always spoke of the great man Thénardier who saved his father's life. All this is omitted from the musical, although Thénardier's scavenging from the corpses at Waterloo still gets a mention.

Marius lived with his grandfather, Monsieur Gillenormand, who has a small role in the French Concept version but was later removed. Monsieur Gillenormand, in the novel, was Marius' grandfather and surrogate father.

The Friends of the ABC were an intellectual society, as in the musical. However, some of the boys had love, admiration, and attraction for each other as well as Socratic feelings for their leader Enjolras, most notably Grantaire. Grantaire only attended their meetings because of Enjolras, and ends up executed alongside his hero when the barricade falls. Bahorel, also a member of the ABC society in the novel, is cut from the musical.

Productions

Original French production

French songwriter Alain Boublil had the idea to adapt Victor Hugo's novel into a musical while at a performance of the musical ''Oliver!'' in London:

As soon as the Artful Dodger came onstage, Gavroche came to mind. It was like a blow to the solar plexus. I started seeing all the characters of Victor Hugo's ''Les Misérables''—Valjean, Javert, Gavroche, Cosette, Marius, and Éponine—in my mind's eye, laughing, crying, and singing onstage.

He pitched the idea to French composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, and the two developed a rough synopsis. They worked up an analysis of each character's mental and emotional state, as well as that of an audience. Schönberg then began to write the music, while Alain Boublil began work on the text. According to Alain Boublil, "...I could begin work on the words. This I did—after myself deciding on the subject and title of every song—in collaboration with my friend, poet Jean-Marc Natel." Two years later, a two-hour demo tape with Schönberg accompanying himself on the piano and singing every role was completed. An album of this collaboration was recorded at CTS Studios in Wembley and was released in 1980, selling 260,000 copies.

The concept album includes Maurice Barrier as Jean Valjean, Jacques Mercier as Javert, Rose Laurens as Fantine, Yvan Dautin as Thénardier, Marie-France Roussel as Mme. Thénardier, Richard Dewitte as Marius, Fabienne Guyon as Cosette, Marie as Éponine, Michel Sardou as Enjolras, Fabrice Bernard as Gavroche, Maryse Cédolin as Young Cosette, Claude-Michel Schönberg as Courfeyrac, Salvatore Adamo as Combeferre, Michel Delpech as Feuilly, Dominique Tirmont as M. Gillenormand, and Mireille as the hair buyer.

That year, in September 1980, a stage version directed by veteran French film director Robert Hossein was produced at the Palais des Sports in Paris. The show was a success, with 100 performances seen by over 500,000 people.

Most of the cast from the concept album performed in the production. The cast included Maurice Barrier as Valjean, Jean Vallée as Javert, Rose Laurens as Fantine, Maryse Cédolin and Sylvie Camacho and Priscilla Patron as Young Cosette, Marie-France Roussel as Mme. Thénardier, Yvan Dautin as M. Thénardier, Florence Davis and Fabrice Ploquin and Cyrille Dupont as Gavroche, Marianne Mille as Éponine, Gilles Buhlmann as Marius, Christian Ratellin as Enjolras, Fabienne Guyon as Cosette, René-Louis Baron as Combeferre, Dominique Tirmont as M. Gillenormand, and Anne Forrez as Mlle. Gillenormand.

Original London production

The English language version, with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and additional material by James Fenton, was substantially expanded and reworked from a literal translation by Siobhan Bracke of the original Paris version, in particular adding a prologue to tell Jean Valjean's backstory. Kretzmer's work is not a direct "translation" of the French, a term that Kretzmer refused to use. A third of the English lyrics were a "rough" translation, another third were adapted from the French lyrics and the final third consisted of new material.

The first production in English, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened on 8 October 1985 (five years after the original production) at the Barbican Arts Centre, London. It was billed in the RSC Barbican Theatre programme as "The Royal Shakespeare Company presentation of the RSC/Cameron Mackintosh production", and played to preview performances beginning on 28 September 1985.

The set was designed by John Napier, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and lighting by David Hersey. Musical supervision and orchestrations were by John Cameron, who had been involved with the show since Claude-Michel and Alain hired him to orchestrate the original French concept album. Musical staging was by Kate Flatt with musical direction by Martin Koch.

The original London cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Roger Allam as the persistent Inspector Javert, Ken Caswell as the Bishop of Digne, Patti LuPone as Fantine, Zoë Hart and Jayne O'Mahony and Joanne Woodcock as Young Cosette, Danielle Akers and Gillian Brander and Juliette Caton as Young Éponine, Susan Jane Tanner as Madame Thénardier, Alun Armstrong as the villainous but funny rogue Thénardier, Frances Ruffelle as Éponine, Rebecca Caine as Cosette, Michael Ball as Marius, David Burt as Enjolras, and Ian Tucker and Oliver Spencer and Liza Hayden as Gavroche.

On 4 December 1985, the show transferred to the Palace Theatre, London and moved again on 3 April 2004, at a much more intimate Queen's Theatre, with some revisions of staging, where it is still playing. It celebrated its ten-thousandth performance on 5 January 2010. The drummer from the original cast album, Peter Boita, is still with the show—the only remaining original musician.

The co-production has generated valuable income for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

Original Broadway production

The musical had its out-of-town tryout at the Kennedy Center's Opera House in Washington D.C., in December 1986 for eight weeks, through 14 February 1987.

The musical then premiered on Broadway on 12 March 1987 at The Broadway Theatre. Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle reprised their roles from the London production. The $4.5 million production had a more than $4 million advance sale prior to its New York opening.

The show underwent further tightening and an improved sewer lighting and Javert suicide scene effect was incorporated. Boublil explained: "The transfer from London to the United States has prompted further modifications. 'We are taking this opportunity to rethink and perfect, to rewrite some details which probably no one else will see, but which for us are still long nights of work,' Mr. Boublil says. 'There are things that nobody had time to do in London, and here we have a wonderful opportunity to fix a few things. No one will notice, perhaps, but for us, it will make us so happy if we can better this show. We would like this to be the final version.'" Two songs were deleted—the complete version of Gavroche's song "Little People" and the adult Cosette's "I Saw Him Once". A short section at the beginning of "In My Life" replaced "I Saw Him Once". The lyrics in Javert's "Stars" were changed. It now ended with the line, "This I swear by the stars!", while the London production and cast recording ended with the repeated line, "Keeping watch in the night".

The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Éponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thénardier, Leo Burmester as Thénardier, Randy Graff as Fantine, Terrence Mann as Javert, Chrissie McDonald as Young Éponine, and Norman Large as the Bishop of Digne.

Other members of the original Broadway cast included: Kevin Marcum, Paul Harman, Anthony Crivello, John Dewar, Joseph Kolinski, Alex Santoriello, Jesse Corti, Susan Goodman, John Norman, Norman Large, Marcus Lovett, Steve Shocket, Cindy Benson, Marcie Shaw, Jane Bodle, Joanna Glushak, Ann Crumb, Kelli James, Gretchen Kingsley-Weihe, Chrissie McDonald. Michael Hinton was the original drummer and credited on the cast album.

The musical ran at the Broadway Theatre through 10 October 1990, when it moved to the Imperial Theatre. It was scheduled to close on 15 March 2003, but the closing was postponed by a surge in public interest. According to an article in ''The Scotsman'', "Sales picked up last October, when Sir Cameron made the announcement that the show would be closing on 15 March...its closure postponed to 18 May because of an unexpected increase in business." After 6,680 performances in sixteen years, when it closed on 18 May 2003, it was the second-longest-running Broadway musical after ''Cats''. More recently, its position fell to the third after ''The Phantom of the Opera'' surpassed it.

This Broadway production of ''Les Misérables'' and its advertising in New York City is a reoccurring theme in ''American Psycho''. The reviewer for the ''Financial Times'' wrote that ''Les Misérables'' is "the book's hilarious main cultural compass-point".

2006 Broadway revival

Only three years after the original run closed, ''Les Misérables'' began a limited return to Broadway on 9 November 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre for a limited run that was subsequently made open-ended.

Using the set, costumes, performers, and other resources from the recently closed third U.S. national touring production, the production was only slightly altered. Minor changes included colourful projections blended into its existing lighting design, and a proscenium that extended out into the first two boxes on either side of the stage.

Some cuts made to the show during its original Broadway run were restored, new lyrics were penned for Gavroche's death scene (known in the revival as "Ten Little Bullets"), and much of the show was re-orchestrated by Christopher Jahnke, introducing a snare and timpani played by a 14 member band, a reduction of about 10 musicians from the original score's requirement of 23–25.

The original 2006 Broadway revival cast included Alexander Gemignani as Jean Valjean, Norm Lewis as Javert, Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fantine, Celia Keenan-Bolger as Éponine, Aaron Lazar as Enjolras, Adam Jacobs as Marius, Ali Ewoldt as Cosette, Gary Beach as Thénardier, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Brian D’Addario and Jacob Levine and Austyn Myers as Gavroche, James Chip Leonard as The Bishop of Digne, Drew Sarich as Grantaire, and Tess Adams and Kylie Liya Goldstein and Carly Rose Sonenclar as Young Cosette/Young Éponine.

Fantine was played by Lea Salonga beginning on 2 March 2007. Ann Harada replaced Jenny Galloway as Mme. Thénardier on 24 April 2007. Ben Davis joined playing Javert, and Max von Essen playing Enjolras. Ben Crawford and Mandy Bruno joined the cast that day too, playing Brujon and Éponine respectively. On 23 July 2007, Drew Sarich took over the role of Jean Valjean, following Alexander Gemignani's departure. On 5 September 2007, it was announced that John Owen-Jones (who played Valjean in London) was to join the Broadway cast. In return, Drew Sarich (the Valjean on Broadway) was joining the London cast in Owen-Jones' place. Judy Kuhn, who originated the role of Cosette returned to the show after twenty years as Fantine, succeeding Lea Salonga, who previously played the role of Éponine.

On 27 September 2007, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo attended the Broadhurst Theatre to watch Lea Salonga in her role as Fantine in ''Les Misérables''. Salonga's cast included Adam Jacobs as Marius and Ali Ewoldt as Cosette. Later that year, the show went temporarily dark because of the Broadway stagehands' strike.

The revival closed on 6 January 2008. Combined with the original production's 6,680 performances, ''Les Misérables'' has played 7,176 performances on Broadway.

Concert productions

10th Anniversary Concert

On 8 October 1995, the show celebrated its tenth anniversary with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. This 10th Anniversary Concert was nearly "complete," missing only a handful of scenes, including "The Death of Gavroche" and the confrontation between Marius and the Thénardiers at the wedding feast. Sir Cameron Mackintosh hand-selected the cast, which became known as the ''Les Misérables Dream Cast'', assembled from around the world. The concert concluded with seventeen Valjeans from various international productions singing, "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their native languages. The concert cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Philip Quast as Javert, Paul Monaghan as the Bishop of Digne, Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Hannah Chick as Young Cosette, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Alun Armstrong as Thénardier, Adam Searles as Gavroche, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Michael Ball as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Lea Salonga as Éponine, and Anthony Crivello as Grantaire.

25th Anniversary Concert

The 25th Anniversary Concert of ''Les Misérables'' was held at The O2 in North Greenwich on Sunday, 3 October 2010 at 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

It featured Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Norm Lewis as Javert, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Nick Jonas as Marius, Katie Hall as Cosette, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras, Samantha Barks as Éponine, Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Mia Jenkins as Young Cosette and Robert Madge as Gavroche. (Originally, Camilla Kerslake had been selected to perform as Cosette, however she was unable to attend. Katie Hall was selected in her place. Hall had previously acted as Cosette at the Queen's Theatre from 2009, and was playing Cosette in the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Tour production at the Barbican.) Casts of the current London, international tour and original 1985 London productions took part, comprising an ensemble of three hundred performers and musicians.

For the encore, four Jean Valjeans sang "Bring Him Home": Colm Wilkinson from the original London cast, John Owen-Jones from the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production, Simon Bowman from the current London cast and Alfie Boe, who sang the role in the concert. The original 1985 cast then led the ensemble in a performance of "One Day More". After speeches from Cameron Mackintosh, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the performance concluded with students from school productions of ''Les Misérables'' entering the arena through the audience and joining the casts for the Finale song.

The evening concert was shown live in cinemas across the UK, Ireland and around the world.

A Blu-ray and DVD version of the O2 broadcast was released on 29 November 2010 in the UK (PAL DVD (Region 2) and Blu-ray). It was released in North America on DVD and Blu-ray on 22 February 2011.

Other concert performances

The musical has also been performed in concert at Cardiff Castle and several venues in southern England, produced by Earl Carpenter Concerts. A concert version starring Jeff Leyton was also performed at the Odyssey Arena, Belfast. In 1989, a one-night concert performance was performed at SkyDome, Toronto, and the largest concert production attracted an audience of approximately 125,000 as part of the Australia day celebrations in Sydney's Domain Park. The Scandinavian concert tour, produced by Cameron Mackintosh in association with Noble Art, starred Danish musical icon Stig Rossen in the leading role and commemorated author Victor Hugo's 200th birthday. Venues on the tour included the Stockholm Globen, Oslo Spektrum, the Helsinki Hartwell Areena, and the Gothenburg Scandinavium, with audiences totalling over 150,000 for the complete tour.

In February 2008, ''Les Misérables'' was performed at the Bournemouth International Centre, England with a cast of West End stars accompanied by the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. In August 2008, a concert version, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, was performed at the Hollywood Bowl. The cast included veteran ''Les Misérables'' star J. Mark McVey as Valjean, ''The Office'' star Melora Hardin as Fantine, Broadway star and Bowl veteran Brian Stokes Mitchell as Javert, ''Spring Awakening'' and ''Glee'' star Lea Michele as Eponine, Tony-winning ''Jersey Boys'' star John Lloyd Young as Marius, West End star Tom Lowe as Enjolras, Michael McCormick as Thénardier, Ruth Williamson as Madame Thénardier, Michele Maika as Cosette, Maddie Levy as Young Cosette, and Sage Ryan as Gavroche.

In September 2008, it was performed at the St John Loveridge Hall in Guernsey with a cast of West End performers—the first time that it had been professionally performed on the Island where Victor Hugo wrote the novel. Former London Valjean Phil Cavill reprised his role alongside Les Misérables veteran Michael McCarthy as Javert. In March 2009, the Guernsey production was remounted at Fort Regent in Jersey; and in July 2009, the musical was performed in concert at Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.

In November 2004, to celebrate the centennial of the Entente Cordiale The Queen invited the cast of ''Les Miserables'' in the West End to perform for French President Jacques Chirac at Windsor Castle. It was the first time the cast of a West End musical had performed at a Royal residence. The cast was the same as in the West End, supplemented by several guest singers and a choir of former performers. Notably the part of Jean Valjean was played by Michael Ball - the original 1985 London and 1995 Dream Cast Marius.

Touring productions

National U.S. tours

The show had three national touring productions in the U.S., all of which shared the Broadway producer and manager, cast, creative teams, sets, costumes, and lighting. While the touring production and the New York production were running simultaneously, the staff, cast members, crew, and musicians of the two productions interchanged often, which contributed to keeping both companies of the show in form. When the New York production closed in 2003, the Third National Tour continued for another three years, and enjoyed the influx of many members from the original and subsequent New York companies.

The First National Tour opened at Boston's Shubert Theatre on 12 December 1987, and continued to play until late 1991. The Second National Tour (called "The Fantine Company") opened at Los Angeles' Shubert Theatre on 1 June 1988. The production played for fourteen months then transferred to San Francisco's Curran Theatre where it enjoyed a similar run. The Third National Tour of ''Les Misérables'' (called "The Marius Company") was one of the longest running American touring musicals. Opening on 28 November 1988, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Florida, and closing on 23 July 2006, at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, the tour ran for seventeen years and seven thousand sixty-one performances. The tour played in one hundred forty-five cities in forty-three states. The same touring company also frequently performed in Canada, and made a diversion in 2002 to visit Shanghai, China for three weeks.

The final company of the Third National Broadway Tour included Randal Keith as Valjean (Keith also played Valjean in the final company of the original Broadway engagement), Robert Hunt as Javert, Joan Almedilla as Fantine, Daniel Bogart as Marius, Norman Large (from Original Broadway Cast) as Monsieur Thénardier, Jennifer Butt (from Original Broadway Cast) as Madame Thénardier, Melissa Lyons as Éponine, Ali Ewoldt as Cosette, Victor Wallace as Enjolras, Meg Guzulescu and Rachel Schier alternating as Young Cosette and Young Éponine, and Austyn Myers and Anthony Skillman alternating as Gavroche.

In the fall of 2010, a fourth US tour company embarked on a national tour presented by Broadway Across America to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show. The tour had its opening on 19 November 2010 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey, where it is scheduled for a multi-week run. The production stars J. Mark McVey as Valjean, Andrew Valera as Javert, Betsy Morgan as Fantine, Jenny Latimer as Cosette, Justin Scott Brown as Marius, Chasten Harmon as Eponine, Michael Kostroff as Thénardier, Shawna Hamic as Madame Thénardier, Jeremy Hays as Enjolras, Colin Depaula and Ethan Paul Khusidman as Gavroche, Maya Jade Frank and Juliana Simone alternating as Young Cosette and Young Eponine. J. Mark McVey's daughter, Kylie McVey is the understudy for Young Cosette and Young Eponine. The tour is scheduled to run through 2011 and is to visit twenty cites across the U.S. The tour is currently one of six US national Broadway tours that are grossing over $1,000,000 per week.

25th Anniversary International Tour

A new tour to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the show began performances on 12 December 2009, at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. Differences from the original production included a new set, new costumes, new direction and alterations to the original orchestrations. The new tour also did not use a revolving stage and the scenery was inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. Locations have included Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Bristol, Salford, and Southhampton. The tour also played a special engagement in Paris. From September through October, the show returned to the Barbican Centre, London, where the original 1985 production commenced. The tour cast features John Owen-Jones as Valjean, Earl Carpenter as Javert, Gareth Gates as Marius, Ashley Artus as Thénardier, Lynne Wilmot as Madame Thénardier, Madalena Alberto as Fantine, Rosalind James as Éponine, Jon Robyns as Enjolras, Katie Hall as Cosette, and David Lawrence as the Bishop of Digne. The tour ended 2 October 2010, at the Barbican.

International productions

The show has been produced in thirty-eight countries and translated into 21 languages (English, French, German (one version from Austria and two from Germany), Spanish (two versions from Spain (Madrid 1992 and 2010), one version each from Argentina and Mexico), Japanese, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian (two versions in Bokmål and Nynorsk), Polish, Swedish (In Sweden and in Finland), Dutch (two from the Netherlands and Belgium), Danish, Finnish, Brazilian Portuguese, Estonian, Czech, Mauritian Creole, Basque, Catalan). Including singles and promos, there have been over sixty-five official recordings from worldwide productions.

Regional productions

In 1997, the Royal Shakespeare Company performed at the Colonial Theatre in Boston, Massachusetts. The production starred Gregory Calvin Stone (Jean Valjean), Rich Affannato (Marius), Lisa Capps (Fantine), J.P. Dougherty (Monsieur Thenardier), Rona Figueroa (Eponine), Kate Fisher (Cosette), Brian Herriott (Enjolras), Todd Alan Johnson (Javert), and Tregoney Shepherd (Madame Thenardier).

The USAREUR Roadside Theater in Heidelberg, Germany hosted the American Community Theater World Premiere of ''Les Misérables.'' The premiere took place 11 May 2001 and closed on 10 June 2001. Beginning in 2007, a limited number of regional productions (five in the US, two in Canada) of ''Les Misérables'' have been staged. The ''California Musical Theatre (CMT)'' (Sacramento, California) in its ''Music Circus'' summer series (production ran from 10 July through 22 July 2007) staged the show as theater in the round. Glenn Casale, choreographed by Bob Richard, with music directed by Andrew Bryan, directed the production that featured Ivan Rutherford who gave over one thousand eight hundred performances as Jean Valjean on Broadway as well as performing in the Tenth Anniversary Company.

Other regional productions of ''Les Misérables'' include the Pioneer Theatre Company (PTC) of Salt Lake City which was the first regional production. This production ran from 27 April 2007 to 7 July 2007, making it the longest-running production in PTC's history. It was directed by PTC artistic director Charles Morey and brought both William Solo as Jean Valjean and Merwin Foard as Inspector Javert to the PTC re-enacting roles both men played previously on Broadway.

The first independent regional theatre production of the musical in Canada was directed by Linda Moore at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax, Nova Scotia, starring Frank Mackay as Jean Valjean in 1994.

An outdoor production played at The Muny, the nation's oldest and largest outdoor theatre, which seats 12,000 people. The theatre is located in Saint Louis, Missouri. Directed by Fred Hanson, ''Les Misérables'' was the final production of the Muny's 89th season, playing 6–15 August 2007. Ivan Rutherford, who was a Valjean in the original Broadway production, reprised his role in the production. Kevin Kern and Diana Kaarina, who played Marius and Éponine in the closing cast of the original Broadway production, reprised their roles.

Another outdoor production was staged at Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, Utah, and ran June through mid-October 2008.

In September 2008, a mini-tour produced by Atlanta's Theater of the Stars played Eisenhower Hall at the United States Military Academy, in West Point, New York; the Filene Center at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia; Kansas City Starlight Theatre; and the Fox Theater in Atlanta. The show featured a new set of original pictures painted by Victor Hugo himself. Robert Evan played Valjean, returning to the role he played in the mid-nineties on Broadway. Also featured were Nikki Rene Daniels as Fantine and Robert Hunt as Javert, both reprising their roles from the Broadway revival. Fred Hanson directed the production. The creative team included Matt Kinley as Scenic Designer, Ken Billington as Lighting Designer, Peter Fitzgerald and Erich Bechtel as Sound Designers, Zachary Borovay as Projection Designer, and Dan Riddle as Musical Director and Conductor.

In 2008, the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia staged a small venue "black box" version of the play. Signature received Mackintosh's special permission for the production: "One of the great pleasures of being involved with the creation of Les Misérables is seeing this marvelous musical being done in a completely different and original way. Having seen many shows brilliantly reimagined at Signature I have no doubt that Eric and his team will come up with a revolutionary new take on Les Miz unlike anything anyone has seen before. Viva la différence!" This production earned Signature the 2009 Regional Theater Tony Award. The production officially opened on 14 December 2008 (after previews from 2 December), and ran through 22 February 2009 (extended from 25 January 2009).

Northern Stage, a regional theatre company in White River Junction, Vermont, also staged a production on a small stage, in December 2008; in their case, it was a three-quarter-thrust stage in a 245-seat house. This production featured Timothy Shew as Jean Valjean, Mary Gutzi as Madame Thénardier and Kevin David Thomas as Marius, all of whom appeared in the Broadway production (where Shew starred as Valjean, Gutzi as Fantine and Thomas as Marius). The production also featured Broadway veterans Dan Sharkey (''The Music Man'') and David DeWitt (''Phantom of the Opera''). Northern Stage Artistic Director Brooke Ciardelli directed the production.

In July 2009, the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera (CLO) staged ''Les Misérables'' as part of their summer show collection.

''Les Misérables'' school edition

The school edition cuts a considerable amount of material from the original show. It is divided into thirty scenes and, although no "critical" scenes or songs have been removed, it runs 25–30 minutes shorter than the "official" version making the total running time about 2 1/2 hours long. A few subtle changes of vocal pitch have been made: "What Have I Done?", Valjean's Soliloquy, "Stars" by Javert, "A Little Fall of Rain" by Éponine and Marius, "Turning", and "Castle on a Cloud" lose a verse each. The song "Fantine's Death/Confrontation" is edited, removing the signature counter-point duel between Valjean and Javert. "Dog Eats Dog" by Thénardier is heavily truncated, as is "Beggars at the Feast", with the song before it, "Wedding Chorale", being excluded entirely although the rest of the wedding remains in place. Also, the introduction to "Master of the House" is cut completely.

After The King's Theatre, The King's School and Tara Anglican School for Girls, in Sydney, Australia, gained rights for the full production in late 2000 from Cameron Mackintosh to perform the show. Music Theatre International developed a school version, available only to productions with an entirely amateur cast aged under 19. Hundreds of schools worldwide have purchased the rights and staged performances, and it was the best-selling production for high schools in the year 2006.

Holy Trinity Diocesan High School, located in Hicksville, New York, marked the first presentation of the ''Les Misérables'' school edition in the U.S.

Many famous childrens theatrical companies have produced the show.Cincinnati Young People's Theatre, or CYPT, performed the School Edition in the Summer of 2010

Film adaptation

Although numerous films of the ''Les Misérables'' story have been made, no film adaptation of the stage musical has been produced. A film adaptation has been in development several times since the late 1980s. Alan Parker was reported to be attached to an adaptation at an early stage.

In 1992, Mackintosh announced that the film would be directed by Bruce Beresford and co-produced by Tri-Star Pictures, but this project was abandoned some time later.

The DVD/Blu-Ray release of ''Les Misérables in Concert - the 25th Anniversary'' confirmed an announcement of the musical's film adaptation. Mackintosh has since stated at a press conference that the foundations for the film are currently being laid.

In March 2011, director Tom Hooper began negotiations to direct ''Les Misérables'' from a screenplay by William Nicholson, and to be produced by Cameron Mackintosh. In June 2011, Working Title and Mackintosh began production of ''Les Misérables'' and that the film is scheduled to begin principal photography in 2012. That same month, Hugh Jackman began negotiations to star as Jean Valjean, and Paul Bettany as Javert.. Anne Hathaway, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter. Emma Watson, and Russell Crowe are all attached to the project with Hathaway reportedly playing Fantine, Rush as Thénardier, Bonham Carter as Mme. Thénardier, Watson as either Cosette or Eponine; Crowe maybe another contender for Javert.

Cast recordings

English

The following recordings of ''Les Misérables'' are available in the English: the Original London Cast, the Original Broadway Cast, the Complete Symphonic Recording, the 10th Anniversary London Concert, The 25th Anniversary UK Tour Cast and the 25th Anniversary London Concert.

Original London Cast recording

The Original London Cast recording was the first English language album of the musical. Recorded in 1985, when the show premiered, it is closest to the original French concept album. For example, "Stars" appears before "Look Down" and shortly after, the original version of "Little People" plays, which was later incorporated into the revealing of Javert. It also features a song entitled "I Saw Him Once", sung by Cosette, which was later incorporated into the first part of "In My Life".

The cast includes Colm Wilkinson as Valjean, Roger Allam as Javert, Patti LuPone as Fantine, Alun Armstrong as Thénardier, Susan Jane Tanner as Mme. Thénardier, Frances Ruffelle as Éponine, Ian Tucker as Gavroche, Michael Ball as Marius, David Burt as Enjolras, and Rebecca Caine as Cosette.

Original Broadway Cast recording

The Original Broadway Cast recording was produced in 1987. It included several changes to the songs that are still evident in today's performances. As with its predecessor, it is incomplete, and leaves out songs or parts that are more important narratively than musically (e.g., "Fantine's Arrest", "The Runaway Cart", "The Final Battle").

The cast includes Colm Wilkinson as Valjean, Terrence Mann as Javert, Randy Graff as Fantine, Leo Burmester as Thénardier, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thénardier, Frances Ruffelle as Éponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, David Bryant as Marius, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, and Judy Kuhn as Cosette.

Complete Symphonic Recording

Recorded in 1988 and released in 1989, the Complete Symphonic Recording features the entire score. (The Czech Revival Recording is the only other album, in any language, to feature the entire score.) Cameron Mackintosh's original plan was to use the Australian cast, but the scope was expanded to create an international cast featuring performers from the major performances of the musical. The cast was recorded in three different places.

The album, produced by David Caddick and conducted by Martin Koch, won the Best Musical Cast Show Album Grammy Award in 1991. The cast includes Gary Morris as Valjean, Philip Quast as Javert, Debra Byrne as Fantine, Gay Soper as Mme. Thénardier, Barry James as Thénardier, Kaho Shimada as Éponine, Michael Ball as Marius, Anthony Warlow as Enjolras, and Tracy Shayne as Cosette.

10th Anniversary Concert

The 10th Anniversary recording was of a concert version of ''Les Misérables'', performed at the Royal Albert Hall in October 1995, featuring full orchestra and choir. All the parts were sung live, giving the performance a different mood from other recordings. The score was recorded consecutively without pauses or multiple recordings. The concert's encores are also included. As with the original recordings, this edition omitted certain parts; however, they differed from those missing from the original (e.g., those vital to plot such as "Fantine's Arrest" and "The Runaway Cart" were kept, while unnecessary or complex songs, such as "At the Barricade", were left out).

The cast includes Colm Wilkinson as Valjean, Philip Quast as Javert, Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Alun Armstrong as Thénardier, Jenny Galloway as Mme. Thénardier, Lea Salonga as Éponine, Adam Searles as Gavroche, Hannah Chick as Young Cosette, Michael Ball as Marius, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Judy Kuhn as Cosette and Anthony Crivello as Grantaire.

Manchester Highlights

A five-track album featuring members of the UK national tour was released in 1992 and includes "I Dreamed a Dream" (Ria Jones); "Stars" (Philip Quast); "On My Own" (Meredith Braun); "Bring Him Home" (Jeff Leyton); and "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" (Mike Sterling). The version of "Stars" is the same as that on the Complete Symphonic Recording.

25th Anniversary UK Tour Cast

Recorded live at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, this recording was released to commemorate 25 years of 'Les Misérables' in English. This recording featured new arrangements and reinspired orchestrations, and included John Owen-Jones as Valjean, Earl Carpenter as Javert, Madelena Alberto as Fantine, Ashley Artus as M. Thenardier, Lynne Wilmot as Mme. Thenardier, Gareth Gates as Marius, Katie Hall as Cosette, Jon Robyns as Enjolras, and Rosalind James as Eponine.

25th Anniversary Concert

The 25th Anniversary Concert concert was taped and is available on DVD in the UK while the Blu-ray was released worldwide. It was shown in select US theaters via NCM Fathom Events. The release for the DVD in the United States was 22 February 2011. A CD single of the 'Valjean Quartet' singing "Bring Him Home" was also recorded and released as a CD single with proceeds going to the charity "Tickets For Troops." The cast included Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Norm Lewis as Javert, Nick Jonas as Marius, Samantha Barks as Eponine, Katie Hall as Cosette, Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Matt Lucas as Monsieur Thénardier and Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier.

Other languages

There are also various non-English language cast albums of the musical.

1980 Original French Concept Album

1987 Original Israeli Cast

1988 Original Hungarian Cast

1988 Original Vienna Cast

1990 Original Swedish Cast

1991 Original Dutch Cast

1991 Paris Revival Cast

1992 Original Danish Cast

1992 Original Czech Cast

1993 Original Korean Cast

1993 Original Madrid Cast

1994 Japanese "Blue" Cast

1994 Japanese "Red" Cast

1996 Original Duisburg Cast

1996 Swedish Värmland Cast

1998 Original Antwerp Cast

2003 Japanese "Orange" Cast

2003 Japanese "Green" Cast

2003 Japanese "Light Blue" Cast

2003 Japanese "Violet" Cast

2003 Czech Revival Cast

2008 Dutch Revival Cast

2008 Le Capitole de Quebec Cast

2010 Original Polish Cast

2010 Madrid Revival Cast

2011 Czech Cast

Awards and nominations

! Year	! Award Ceremony	! Category	! Nominee	! Result
		colspan="2"
rowspan="2"	Colm Wilkinson
	Patti LuPone
		colspan="2"
colspan="2"
colspan="2"
rowspan="2"	Colm Wilkinson
Terrence Mann
rowspan="2"	Judy Kuhn
Frances Ruffelle
colspan="2"
colspan="2"
colspan="2"
		Best Featuring Actor in a Large Musical Production	Wim van den Driessche
Best Featuring Actor in a Large Musical Production	René van Kooten
Best Supporting Actress in a Large Musical Production	Marjolein Algera
Best Supporting Actor in a Large Musical Production	Jamai Loman
Award for New Talent	Freek Bartels
Best Lighting Design	David Hersey and Richard Pacholski
Best Script	Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel
		colspan="2"

See also

Lists of musicals

References

External links

Cameron Mackintosh: Les Misérables (Worldwide)

Cameron Mackintosh: Les Misérables (Broadway)

An Archive of Performers from the Original Broadway Run of Les Mis

An Archive of Performers from the London Run of Les Mis

''Les Misérables'' in ''I Dreamed A Dream: The Susan Boyle Story''

Les Miserables London

Les Mis 25th Anniversary Production running in Madrid, 2010

Category:1980 musicals Category:Adaptations of Les Misérables Category:Broadway musicals Category:West End musicals Category:Musicals based on novels Category:Tony Award winning musicals Category:Sung-through musicals

ca:Les Misérables (musical) cs:Bídníci (muzikál) cy:Les Misérables (sioe gerdd) de:Les Misérables (Musical) et:Hüljatud (muusikal) es:Los miserables (musical) fr:Les Misérables (comédie musicale) it:Les Misérables (musical) he:עלובי החיים (מחזמר) nl:Les Misérables (musical) ja:レ・ミゼラブル (ミュージカル) no:Les Misérables (musikal) pl:Les Misérables ru:Отверженные (мюзикл) sk:Bedári (muzikál) fi:Les Misérables (musikaali) sv:Les Misérables (musikal) tr:Sefiller (müzikal) zh:悲慘世界 (音樂劇)

name	Ruthie Henshall
birth date	March 07, 1967
birth place	Bromley, Greater London, England
spouse	Tim Howar (2004–2009)
birth name	Valentine Ruth Henshall
website	http://www.ruthiehenshall.com/
notable role	Marian Halcombe in ''The Woman in White''Fantine in ''Les Miserables - The Dream Cast in Concert''Nancy in ''Oliver!''Roxie Hart in ''Chicago''. }}

Valentine Ruth Henshall (born 7 March 1967), better known as Ruthie Henshall, is an English singer, dancer, and actress best known for her work in musical theatre. Henshall attended the Laine Theatre Arts school in Epsom, Surrey before making her first professional appearance on stage in 1986. Her appearance in the 1987 production of ''Cats'' marked her West End debut.

Personal life

Henshall was born in Bromley, South East London, England. Her father David was a journalist, later the editor of the ''East Anglian Daily Times'', a Suffolk morning newspaper. Ruthie Henshall's early ambition was to be a ballet dancer, but she lacked the necessary physique. Her sister, Noel, died in 2007 of a drugs overdose while living in San Francisco, California.

Henshall dated Prince Edward "solidly" for two years, but "on and off for five years", before becoming engaged to actor John Gordon Sinclair. After she took the role of Velma Kelly in ''Chicago'' on Broadway, New York, they broke up, after which Henshall admitted going through a process of excessive drinking and considering suicide.

She then met Tim Howar, theatre actor and lead singer of the band Van Tramp, and her male co-star lead in the West End production of ''Peggy Sue Got Married''. The couple married in 2004 and have two children together, Lily Amalia (born 16 February 2003) and Dolly Olivia (born 14 January 2005) They lived close to her parents on the Essex/Suffolk border.

The couple announced their split in August 2009, with Henshall stating that she remains "good friends" with Howar. They divorced in January 2010.

Career

Prior to making her stage debut at the age of 19, Ruthie Henshall trained at Laine Theatre Arts in Epsom, Surrey. Her debut performance was in the Cascade Revue at the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, she took part in a touring production of ''A Chorus Line'' as Maggie. Her West End Theatre debut came shortly thereafter when she was cast in ''Cats'', making appearances as Jemima, Demeter, Griddlebone and Grizabella.

In 1988, at the age of 21, she was cast in ''Miss Saigon'' as Ellen, showing at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane. She then went on to originate the role of Aphra in Children of Eden at the Prince Edward Theatre. The summer of 1989 saw her at the Chichester Festival Theatre performing in plays by Shakespeare, Molière as well as a role in the musical Valentine's Day, based on ''You Can Never Tell'' by George Bernard Shaw.

In 1992, at the age of 25, she was cast as Fantine in ''Les Misérables''. Her first starring role came in the 1993 trans-Atlantic transfer of the Broadway smash ''Crazy for You'' which opened at the Prince Edward Theatre. Her performance earned her the first of four Olivier Award nominations. In 1995, Henshall starred in ''She Loves Me'', winning the Olivier as Best Actress in a Musical. That same year, she performed a concert of Gershwin songs at London's Royal Festival Hall. Later, in October, she recreated her role of Fantine for the 10th Anniversary Concert performance of ''Les Mis'' at the Royal Albert Hall. In 1996, she took on the role of Nancy in producer Cameron Mackintosh's hit revival of ''Oliver!'' at the famed London Palladium. In 1997, Henshall originated the role of Roxie Hart in the West End transfer of the successful Broadway revival of ''Chicago''. For this role, she received an her second Olivier nomination for Best Actress in a Musical, which went to her co-star Ute Lemper.

Henshall was cast in the title role of the stage musical adaptation of the Francis Ford Coppola film ''Peggy Sue Got Married'', which opened in London in August 2001 to mixed reviews. Although it closed after a run of just eight weeks, she was once again nominated for an Olivier for her performance.

Henshall has also appeared at the Chichester Festival Theatre, has toured Britain in the revue ''The Magnificent Musicals'', and has performed in ''Hey, Mr. Producer'', a celebration of the works of Cameron Mackintosh. Her solo recordings include ''The Ruthie Henshall Album'', ''Pilgrim'', and ''Love Is Here to Stay'', a collection of Gershwin tunes. She succeeded the role of Marian Halcombe from Maria Freidman in Andrew Lloyd Webber's ''The Woman in White'', from July 2005 until February 2006. She was also cast in the title role in Marguerite, a new musical from the pens of Michel Legrand, Herbert Kretzmer, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. The show opened on 7 May 2008 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, London, but closed early on 13 September 2008.

Henshall's Broadway credits include Stephen Sondheim's ''Putting It Together'', Chicago(as both Velma and Roxie), and ''The Vagina Monologues''. In 2000 she guest-starred in an episode of ''Law and Order'' titled "Panic"; she played an author named P.K. Todd. Her first feature film, a musical version of ''A Christmas Carol'' with Kelsey Grammer, aired on NBC in the United States in November 2004 and was released as a commercial attraction to theatres in the UK and Europe. In January 2006 she appeared in the four-part BBC Television series ''The Sound of Musicals''.

In 2008 and 2009, Henshall appeared as an Ice Judge on the ITV1 show ''Dancing On Ice.'' Her appointment to the panel caused some controversy as she is the only judge with no experience in ice skating. Henshall said on Angela and Friends the Sky1 TV program that she was glad that she was away from Dancing on Ice. Her replacement for the 2010 series was "Baby spice" Emma Bunton.

Henshall performed two evening concerts with Kim Criswell entitled ''From Broadway to Hollywood'' at London's Cadogan Hall in the summer of 2009.

She returned to the role of Roxie in ''Chicago'' at the Cambridge Theatre, London, on 14 December 2009 and completed her run on 24 April 2010. This was the second time Henshall played the role in London having created it in 1997. She stated in an interview that she felt more comfortable in the part the second time around, being in her forties. She has stated that, "Anyone who plays the role of Roxie should be in their forties, as they have lived and learned". She has also recently played Roxie in the Broadway company of Chicago.

In March 2011, Henshall took the role of Elvira in the classic play Blithe Spirit in the West End, after playing the role in several regional theatre engagements.

Theatre credits

Bernadette (Concept Album, 1989)...Performer

Miss Saigon (Original London Cast, 1989)...Performer

Children of Eden (Original London Cast, 1991)...Performer

Godspell (Studio Cast, 1993)...Performer

Crazy for You (Original London Cast, 1993)...as Polly Baker

She Loves Me (London Revival Cast, 1994)...as Amalia Balash

Annie (Studio Cast, 1995)...Performer

Miss Saigon (Studio Cast, 1995)...as Ellen

Les Misérables (London Concert Cast, 1995)...as Fantine

Oliver! (London Cast, 1996)...as Nancy

Divorce Me, Darling! (Chichester Festival Cast, 1997)...Performer

Chicago (London and Broadway Revival Cast, 1998,1999, 2010)...as Roxie Hart

Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 (New York Concert Cast, 1999)...Roles originated by Gertrude Niesen

Putting It Together (Broadway Revival, 1999)...as The Younger Woman

The Vagina Monologues (Original Off-Broadway Production, 1999)...Performer

Peggy Sue Got Married (Original London Production, 2001)...as Peggy Sue

The Boy from Oz (New York Workshop, 2002)...as Liza Minnelli

The Woman in White [West End] (Original London Production, 2004)...as Marian

Marguerite (Original London Production, 2008)...as Marguerite

''Chicago'' (Cambridge Theatre, 2009) as Roxie Hart

Blithe Spirit ...Elvira

Recordings

1993: ''Crazy For You (Original London Cast)''

1994: ''She Loves Me (1994 London Revival Cast)''

1995: ''Miss Saigon (1995 Studio Cast)''

1997: ''Godspell (1993 London Studio Cast)''

1998: ''She Loves Me (1994 London Cast)''

1998: ''Divorce Me, Darling! (1997 Chichester Cast)''

1998: ''Annie (London Studio Cast)''

1998: ''Chicago - The Musical (1998 London Cast)''

1999: ''Miss Saigon (1995 Studio Cast - Highlights)''

2001: ''Ziegfeld Follies of 1936

2002: ''Pilgrim''

2004: ''Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert''

2008: ''Maguerite (Original London Cast Recording)''

References

External links

Ruthie Henshall's Official Website

Category:English musical theatre actors Category:Olivier Award winners Category:English dancers Category:Dancing on Ice participants Category:People educated at the BRIT School Category:People from Bromley Category:1967 births Category:Living people

name	Anthony Kearns
background	solo_singer
birth name	Anthony Kearns
birth date	August 17, 1971
origin	Kiltealy, County Wexford, Ireland
genre	Opera
occupation	Singer, performer
associated acts	Ronan Tynan, John McDermott
website	}}

Anthony Kearns (born 17 August 1971, Kiltealy, County Wexford, Ireland) is a founding member of the Irish Tenors, along with Ronan Tynan and John McDermott.

Early career

He was one of six children in a musical family, played the accordion and sang traditional Irish songs with his family. He attended F.C.J. Secondary School Bunclody, then studied catering and hotel management. He achieved success at the age of 21 in 1993 after entering a national radio competition "Ireland's Search for a Tenor" on the Gay Byrne program. This was run to celebrate the issuing of a new ten pound note. The only competitor not to have had formal training, he won the event, singing ''The Impossible Dream'' and ''Danny Boy'' on a city street in Dublin. One of his prizes was an appearance on Gay Byrne's Late Late Show on TV. He began training with vocal coach Veronica Dunne who had been a judge on the show. After that he relinquished his various day jobs to pursue a full-time career in music.

Anthony is rapidly making his name in the world of opera, a genre for which he has a great passion. His opera credits include: Fenton in an Italian production of Falstaff, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi and the lead in Faust for Opera Ireland, Carmen's Don Jose for Ireland's Glasthule Opera, Romeo as well as Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor) for Opera Naples [FL]. He sings Don Ottavio in a Lismore Music Festival production of Don Giovanni in June 2011 in Ireland.

Irish Tenors

Kearns, Tynan and John McDermott were brought together for a concert at the Royal Dublin Society in 1998. The concert was broadcast on the American Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in 1999 and the group found itself in huge demand for concerts across the Atlantic. After only a few months of international prominence, McDermott had left the group, to be replaced by Finbar Wright. In 2006 Ronan Tynan left and was replaced by another Irish tenor Karl Scully. The group now: Kearns, Wright and Scully, continues to tour and record and each member also continues with solo projects. Kearns' music with the Irish Tenors can be found here

References

http://anthonykearns.net/AJKBIO.html

http://www.theirishtenors.com/anthony.html

http://www.musicianguide.com/biographies/1608003200/The-Irish-Tenors.html

For news and information about Anthony Kearns, including latest YouTube videos, visit:

External links

Anthony Kearns official website

http://anthonykearns.net/

http://store.anthonykearnsmusic.com/

Category:1971 births Category:Living people Category:Irish tenors

name	Celia Keenan-Bolger
awards	}}

Celia Keenan-Bolger is an American actress and singer.

Biography

Early life and family

She is an alum of the Mosaic Youth Theatre of Detroit and a graduate of the University of Michigan's musical theatre performance program. Celia is one of three children, all of whom are involved in the performing arts. Her brother, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, also graduated from the University of Michigan with a BFA in musical theatre in 2007. Already a Broadway veteran, Andrew joined the national touring company of ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' in the Fall of 2007. Her sister, Maggie Keenan-Bolger, who wrote the noted play ''From the Inside, Out'', studied theatre and gender and women's studies at Oberlin College and graduated in 2006.

Career

In 2005, Keenan-Bolger made her Broadway debut starring in William Finn's musical ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'', where she originated the role of Olive Ostrovsky. For this performance, she was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She had appeared in the musical from its beginning at the Barrington Stage Company (Sheffield, Massachusetts) in July 2004, to the Off-Broadway production at the Second Stage Theatre in January through March 2005. With the original Broadway cast, she returned to ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' for a four-week limited engagement run at the Wadsworth Theatre in Los Angeles from May through June 2007. She appeared on the concept cast album of ''Bright Lights, Big City''.

She has also appeared on Broadway in the revival of ''Les Misérables'' as street waif Éponine from October 2006 to April 2007, for which she received a Drama Desk Award nomination.

She has performed Off-Broadway in ''Kindertransport'', ''Little Fish'' and ''Summer of '42''. Keenan-Bolger appeared in the Playwrights Horizons production of the new musical ''Saved'' with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman and a book by John Dempsey and Rinne Groff in 2008. Her recent Off-Broadway credits include ''Bachelorette'' at the Second Stage Theatre and Adam Bock's ''A Small Fire'', opposite Michele Pawk and Reed Birney. In 2011, she starred in the New York Theatre Workshop production of ''Peter and the Starcatcher'', a stage adaptation of the 2004 best-selling children's novel of the same name. She received a Drama Desk Award nomination for her performance as Molly.

Keenan-Bolger's regional credits include Johanna in ''Sweeney Todd'' at the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration in 2002, along with productions at the Goodman Theatre, TheatreWorks and Sundance Theatre Program. In 2003, she originated the role of Clara Johnson in the pre-Broadway world premiere of the Craig Lucas/Adam Guettel musical ''The Light in the Piazza'' at Seattle's Intiman Theatre and Chicago's Goodman Theatre.

She has sung in concert at the Lincoln Center American Songbook Series and at the Michigan Theatre with Audra McDonald. Keenan-Bolger performed as Martha in the 2005 ''The Secret Garden'' World AIDS Day benefit concert in 2005. She also participated in a reading of ''Shrek the Musical'' as Princess Fiona in 2007.

References

External links

Internet Off-Broadway Database listing

Confetti The first unofficial fan site

{{s-ttl| title = Portraying Olive Ostrovsky in ''The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee'' | years = May 2, 2005 – September 17, 2006 }} {{s-ttl| title = Eponine in the 2006 Revival Cast of ''Les Misérables'' | years = October 2006 – April 2007 }}

Category:American stage actors Category:People from Detroit, Michigan Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American musical theatre actors Category:Living people