AFTER 16 TRIUMPHANT YEARS, LES MISERABLES, BROADWAY'S LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW & THE SECOND LONGEST-RUNNING SHOW IN BROADWAY HISTORY, TO GIVE ITS FINAL PERFORMANCE SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 15 AT THE IMPERIAL THEATRE THREE DAYS AFTER ITS 16th ANNIVERSARY
The Production Introduces The Au Revoir and Thank You Price Scale Bringing Back the Show's Original 1987 Top Ticket Price of $47.50 for a Limited Time Only
After 16 years and 6,612 performances, Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical LES MISÉRABLES will give its final performance on Broadway on Saturday evening, March 15 at the Imperial Theatre, three days following the show’s 16th Anniversary, producer Cameron Mackintosh announced today. Currently Broadway’s longest-running show, as well as the second longest-running show of all-time (2nd to Cats), LES MISÉRABLES is indisputably, along with Cats and The Phantom Of Opera (also both Mackintosh productions), one of the three greatest musical theatre successes in history.
“I never dreamed that a musical like LES MISÉRABLES could become one of the longest-running shows of all-time, and I am very grateful to American audiences for embracing such a different kind of musical in such an overwhelming way,” said producer Cameron Mackintosh. “Though the show has always remained profitable except during those extraordinary recent times that affected the industry as a whole, I want LES MIZ’s first Broadway reign to conclude with the same kind of excitement and celebration that was enjoyed by my productions of Cats and Miss Saigon, with audiences once again fighting for tickets. I have also realized that I can’t have a crack at the Tony for Best Revival until I close the first production! Although Broadway will be less ‘miserable’ for awhile, the show will continue to live on around the world in a variety of incarnations, including tours, international stadium concerts, regional productions, and most importantly, performed by hundreds of schools. Will I be sad when LES MIZ ends its run? A little…but after all, au revoir does not mean goodbye.”
To ensure that as many people as possible have the opportunity to see LES MISÉRABLES one more time – or for the first time – before the end of its Broadway run, the production is immediately launching The Au Revoir and Thank You Price Scale bringing back its original 1987 top ticket price of $47.50 for Monday through Friday performances between October 3 and December 20, as well as $25 rear mezzanine seats. Additionally, SPECIAL WEEKEND PRICES of $60 (orchestra and front mezzanine) and $35 (rear mezzanine) will be implemented for ALL WEEKEND PERFORMANCES from October 5 through November 16. 200 prime center orchestra seats will remain available at all performances at full-price ($100).
Weekend performances from November 23 through December 22, plus all performances as of December 23, will be priced at $100 for orchestra and front mezzanine, and $60 and $35 for rear mezzanine. Tickets for performances March 12 through March 15 will be held off sale until plans are finalized for the anniversary and final performance celebrations.
A staggeringly popular and financial success since its very first New York performance, LES MISÉRABLES has been seen by 9 million people and has grossed over $390 million. At any given performance, more than 40% in attendance have seen the show at least once previously (according to numerous audience surveys). The longest-running show currently on Broadway, it became the second longest-running show in Broadway history (behind Cats) when it surpassed the legendary 6,137 performance run of A Chorus Line on January 25, 2002. LES MISÉRABLES will end its Broadway run in its 17th year; Cats closed in its 18th year on Broadway. The Phantom of the Opera is currently in its 15th year, and becomes Broadway’s third longest-running show of all-time this October 12th.
Worldwide, LES MISÉRABLES has already been seen by over 50 million people, with a total box office gross of over $1.8 billion. So far, there have been 53 productions, in 34 countries, in 20 different languages.
Although LES MISÉRABLES’ history-making run on Broadway will soon come to end, the show will live on throughout the world. Upcoming premieres include a Scandinavian Concert Tour (featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and a cast of 170, traveling to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland beginning October 2002), the long-awaited Mexican premiere in Mexico City (November 2002) and Saarbruecken, Germany (December 2002). Additional concert productions and tours are confirmed for numerous other countries.
The American National Company, which began in 1988, continues its record-breaking trek back and forth across the nation, and even recently made history-making visits to Shanghai and Seoul. The enormous, unprecedented popularity of LES MISÉRABLES across the country has meant multiple visits to dozens of American cities in the past 12 years. St. Paul holds the record, having hosted an amazing 9 engagements. St. Louis has hosted 8 engagements; Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City and Tempe have all hosted 7 engagements; and Boston, Columbus, Kansas City, Nashville, Philadelphia, Providence, Seattle and Washington, DC have all hosted LES MISÉRABLES 6 times. Combined, the current national tour, plus two previous U.S. tours have already been seen by more than 16 million and have grossed over $700 million.
In July 2002, LES MISÉRABLES made history by becoming the first musical ever to become available for school productions while still playing on Broadway, in the West End and in productions around the world. During the first year that the rights have been made available (from July 2002 through July 2003), 269 U.S. schools will perform LES MISÉRABLES, School Edition. In addition, there are currently 24 productions set for Australia, and the UK will have its premiere in October 2002 in Cardiff, with numerous productions to follow. Developed to nurture a passion for the theater among youth, LES MISÉRABLES, School Edition has been adapted for students with direct input from Mackintosh and is available to schools, children’s theaters, children’s camps and other organizations with programs for young performers.
Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, LES MISÉRABLES is an epic saga that sweeps through three turbulent decades of 19th century French history. The show is also the story of one man, the fugitive Jean Valjean, who is pitted against the self-righteous Inspector Javert, in a lifelong struggle to evade capture.
Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, LES MISÉRABLES is by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It features music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton. Directed by Trevor Nunn & John Caird, the musical is designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and sound by Andrew Bruce.
The current Broadway cast of LES MISÉRABLES includes J. Mark McVey (Jean Valjean), Philip Hernandez (Javert, David Masenheimer takes over 11/4), Jacquelyn Piro (Fantine, Lauren Kennedy takes over 11/4), Kevin Kern (Marius), Diana Kaarina (Eponine), Sandra Turley (Cosette), Christopher Mark Peterson (Enjolras), Nick Wyman (Thénardier) and Aymee Garcia (Madame Thénardier),
LES MISÉRABLES plays Monday through Saturday evenings at 8PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2PM. For tickets call Tele-charge at (212) 239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com. For complete LES MISÉRABLES information on Broadway, the U.S. Tour and around the world, visit the official website at www.lesmis.com.
LES MIZ: STILL REVOLVING AROUND THE WORLD
FACTS & FIGURES
INTERNATIONAL
LES MISÉRABLES had its world premiere at The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Barbican Theatre in London on October 8, 1985 and transferred to the West End’s Palace Theatre on December 4, 1985. Now in its 17th Year, it is the third longest-running musical in West End history (behind Starlight Express and Cats).
Worldwide, LES MISÉRABLES has been seen by over 50 million people, with a total box office gross of over $1.8 billion.
53 productions have been presented in 34 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Eire (Ireland), England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, The United States and Wales.
Over 36,000 performances have been presented in 212 cities.
There are currently 9 productions around the world: London, New York, The U.S. National Tour, Budapest (Hungary), Tokyo (Japan, in repertory), Bonn (Germany, in repertory), Gyor (Hungary, in repertory), Chemnitz (Germany) and Detmold (Germany). Upcoming productions include: a Scandinavian Concert Tour (featuring the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra and a cast of 170, traveling to Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland beginning October 2002), the long-awaited Mexican premiere in Mexico City (November 2002) and Saarbruecken, Germany (December 2002), and concert versions in Australia and several other nations .
In June 2002, the U.S. National Tour travelled to Shanghai, becoming the first Broadway/West End musical ever to play China.
LES MISÉRABLES has been performed in 20 languages: Argentinian, Castilian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Finnish, Flemish, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Japanese, Mauritian Creole, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese and Swedish.
There have been 31 cast recordings, with the Original London Cast Recording awarded Triple-Platinum status in the U.K. and Gold status awarded to three U.S. recordings: the Original Broadway Cast, the Complete Symphonic Recording and the Complete Symphonic Recording Highlights.
LES MISÉRABLES has won over 50 international awards, including 8 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) and 2 Grammy Awards.
BROADWAY
LES MISÉRABLES opened at The Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987. On October 17, 1990, it moved to The Imperial Theatre to make way for the Broadway production of Miss Saigon.
The New York production has been seen by 9 million people.
The Broadway production has grossed more than $390 million.
Winner of 8 Tony Awards, including Best Musical.
The New York production cost $4.5 million to mount, and opened with advance ticket sales of $11 million (the Broadway record up to that date).
421 actors have performed in the Broadway Company, including: 13 Valjeans, 18 Javerts, 23 Fantines, 21 Eponines, 11 Cosettes, 14 Marius’s, 5 Thénardiers, 10 Madame Thénardiers, 11 Enjolras’s, 40 Gavroches and 45 Young Cosettes.
1,633 people have worked on the show in various capacities.
210 people are currently employed in direct association with the show.
499 shows have opened on Broadway since LES MISÉRABLES and 478 have closed.
Winner of 2 Grammy Awards: Best Original Cast Recording for the Broadway Cast Recording (1988) and the Complete Symphonic Recording (1991).
6 U.S. Presidents have seen LES MISÉRABLES: Bush, Clinton, Bush, Reagan, Carter and Nixon.
There have been over 200,000 total revolutions of the now famous on-stage turntable.
Each performance uses 392 costumes, consisting of 1,782 items and 31 wigs.
UNITED STATES
Over 25 million people have attended the four U.S. productions (New York and three National Tours).
Box Office gross for the four U.S. companies is over $1 Billion.
721 actors have performed in the four U.S. companies.
42 states and the District of Columbia have hosted LES MISÉRABLES.
141 cities have hosted the American National Company of LES MISÉRABLES.
St. Paul, Minnesota holds the record for LES MISÉRABLES engagements: 9 times.
269 U.S. schools will perform LES MISÉRABLES, School Edition during the first year that the rights have been made available (July 2002 – July 2003). LES MISÉRABLES is the first musical ever to become available for school productions while still playing on Broadway, in the West End and in productions around the world.
THE AU REVOIR AND THANK YOU PRICE SCALE
October 3 thru November 16
Monday to Fridays
Orchestra, Mezzanine & Boxes - $47.50
(original 1987 top ticket price)
Rear Mezzanine (G-J) - $25
Prime Orchestra seats - $100
(200 seats)
Saturday Matinees & Evenings
Orchestra, Front Mezzanine & Boxes - $60
Rear Mezzanine - $35
Prime Orchestra seats - $100
(200 seats)
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November 19 thru December 22
Tuesday to Fridays
Orchestra, Mezzanine & Boxes - $47.50
Rear Mezzanine (G-J) - $25
Prime Orchestra seats - $100
(200 seats)
Saturdays and Sundays
All Orchestra & Front Mezzanine - $100
Rear Mezzanine (A-F), Boxes - $60
Rear Mezzanine (G-J) - $35
(91 seats)
***********************************************
December 23 thru March 15
All Performances
Orchestra & Front Mezzanine - $100
Rear Mezzanine (A-F) & Boxes - $60
Rear Mezzanine (D-J) - $35
Please note, March 12 – March 15 performances have been taken off sale until anniversary and final performance celebrations and events have been finalized.
IMPERIAL THEATRE CAPACITY: 1417 seats
