Meet LES MISERABLES International Tour's Little People!

Manila, Philippines--While watching a revival production of Lionel Bart's "Oliver!" in London, LES MISERABLES Co-creator Alain Boublil saw the similarities between literature's favorite little street urchins Oliver Twist, from Charles Dickens' novel of the same name, and Gavroche, from Victor Hugo's LES MISERABLES, which sparked the idea to co-write the novel-to-stage adaptation of the latter with Claude-Michel Schonberg more than 30 years ago.

It's the little people in LES MISERABLES such as Gavroche, who is the third-born son of the Thenardiers and the younger brother of Eponine in the novel, young Eponine, and the musical's perennial poster girl, Little Cosette, who provided the initial inspirations for the phenomenal musical, which still feels fresh and remains a crowd favorite after all these years.

In the first international tour of the newly reimagined edition of LES MISERABLES, which currently plays The Theatre at Solaire, Solaire Resorts and Casino, these eight little people in the cast, who are following the footsteps of then-child actors Nick Jonas (Gavroche on Broadway, 2003), Daniel Huttlestone (Gavroche, 2012 film version), Lea Michele (Young Eponine on Broadway, 1987), Daisy Egan (Young Eponine on Broadway, 1987), Zoe Hart (Little Cosette in the original London production, 1985), and Isabelle Allen (Little Cosette, 2012 film version), shine bright and hold their own against their more experienced adult co-actors.

These young performers: Callum Hobson (Gavroche), Kieran McGinlay (Gavroche), Sebastian Witt (Gavroche), Mabel Tamone (Young Eponine), Claudia Ballen (Young Eponine), Venice Harris (Little Cosette), Chloe Delos Santos (Little Cosette), and the latest addition to the cast, Esang De Torres (Little Cosette), alternate in their respective roles and delight their audiences at every performance.

Meet the Little People

Callum Hobson (Gavroche)

Training: D@nce Nikki Webster, Central Coast, Elite Vocal Academy with Bronson Powell and Nadine Manion

Theater: Michael Banks in "Mary Poppins" (Gosford Musical Society).

This is Callum's professional musical theater debut.

Kieran McGinlay (Gavroche)

Training: Beenleigh Theatre Group, Kirri Adams Vocal Training, National Academy of Performing Arts

Theater: Winthrop Paroo in "The Music Man" (Queensland Musical Theatre).

Television: Queensland Health TVC

This is Kieran's professional musical theater debut.

Sebastian Witt (Gavroche)

Training: Conroy Dance Centre

Theater: Luke in "Strictly Ballroom" (Global Creatures)

Television: Resident dancer in Pipsqueaks (Beyond/Ian Munro)

Mabel Tamone (Young Eponine)

Training: Premier Dance Academy, Singing with Christine Bowden.

This is Mabel's professional musical theater debut.

Claudia Ballen (Young Eponine)

Training: Singing at Cornerstone School of Music and with Gregory Moore, speech and drama at The Nadia Haralampou Speech & Drama Studio, acting coach experience with Claire Crowther, musical theatre & dance at Davidia Lind Dance Centre (DLDC)

Other: Piano with Ara Williamson and Katie Poli

This is Claudia's professional musical theater debut.

Venice Harris (Little Cosette)

Training: Yvonne Edwards School of Ballet, Gymnastics at Argos Gym, Steps Musical Theatre, Inzpire Dance Company

Theater: Molly in the UK production of "Annie" (NZ) and Gretl in the UK production of "The Sound of Music" (NZ).

Film: Katie in "6 Days"

Other: "It's a Hard Knock Life" solo at Christmas in the Park

Chloe Delos Santos (Little Cosette)

Training: Young Australian Talent Company, CAPA

Theater: Ying Yaowalak in "The King and I" (Opera Australia)

Esang De Torres (Little Cosette)

Training: "The Voice Kids" Philippines, coach: Lea Salonga

Other: Finalist, "The Voice Kids" Philippines Season Two; First solo concert, Sky Dome, SM North EDSA (Manila)

This is Esang's professional musical theater debut.

Presented at the Theatre at Solaire by Smart Infinity, LES MISERABLES must close on Sunday, May 1, 2016, after three extensions. Final tickets have just been released at TicketWorld.com.ph.

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

LES MISERABLES also features English lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Mr. Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Adapted by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, the show has additional material by James Fenton. This touring production, whose executive producer is Michael Cassel, is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, and Christopher Key, and designed by Matt Kinley and David Harris. Original costume design is by Andreane Neofitou, additional costume design by Christine Rowland, lighting design by Paule Constable, Simon Sheriff, and Richard Pacholski, and sound design by Mick Potter and Paule Gatehouse.

Main Photo: Jasper Lucena

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