Rosie O'Donnell to Join Les Miserables as Mme. Thenardier?

O'Donnell, who will leave her year-long stint on ABC's "The View" next month, first fueled rumors of her going into the show when, on April 25th, she was asked by an audience member "Will you do Broadway again?"  O'Donnell, who is known for making self-effacing quips about her vocal skills, replied "I will be going to Les Miserables in September as long as I can sing 'Master of the House!'"  Access Hollywood has confirmed that O'Donnell had indeed been asked by Les Mis producers to join the cast.

Les Mis spokesperson Marc Thibodeau has told The New York Times that O'Donnell will be welcome to join the musical at a future date; Ann Harada recently assumed the role of Madame Thenardier. "We think (O'Donnell) would make a terrific Madame Thenardier and would love to have her join the show at some point in the future," he stated.

Prior to joining "The View" last year, O'Donnell was, from 1996 to 2002, the host of ABC's "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," on which she heavily promoted Broadway shows and featured Broadway performers.  O'Donnell is also a performer who most recently appeared as Golde in the recent Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof; she has also been seen on Broadway in Seussical (as The Cat in the Hat) and in Grease (as Rizzo). O'Donnell, who began her career as a stand-up comedian, produced the Boy George musical Taboo, and film and TV credits include Tarzan, Harriet the Spy, Now and Then, Exit to Eden, A League of Their Own, Sleepless in Seattle, "Will & Grace," and "Queer as Folk." O'Donnell, who is a also known as a vocal advocate of gay and lesbian rights, is married to Kelli Carpenter O'Donnell, with whom she has four children.

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