Zien, McGinnis & Hunt to Join Les Miserables in July

Broadway veteran Chip Zien will take over the role of Thenardier in Les Miserables at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) beginning Friday, June 29.  Zien will step in for Gary Beach, who will be taking a 10-week leave of absence from the show. 

Zien will join new cast members Megan McGinnis, who assumes the role of Eponine (succeeding Mandy Bruno) on June 18, and Robert Hunt, who assumes the role of Javert (succeeding Ben Davis) on July 6.  Prior to July 6, the role of Javert will be alternated by Drew Sarich and Ben Crawford.   The cast of Les Miserables also includes Alexander Gemignani (Jean Valjean), Tony-winner Lea Salonga (Fantine), Ann Harada (Madame Thenardier), Max von Essen (Enjolras), Ali Ewoldt (Cosette) and Adam Jacobs (Marius)

The current new production of Les Miserables opened at the Broadhurst on November 9, 2006.  The original production of Les Miserables is the third longest-running show in Broadway history. Les Miserables has been seen by over 54 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985.  The original Broadway production opened on March 12, 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning eight Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical.  The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances.

Zien is perhaps best known for playing the role of the Baker in the original Broadway production of Into the Woods. He has also appeared on Broadway in Falsettos (Mendel), Grand Hotel (Otto Kringelein), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Goran), The Boys from Syracuse (Dromio), The Suicide (Victor Victorovich) and Ride the Winds (Inari). In addition to Falsettos, Zien has also worked with William Finn in A New Brain (Mr. Bungee), Falsettoland (Mendel), March of the Falsettos (Mendel) and In Trousers (Marvin). He was recently seen in the movie United 93 and has appeared on television in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Law & Order," "Now and Again," "Judging Amy" and "thirtysomething."

McGinnis has appeared on Broadway in Little Women (Beth March), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), Thoroughly Modern Millie, Parade, and The Diary of Anne Frank. National tours include: James Joyce's The Dead (Lily) and The Sound of Music (Liesl). TV/film credits include: "Wings," "Dear John," "Blossom" (recurring), Anywhere But Here, and A Goofy Movie.

Hunt's theatre credits include: Javert in Les Miserables national tour, Jekyll & Hyde (Jekyll/Hyde), Falsettos (Whizzer), Damn Yankees (Joe Hardy), and the U.S. premiere of Dracula (Dr. Seward). Off-Broadway, he has been seen in Boobs! and Have a Nice Day.

For tickets and information, call Telecharge.Com at (212) 239-6200, or on line at www.telecharge.com .  Visit www.lesmisnewyork.com for more information.

Photo of Chip Zien by Linda Lenzi