James Barbour to Lead LES MISERABLES at La Mirada Theatre; Opens 5/31

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment present the fifth and final production in its 2013-1014 season of shows with the Los Angeles regional theatre premiere of one of the most beloved musicals of all time, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, the Tony award-winning, LES MISERABLES, music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, book by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with musical direction by John Glaudini, choreography by Dana Solimando and directed by Brian Kite.

LES MISERABLES will star James Barbour as Jean Valjean and "American Idol" Season Four Finalist Anthony Fedorov as Enjolras. LES MISERABLES will preview on Friday, May 30, 2014 (with a press opening on Saturday, May 31) and run through Sunday, June 22, 2014 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM AND CAST

BRIAN KITE (Director) has directed across the United States and abroad. His La MiradaTheatre/McCoy Rigby directing credits include their critically acclaimed productions of Miss Saigon, Little Shop of Horrors, Dinner With Friends, Steel Magnolias starring Cathy Rigby,Driving Miss Daisy starring Michael Learned and David Auburn's Proof. He is the recipient of the 2013 Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Direction of a Musical for his production of Spring Awakening. He directed the recent National Tour of The Graduate for LA Theatre Works and in November, he staged the first production of Miss Saigon to ever play in China when his show closed the Macau International Music Festival. This past summer, he directed Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers, starring Margaret Colin, which toured throughout mainland China. The production was the first U.S. production of a play at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA). Prior to that, he helmed a production of Cabaret in Bermuda under the patronage of the Queen's Governor and directed Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie at The Actors Co-op in Hollywood. Other recent credits include two Los Angeles revivals, J.B. by Archibald MacLeish and The Crucible by Arthur Miller, as well as the West Coast premiere of Václav Havel's The Beggar's Opera. He directed the Philadelphia production of Glenn Wein's Grandma Sylvia's Funeral and worked with Tony Award-winning director Daniel Sullivan on The Geffen Playhouse's production of Hedda Gabler starring Annette Bening. He directed over 20 productions at French Woods Festival in New York where he was the Director of Theater Programs for over 7 years. Brian is a member of the directing faculty at U.C.L.A.'s School of Theater, Film and Television, serves as the Chair of the LA Stage Alliance's Board of Governors, and is the Artistic Director of the award-winning Buffalo Night's Theatre Company.

DANA SOLIMANDO (Choreographer) most recent projects for La Mirada/McCoy Rigby include directing/choreographing their current production of Cats and also choreographing Miss Saigon at the Macau International Music Festival (LA Ovation nomination for the same production at La Mirada Theatre 2012). Other choreography credits: Little Miss Scrooge with design team John Caird, Sam Caird and Paul Gordon for the Rubicon Theatre Company (world premiere), Spring Awakening- La Mirada ONSTAGE Series Premier, Wizard Of Oz- California Musical Theatre, Parade- 3D Theatricals (Ovation Nomination 2013), Grease- Paramount Theatre IL, All Shook Up- 3D Theatricals, Little Shop of Horrors - McCoy Rigby Entertainment/La Mirada, Hairspray-3D Theatricals, South Street- Pasadena Playhouse, Jesus Christ Superstar- McCoy Rigby/Really Useful Nat'l Tour- starring the late Carl Andersen and Sebastian Bach, Swing! -multiple productions including La Mirada Theatre ( LA Ovation award- Best Choreography), South Bay Civic Light Opera (LA Ovation Award Best Choreography ) , Pittsburgh CLO and California Musical Theatre. As Director /Choreographer for Crystal Cruises, Dana has two shows currently running, Maestro and Route 66. As a performer her Broadway credits include Swing! (Country Feature and the Girl in the Silver Dress) Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan (Tiger Lily), Cats (Rumpleteazer). Nat'l Tours: A Chorus Line, Jesus Christ Superstar, Peter Pan, Swing!, Cats, Regional: Oklahoma, Sugar Babies, Gypsy, Radio City Christmas Spectacular (NYC). Dana can also be seen on A&E production of Peter Pan as Tiger Lily and has been a featured dancer on MTV, VH-1, The Today Show, among others.

JOHN GLAUDINI (Musical Direction) As Musical Director: For La Mirada Theatre/McCoy-Rigby - Cats, Spring Awakening (Ovation Award nom), Miss Saigon. For Musical Theatre West - Sweeney Todd (Ovation award), Altar Boyz (LA Drama Critics Circle nom), Andrews Brothers (Ovation Award nom), I Love A Piano, Spamalot. For Musical Theatre Guild - Aspects Of Love, Street Scene. For California Conservatory Of The Arts - Andrew Lippa'sA Little Princess (West Coast Premiere), Defying Gravity, A Light In The Piazza, Curtains. John is a musical consultant for the Disneyland Resort and is currently the musical director for Disney's "Aladdin, A Musical Spectacular," now in it's 12th year at Disney's California Adventure. As arranger/orchestrator: Fantasy Faire(Disneyland), Minnie's Fly Girls (California Adventure); Heaven Help Us (Florida Stage; Denver Center), The Prince and The Pauper (Lamb's Theatre), I Love A Piano (Denver Center, Florida Stage), Pete 'n' Keely (John Houseman). He co-wrote the revues, Are We There Yet?, A Christmas Survival Guide, and I Love New York (NY Bistro Award - Best Revue) which have been playing throughout the country. His career began assisting composer Stephen Flaherty on the shows Lucky Stiff, Ragtime, Seussical, and the film Anastasia. He has worked in the music departments on the pre-Broadway productions of 9 To 5 (LA), Legally Blonde (San Francisco), Spamalot (Chicago), Bounce (Kennedy Center), and A New Brain (NYC)--to name a few. He is a member of the Dramatist Guild and an alumni of the BMI Workshop in NYC. As a composer, his show, How The Nurse Feels was accepted into the Disney/ASCAP workshop (LA). A revue of his music was performed at Birdland in NY.

JAMES BARBOUR (Jean Valjean) was nominated for the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Awards for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Sydney Carton in the Broadway musical version of A Tale of Two Cities, and won the Sarasota Magazine Best Actor Award for the Asolo Rep pre-Broadway production. He has starred on Broadway in such Tony-Award winning shows as Stephen Sondheim's Assassins, Disney's Beauty and the Beast as The Beast, Carousel as Billy Bigelow, Urinetown as Officer Lockstock and as Edward Rochester in Jane Eyre (Drama League Award nomination). He also appeared in the Broadway production of Cyrano and the national tour of The Secret Garden. His voice can be heard on the upcoming international recording of A Tale of Two Cities, the PS Classics recording of Assassins, the Sony Classical cast recording of Jane Eyre, The Gifton Geffen Records, the upcoming release of Frank Wildhorn's Dracula, as well as on the live CD recording of his self-produced stage show Broadway in Concert (for which he won an LA WEEKLY Garland Award). His television credits range from the pilots of "The District," "Just Shoot Me" and "Flashpoint" to appearances on "Sex and the City," "Ed," "That's Life," "Some Enchanted Evening: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein" (PBS), "Beauty and the Beast: A Concert on Ice" (CBS), the PBS mini-series "American Experience: John & Abigail Adams" (playing Thomas Jefferson) and the upcoming film version of A Tale of Two Cities for public television. Film credits includeAlchemy (Tribeca Film Festival and ABC Family) starring opposite Tom Cavanagh and Sarah Chalke; Adam Sandler's Eight Crazy Nights, Waiting for Lefty, The Tell-Tale Heart and Twinkle Toes with Sally Kirkland.

As an author and producer, James is responsible for creating three concert series, James Barbour: The Holiday Concert and Love Songs (both at New York City's famed Sardi's Restaurant) and Back From Broadway/Broadway in Concert (the latter in conjunction with Steinway Concert Artist Hershey Felder). Mr. Barbour is considered one of the most sought-after performers on Broadway today. He is on the A-list of actors asked to develop new works for the industry's leading writers and composers including Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Frank Wildhorn, and Christopher Durang to name a few. He is currently developing a new musical concert called The Romantics. Mr. Barbour has worked tirelessly in support of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and is on the Artists' Committee of The Actors Fund.

LES MISERABLES will also feature: Randall Dodge as Inspector Javert, Cassandra Murphy as Fantine, Valerie Rose Curiel as Eponine, Kimberly Hessler as Cosette, Nathaniel Irvin as Marius, Anthony Fedorov as Enjolras, Jeff Skowron as Thenardier, Meeghan Holaway as Madame Thenardier, Emilie LaFontaine as Young Cosette,Olivia Knox as Young Eponine and Jude Mason as Gavroche. The Ensemble will feature: Caleb Shaw, Tyler Ledon, Alex Mendoza, Jay Donnell, Dino Nicandrus, Christopher Higgins, Cameron Sczempka, Amanda Minano, Madison Mitchell, Stephanie Mieko Cohen, Stella Kim, Sarah Elizabeth Combs, Anna Bowen, Louis Pardo, Marc Ginsburg, Michael Stone Forrest and Bruce Merkle.

The design team for LES MISERABLES is as follows: The Scenic Design is by Cliff Simon. The Lighting Design is by Steven Young. The Sound Design is by Josh Bessom. The Costume Design is by Colleen Grady. Hair and Wig Design is by Katie McCoy. The Props Coordinator is Terry Hanrahan. The Casting is by Julia Flores. The Production Stage Manager is Jill Gold.

LES MISERABLES will preview on Friday, May 30, 2014 (with a press opening on Saturday, May 31) and run through Sunday, June 22, 2014. Performances will be 7:30pm on Wednesdays & Thursdays; 8pm on Fridays; 2pm and 8pm on Saturdays; and 2pm on Sundays. There will be added performances on Sunday, June 15 and 22 at 7pm. There will be no matinee performance on Saturday, May 31. Talkbacks with the actors will be on Wednesday, June 4 and Wednesday, June 18. Tickets range from $20 - $70 and can be purchased at La Mirada Theatre's website, www.lamiradatheatre.com or by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at (562) 944-9801 or (714) 994-6310. Student, Senior and group discounts are available. LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue where the 91 and 5 freeways meet. Parking is free.

Winner of the L.A. Stage Alliance OVATION AWARD for 2012-2013 "Best Season of the Year," LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, now in its fourth decade, has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California." This beautiful state-of-the-art theatre has been producing quality productions for its Southern California audiences since 1977. The theatre has produced several national tours and is the recipient of many accolades including Ovation and Emmy Awards and Tony Award nominations. Brian Kite is the theatre's Producing Artistic Director. The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, California, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue. Parking is theatre-adjacent and free. For further information call 562-944-9801 or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com.

Celebrating its 20th Anniversary season at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, McCOY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT (MRE), is one of the world's premier theatrical production companies. Headed by Executive Producers Tom McCoy and Cathy Rigby, MRE has produced over ninety Broadway-caliber musicals, plays, and concerts featuring some of the biggest stars working in the industry today. In addition, MRE has launched several Tony Award-nominated Broadway, international and national touring productions including: Peter Pan, Seussical the Musical, and Annie Get Your Gun, all starring Cathy Rigby; Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll and Hyde starring American Idol star and Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis along with Grammy Award nominee and R&B superstar Deborah Cox; Jesus Christ Superstar starring Carl Anderson and Sebastian Bach; Camelot starring Michael York and Lou Diamond Phillips and Happy Days written by Gary Marshall and Paul Williams. Since 1990, Peter Pan starring Cathy Rigby has made four stops on Broadway, four Tony Award nominations including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical. The A&E TV network premiere of "Peter Pan," starring Cathy Rigby, received one Emmy Award and four Emmy Award nominations. MRE's other credits include numerous award-winning documentaries and stadium events.

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