LES MISERABLES Raises the Barricade at Orpheum Theatre Tonight

LES MISERABLES, Cameron Mackintosh's new 25th anniversary production of the world's longest running musical, runs at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis for one week only, today, July 30-August 4, 2013.

Featuring glorious new staging and spectacular reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, Boublil and Schönberg's sweeping epic is presented by Hennepin Theatre Trust as a special addition to its 2013/14 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season. This return engagement follows a very successful Minnesota debut at the Orpheum in December 2011.

Tickets are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit HennepinTheatreTrust.org or call 1.800.982.2787. For more information on the production, and for a video preview, please visit www.lesmis.com.

Peter Lockyer portrays the fugitive Jean Valjean. He is joined by Andrew Varela as Javert, Timothy Gulan as Thénardier, Shawna M. Hamic as Madame Thénardier, Genevieve Leclerc as Fantine, Jason Forbach as Enjolras, Briana Carlson-Goodman as Éponine, Devin Ilaw as Marius and Lauren Wiley as Cosette. Erin Cearlock and Ava Della Pietra alternate in the role of Little Cosette/Young Éponine. Gaten Matarazzo and Julia Silva alternate in the role of Gavroche.

The ensemble includes Richard Todd Adams, Richard Barth, Natalie Beck, Katie Beetham, Andréane Bouladier, John Brink, Erin Clemons, Ben Gunderson, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Brittney Johnson, Cornelia Luna, Matt McMahan, Alexandra Melrose, Weston Wells Olson, Jason Ostrowski, John Rapson, Rachel Rincione, Matt Rosell, Alan Shaw, Joseph Spieldenner, Eric Van Tielen, Aaron Walpole, Natalie Weiss, Jessica Keenan Wynn and James Zannelli.

The London Times hails the new show "a five star hit, astonishingly powerful and as good as the original." The Star-Ledger says "a dynamically re-imagined hit. This LES MISERABLES has improved with age" and NY1-TV proclaims "this new production actually exceeds the original. The storytelling is clearer, the perspective grittier and the motivations more honest. Musical theatre fans can rejoice: Les Miz is born again."

"I'm delighted that 25 years after Les Miz originally opened in London the audience for this marvelous show is bigger and younger than ever before," said producer Cameron Mackintosh. "Over the years I have seen many successful, but visually different productions, so it has been exciting to draw inspiration from the brilliant drawings and paintings of Victor Hugo himself, integrated with spectacular projections. The new Les Miz is a magnificent mix of dazzling images and epic staging, driving one of the greatest musical stories ever told."

Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, LES MISERABLES is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISERABLESincludes the classic songs "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Stars," "Bring Him Home," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "One Day More," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Master Of The House" and many more.

Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Boublil and Schönberg's LES MISERABLES has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer from the original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and original adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The originalLES MISERABLES orchestrations are by John Cameron with new orchestrations by Christopher Jahnke and additional orchestrations by Stephen Metcalfe and Stephen Brooker. The production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, designed by Matt Kinley (inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo) and features costumes by Andreane Neofitou with additional costumes by Christine Rowlands. Lighting is by Paule Constable, sound is by Mick Potter, musical staging is by Michael Ashcroft and projections are by Fifty-Nine Productions.

LES MISERABLES originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on October 8, 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on December 4, 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen's Theatre on April 3, 2004 where it continues to play to packed houses. When LES MISERABLES celebrated its 21st London birthday on October 8, 2006, it became the world's longest running musical, surpassing the record previously held by Cats in London's West End.

In celebration of its 25th anniversary, the legendary LES MISERABLES made theatrical history with an international first-three different productions in London at the same time: the original production (still playing to packed houses at the Queen's Theatre), the acclaimed new 25th anniversary production at the Barbican (where the show originally premiered) and a celebratory concert at The O2 Arena. The O2 concert was presented in over 500 cinemas throughout the United States on November 17, 2010 and is now available on Blu-ray DVD through Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

The Broadway production of LES MISERABLES originally opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987 and transferred to the Imperial Theatre on October 17, 1990 running for 6,680 performances. The U.S. national tour began in November 1987 and visited over 150 cities before closing in St. Louis in 2006. Broadway audiences welcomed Les Miz back to New York on November 9, 2006 where the show played the Broadhurst Theatre until its final performance on January 6, 2008. To date,LES MISERABLES remains the third longest-running Broadway production of all time.

Seen by nearly 60 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 21 languages, LES MISERABLES is undisputedly one of the world's most popular musicals ever written, with new productions opening around the globe and seven more currently scheduled. There have been 36 cast recordings of LES MISERABLES, including the multi-platinum London cast recording, the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums and the live recording of the new 25th anniversary production. The video of the Tenth Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold millions of copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling musical videos ever in the U.K. There are more than 2,500 productions of the LES MISERABLES School Edition scheduled or being performed by more than 125,000 school children in the U.K., U.S. and Australia, making it the most successful musical ever produced in schools.

Cameron Mackintosh also developed the film of "LES MISERABLES" with Working Title and Universal that was released during Christmas 2012 nationwide and starred Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway.

On May 30, 2013, Cameron Mackintosh announced that this acclaimed 25th Anniversary, re-imagined production LES MISERABLES will return to the Imperial Theatre with previews beginning March 1, 2014 and an official opening set for March 23, 2014.

Individual tickets for LES MISERABLES are on sale now. Tickets start at $39 (subject to change) depending on performance time and seating preference. Tickets may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Mpls., 55402, no service fees), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org or through Ticketmaster by calling 1.800.982.2787 or visiting a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. All prices include applicable facility fees. Additional charges may apply. Groups of 10 or more save, and should call 612.373.5665 for information and reservations.

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