Breaking News: Samantha Hill to Take Over as Cosette for Broadway's New LES MISERABLES

BroadwayWorld.com has learned that Samantha Hill has assumed the role of Cosette in Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Miserables.

The musical, which returns to Broadway beginning Saturday, March 1 at the Imperial Theatre, has been in rehearsals since late January. Hill recently performed the role of Cosette in the highly-acclaimed, sold-out Toronto production of the musical and has replaced Charlotte Maltby, who was set to make her Broadway debut in the production. No explanation has been given for the change in casting. The official opening night for Les Miserables is Sunday, March 23.

Shortly after the news this morning, Matlby tweeted "Unfortunate things happen. But its the hardships in life that make you stronger, better, and more resilient."

The cast of the new LES MIZ also features Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean; Will Swenson as Javert; Caissie Levy as Fantine; Nikki M. James as Éponine; Andy Mientus as Marius; acclaimed Canadian actor Cliff Saunders as Thénardier; Tony Award-nominee Keala Settle as Madame Thénardier and Kyle Scatliffe, as the revolutionary Enjolras.

The LES MIZ ensemble includes Erin Clemons, Joshua Colley, Emily Cramer, Natalie Charle Ellis, Jason Forbach, Heidi Giberson, Nathaniel Hackmann, Mia Sinclair Jenness, Andrew Kober, Gaten Matarazzo,Chris McCarrell, Melissa Mitchell, Dennis Moench, Adam Monley, Betsy Morgan, Angeli Negron, Melissa O'Neil, Max Quinlan, John Rapson, Terance Reddick, Arbender Robinson, Christianne Tisdale, Mckayla Twiggs and Aaron Walpole

Samantha Hill (Cosette), from Winnipeg, Canada, joins Les Miserables direct from the recent hit Toronto production. Prior to that, she made her Broadway debut as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera, as part of the show's year-long 25th Anniversary celebrations. Other shows in her native Canada include: August: Osage County (Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre); The Light in the Piazza (Patrick Street Productions); Spring Awakening (Winnipeg Studio Theatre); Annie, Beauty and the Beast (Rainbow Stage); Nine (Dry Cold Productions); and Chicago (Mayfield Theatre). Samantha received a 2012 Ovation Award nomination for her work in The Light in the Piazza in Vancouver, British Columbia. Samantha was also a part of the 2013 Tony Awards, performing with Phantom. She completed her BFA in Acting at the University of Alberta and has a BA in Theatre from the University of Winnipeg.