Claude-Michel Schonberg To Appear In Conversation; John Owen Jones & Eva Noblezada to Perform

This December, the Tony-Award winning composer and lyricist Claude-Michel Schönberg comes to London for an intimate one-off 'in conversation' event with Edward Seckerson at The Bridge Theatre.

The composer Claude-Michel Schönberg who with lyricist Alain Boublil created two of the greatest international successes in the history of musical theatre - Les Miserables and Miss Saigon - sits down with writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson to discuss his journey from songwriter/record producer and singer - he had a number one hit in France with his song Le Premiere Pas- to the stages of the West End and Broadway.

In a rare public encounter - illustrated with recordings and live performances from West End stars John Owen Jones (Les Miserables) and Eva Noblezada (Miss Saigon) - he talks about how his "Rock Opera" La Révolution Française set him on the path to Victor Hugo and Les Miserables and how a single photograph from the archives of the Vietnam War prompted a dramatic new take on Puccini's Madam Butterfly. He talks about the elusive process which triggers the melodies, his love of opera and ballet, his continuing quest to breathe new life into perhaps his greatest score, Martin Guerre.

Composer, librettist, and record producer Claude-Michel Schönberg is one half of a hit songwriting team, with lyricist Alain Boublil, that is responsible for the Les Misérables and Miss Saigon. The duo first teamed up in 1973 to write Boublil's first musical, La Revolution Française, in which Schönberg played the part of King Louis XVI. The following year, Schönberg recorded an album of original material entitled Le Premier Pas. He teamed up with Boublil again in 1978 to work on the score of Les Misérables, which opened in Paris two years later. The original cast recording won two gold discs by 1981 and the Broadway production that followed garnered two Tony Awards (1987 Best Score, Best Book). Schönberg and Boublil followed up with another wildly successful musical, Miss Saigon, which opened in London in the fall of 1989 and internationally shortly thereafter. The duo's next musical, Martin Guerre, opened in London in the mid-'90s. Schönberg also produced an opera album with the Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra and Julia Migenes-Johnson, and participated in all of the castings for Les Misérables.

Fane Productions operates as a unique one-stop shop for top talent from across the global entertainment industry. We manage and agent clients depending on their needs; produce, general manage and promote tours and programme venues, most notably Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zédel. We specialise in music, musical theatre and spoken word, but we don't stop there, with poets, public figures and dancers included among our clients. 2018 highlights include the world premiere of two time Tony award-winner Kathleen Turner's one woman show at The Other Palace and a very special UK tour with legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, whilst Sir Michael Parkinson, Kerry Ellis and Gareth Malone all head out on tour.

John Owen-Jones is a record-breaking West End and Broadway actor and singer. He is best known for his critically acclaimed and award-winning performances as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables and as The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera. In the UK, John has performed extensively in theatre, appeared on television and radio, and performed in concert around the world. John remains the youngest actor in West End history to have played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables (a role he also played on Broadway) and has performed as the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera nearly 2000 times - more than any actor in the show's entire West End run. John has appeared in special finales for the Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera 25th anniversary performances at the 02 Arena and Royal Albert Hall. He is in the unique position of being the only actor to have the opportunity to reinvent Valjean and The Phantom - in brand new Cameron Mackintosh productions that toured the UK and now tour the world to great acclaim. In an online poll, John was voted the "Best Ever Valjean" and "Best Ever Performer in Les Miserables by fans of the show worldwide; his performance as Valjean can be heard on the Les Miserables Live! Album. He recently played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at Dubai Opera, Dubai. John has released four solo albums. 'Hallelujah' EP (2006) 'John Owen-Jones' (2009), 'Unmasked' (2011) 'Rise' (2015) and 'Bring Him Home' (2017).

Eva Noblezada was discovered during a performance at the National High School Musical Theater Awards (The Jimmy Awards) and, at age 17, was chosen to star as Kim, making her professional and West End debut in Miss Saigon (Winner- WhatsonStage Award for 'Best Actress in A Musical'). She then went on to reprise the role on Broadway in 2017 which earnt her a Tony Nomination for 'Best Actress in a Musical' and was the youngest nominee that year. Other West End: Eponine in Les Misérables (Queens Theatre).

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