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Les Mis at the O2
| There have been rumours for months about a possible Les Misérables O2 Arena one off concert and now it looks like a reality. |
Three Productions
Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables has become the world’s longest running musical, and will celebrate its 25th Anniversary this October. To mark the occasion Mackintosh is bringing the touring production of the show to the Barbican Theatre, where it first premiered in 1985. This will be the first time anywhere in the world that two productions of the same musical are playing in the same city. If that was not enough a star studded celebratory concert at The O2 Arena will take place on Sunday 3O October at 7.00pm. The concert will host a company of over 300 actors and musicians, including Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Nick Jonas as Marius, Norm Lewis as Javert, Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Camilla Kerslake as Cosette and the casts of the Original Production at the Queen's Theatre, the New 25th Anniversary Production at the Barbican and members of the Original 1985 London cast. |  |
Main Cast for the O2
 | Alfie Boe shot to fame while starring in Baz Luhrmann's ‘La Boheme’ on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his performance. His other credits include a nomination for a Classical Brit Award for his album ‘Onward’ and a sell-out production of ‘The Merry Widow’ at the London Coliseum. |
 | Little Britain star Matt Lucas has had rumours surrounding him for weeks about appearing in Les Misérables and now we can confirm he will be involved only in the O2 concert. His credits include West End production ‘Prick Up Your Ears’, BBC's ‘Wind in the Willows’ and most recently Tim Burton's film of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. |
 | Jenny Galloway is regarded as a legendary Madame Thénardier, and has played the part many times, including the 10th Anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She has also created the roles of Rosie in ‘Mamma Mia!’ and Mrs Brill in ‘Mary Poppins’ both in the West End and on Broadway. |
 | Lea Salonga, who will play Fantine, has already played Eponine in London and Fantine on Broadway. She became an international star by creating the role of Kim in the original production of ‘Miss Saigon’ at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and subsequently on Broadway. |
 | Norm Lewis is also on the list and is no stranger to Les Mis having played Javert in the Broadway production, with other credits including John in ‘Miss Saigon’ and King Triton in Disney's ‘The Little Mermaid’. |
 | Nick Jonas is one third of the successful band, the Jonas Brothers. The band has sold over 8 million albums worldwide, played to millions and scooped dozen of awards around the world. Nick is set to play Marius in the Queens Theatre production this June and will make a guest appearance at the O2 concert. Nick played the part of Gavroche for the final nine months of the show's original Broadway run. |
 | Camilla Kerslake is an English classical crossover singer who became the first signing to Gary Barlow's new record label. Her debut album reached number 4 in the Classical Album Charts and has been nominated for a Classical Brit Award. |
The Facts
When Les Mis celebrated its 21st London birthday on 8 October 2006 it became the World’s Longest Running Musical, a title it still holds today. In January 2010, the West End production broke another record by celebrating an historic 10,000 performances. The show has been seen by over 56 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 21 languages. It is rumoured that Mackintosh is currently developing a film of the show with Working Title and Universal. Les Mis is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. The original London 1985 production of Les Miz was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. The New 25th Anniversary production and the O2 Concert are directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley. Original costumes by Andreane Neofitou, additional costumes by Christine Rowland, lighting by Patrick Woodroffe and Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter. |
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