Les Misérables Returns to Philadelphia at the Academy of Music, Jan. 2 – 13
DECEMBER 5, 2012
Tickets for the triumphant return of Cameron Mackintosh’s new 25th anniversary production of Les Misérables are on sale now for the two-week engagement on Jan. 2 - 13 at the Academy of Music. The all new production of Les Misérables features glorious new staging and spectacular reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. The press opening is scheduled for Wed. Jan. 2 at 7:30 pm.
Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased by calling 215-731-3333, online at kimmelcenter.org/broadway, at the Kimmel Center box office, Broad & Spruce Sts. (open daily 10 am to 6 pm) or at the Academy of Music box office, Broad & Locust Sts. (open during performances only). Groups of 10 or more will receive discounts for select performances by calling 215-790-5883 or 866-276-2947. Performances include: Tuesday – Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm; Friday & Saturday evenings at 8:00 pm; Sunday evenings at 6:30 pm; matinees Saturdays at 2:00 pm and Sundays at 1:00 pm, with an additional weekday matinee on Thursday, Jan. 3 at 2:00 pm.
For more information on the production, engagement dates, and locations please visit www.LesMis.com. For a video sneak peek of the New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables, please visit www.LesMis.com/watch.
The New York Times calls this Les Misérables “an unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” 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 Misérables 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 Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes 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 Misérables 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 original Les Misérables 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 with
costumes by Andreane Neofitou and
additional costumes by Christine
Rowlands, lighting by Paule
Constable, sound by Mick Potter,
musical staging by Michael Ashcroft
and projections by Fifty-Nine Productions.
Les Misérables 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 Misérables 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 musical Les Misérables 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 Misérables 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 US National Tour began in November 1987 and visited over 150 cities before closing in St. Louis, MO 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 Misérables remains the 3rd longest-running Broadway production of all time.
Seen by nearly 60 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 21 languages, Les Misérables is undisputedly one of the world’s most popular musicals ever written, with new productions continually opening around the globe, with seven more currently scheduled. There have been 36 cast recordings of Les Misérables, including the multi-platinum London cast recording, the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums and the soon to be released live recording of the New 25th Anniversary Production. The video of the 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold millions of copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling musical videos ever in the UK. There are over 2,500 productions of the Les Misérables School’s Edition scheduled or being performed by over 125,000 school children in the UK, US and Australia, making it the most successful musical ever produced in schools.
Cameron Mackintosh is currently developing the film of Les Misérables with Working Title and Universal that will be released Christmas 2012 nationwide.
In addition to LES MISÉRABLES, the new 2012-13 Broadway Season includes: WAR HORSE (Nov. 20 – Dec. 2) at the Academy of Music; MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET (Dec. 11 – 16); JEKYLL & HYDE (Dec. 26 – 30), both at the Forrest Theatre; CATCH ME IF YOU CAN (Jan. 15 – 20); PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT (Feb. 26 – March 3); THE ADDAMS FAMILY (March 19 – 24); and SISTER ACT (April 2 – 7), all at the Academy of Music. The new season will also feature additional shows including: CIRQUE ÉLOIZE’s iD (Dec. 26 – 30), Green Day’s AMERICAN IDIOT (Feb. 12 – 17); BLUE MAN GROUP (March 5 – 10), ROCK OF AGES (June 14 – 16), all at the Merriam Theater; and the return of WICKED (June 26 – Aug. 4) for an extended summer engagement at the Academy of Music.
The Broadway Season is presented by The Kimmel Center and The Shubert Organization.
THE SHUBERT ORGANIZATION owns and operates 21 theatres in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Washington, DC and continues its involvement in the presentation of distinguished theatrical productions. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman and Robert E. Wankel, President, the firm continues its tradition of producing distinguished theatrical attractions. These include Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, Sister Act, That Championship Season, Passing Strange, Equus (w/Daniel Radcliffe), A Steady Rain, God of Carnage, Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, Dreamgirls, Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Lettice & Lovage, Passion, the original production of Amadeus and many others. The Shubert Organization is dedicated to the revitalization of the American theatre. Its activities include the restoration and modernization of its theatres and participation in civic and community affairs. Shubert Ticketing provides superior box office, call center and marketing services, as well as online products for live entertainment venues across the country.
KIMMEL CENTER, INC., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. Our mission is to operate a world class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience which includes providing arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.
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