Cameron Mackintosh’s New 25th Anniversary Production of Les Misérables Runs at the Orpheum Theatre Dec. 6-18

“An unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish.” –The New York Times

MINNEAPOLIS—Les Misérables, Cameron Mackintosh’s new 25th anniversary production of the world’s longest running musical, runs at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis December 6-18, 2011. 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 part of its 2011/12 Broadway Across America-Minneapolis Season. Tickets are on sale now. For more information or to purchase tickets, please 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.

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 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 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 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 and 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 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 U.K. 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 U.K., U.S. and Australia, making it the most successful musical ever produced in schools. Cameron Mackintosh is currently developing a film of Les Misérables with Working Title and Universal.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets for Les Misérables are on sale now and start at $42 (subject to change). Prices depend on performance time and seating preference and include applicable facility fees. Additional charges may apply. Tickets may be purchased in person at the State Theatre Box Office (805 Hennepin Avenue, Minneapolis, 55402, no service fees), online at HennepinTheatreTrust.org, by calling Ticketmaster at 1.800.982.2787 or at a Ticketmaster Ticket Center. Groups of 10 or more should call 612.373.5665 for information and reservations.

Performance dates for Les Misérables are Tuesday-Sunday, Dec. 6-18, 2011 at Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Orpheum Theatre (910 Hennepin Ave., Mpls., 55403).

Show times are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 6:30 p.m. There is an additional 2 p.m. matinee on Thursday, Dec. 15 and no 6:30 p.m. show on Sunday, Dec. 18.