Mirvish announces a new all-Canadian cast production of Les Miserables beginning July 20th, 2012 at Toronto’s Royal Alexandra Theatre

From Press Release

Toronto – David Mirvish and Cameron Mackintosh announced the Canadian Premiere of Cameron Mackintosh’s highly acclaimed new 25th-anniversary production of Les Misérables. The all-new production of Les Misérables features new staging and spectacular re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. An all-Canadian cast will play the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto. Performances begin July 20, 2012. The search for the cast for the new Canadian production will begin immediately.

The original Canadian production of Les Misérables opened on March 15, 1989 at the Royal Alexandra Theatre and ran for 63 weeks, winning rave reviews and captivating audiences. Subsequent Toronto engagements in 1991, 1992, 1998 and 2005 were sold-out successes.

The London Times hailed the new production “a five star hit, astonishingly powerful and as good as the original.” “An unquestionably spectacular production from start to finish,” said the New York Times.

“The success of my new production has surpassed all my expectations having been embraced by “Les Mis” fans and new audiences everywhere, with sell out productions in the UK, Spain and across the U.S. so I am really thrilled to come back to one of my favourite theatres in the world, the beautiful Royal Alex, with this exciting production and look forward to finding a new generation of Canadian stars to shine over Toronto in 2012,” Mackintosh said.

“I am excited to be launching this new production of Les Misérables at the Royal Alexandra Theatre, where the original production enjoyed its Canadian premiere 22 years ago,” says David Mirvish. “I am delighted that Toronto audiences will have a chance to rediscover this beloved musical. This new 25 th anniversary production is sure to thrill both fans and new theatre audiences alike.”

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 and additional material by James Fenton. 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 and sound by Mick Potter.

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 through October 2, 2010 (where the show originally premiered) and a celebratory concert at The O2 Concert Hall. The O2 Concert was presented in cinemas throughout the United States in November, 2010 and was subsequently released on DVD worldwide.

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 live recording of the New 25th Anniversary Production.

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 , in conjunction with Working Title Films and Universal, is also currently preparing the film version of “Les Miserables”, directed by Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe, which begins shooting in spring 2012.