Les Mis�rables: Celia Keenan-Bolger to play Eponine

Celia Keenan-Bolger is to play Eponine in Les Mis�rables, which opens on 9 Nov 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre, following previews from 24 Oct 2006, for a special limited six-month engagement.

Celia Keenan-Bolger replaces the presiously announced Lea Michele who will now re-create her role of Wendla Bergman in the pop-rock musical Spring Awakening. The musical had a successful run earlier this year at the off-Broadway Atlantic Theater and is to start previews on Broadway from 17 Nov 2006.

Celia Keenan-Bolger was nominated for a Tony, and was a Theatre World Award and Drama Desk ensemble award winner, for her performance as Olive Ostrovsky in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a role she will continue in until the 17 Sep 2006, when she will be replaced by Jessica-Snow Wilson.

Ms Keenan-Bolger's other stage credits include Michael John LaChiusa�s Little Fish (Second Stage), Kindertransport (MTC) and Summer of '42 (Variety Arts).

As previously announced the cast will feature Alexander Gemignani (Jean Valjean), Norm Lewis (Javert), Gary Beach (Thenardier), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Fantine), Jenny Galloway (Madame Thenardier), Aaron Lazar (Enjolras), Adam Jacobs (Marius), and Ali Ewoldt (Cosette).

Joining the above cast are Victor Hawks (Brujon), Tess Adams, Gabrielle Piacentile, Kylie Liya Goldstein (Young Cosette/Eponine), Jacob Levine and Brian D'Addario (Gavroche), J.D. Goldblatt (Montparnasse), James Chip Leonard (Claquesous), Jeff Kready (Babet), Drew Sarich (Grantaire), Justin Bohon (Joly), Nehal Joshi (Lesgles), Blake Ginther (Feuilly), Daniel Bogart (Combeferre), Robert Hunt (Courfeyrac),and Doug Kreeger (Jean Prouvaire).

The ensemble will feature Karen Elliot, Farah Alvin, Haviland Stillwell, Nikki Renee Daniels, Becca Ayres, Megan McGinnis, Marya Grandy, and Idara Victor. The company's swings are Matt Clemens, Stephen Trafton, Marissa McGowan, and Q. Smith.

Les Mis�rables is about love and bravery in 19th century France during the revolutionary struggles. Jean Valjean, released on parole after 19 years on the chain gang, finds that the 'ticket-of-leave' he must display by law, condemns him to be an outcast. Only the saintly Bishop of Digne treats him kindly and Valjean, embittered by years of hardship, repays him by stealing some silver. Valjean is caught and brought back by the police, and is astonished when the Bishop lies to save him, also giving him two precious candlesticks. Valjean decides to start his life anew. Things go well but 8 years later, an encounter with a face from the past threatens everything he now holds dear.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Les Mis�rables is a musical by Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Sch�nberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It features music by Claude-Michel Sch�nberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil & Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton.

Directed by Trevor Nunn & John Caird, the musical is designed by John Napier with lighting by David Hersey, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and Elise Napier and sound by Andrew Bruce and John Weston.

Les Mis�rables is the third longest-running show in Broadway history and will, on 9 Oct 2006, pass the 21 year old record of 'Cats' in London to become the longest-running musical ever on the West End or Broadway with 8,372 performances; a run nearly three years longer than Broadway�s record-holder 'The Phantom of the Opera', all three shows having been produced by Cameron Mackintosh.

The original Broadway production opened on 12 Mar 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical. The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances.