Les Mis�rables to close on 6 Jan 2008

Producer Cameron Mackintosh has announced that the Broadway revival of Boublil and Schonberg�s Les Mis�rables will play its last performance at the Broadhurst Theatre on 6 Jan 2008. When the show closes the production will have played 17 previews and 479 regular performances.

The current production of Les Mis�rables opened on 6 Nov 2006, following previews from 24 Oct, for what was originally announced as a six-month limited engagement.

The revival opened to mostly good to lukewarm reviews, "Appears to be functioning in a state of mild sedation. It isn�t sloppy or blurry. But its pulse rate stays well below normal, and so most likely will yours." (New York Times); "Its melodies are as grandiose as the story, stirring, tuneful and totally capturing the emotion of the moment." (Associated Press); "If you've never seen 'Les Mis,' then this production is a must-see. And if you have seen it, you'll appreciate this go-round it for its intimacy, but it will feel a bit like "Les Mis" lite." (New York Theatre Guide).

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.

The Broadway production's principle cast currently features John Owen-Jones as Jan Valjean, Robert Hunt as Javert, Judy Kuhn as Fantine, Megan McGinnis as Eponine, Ali Ewoldt as Cosette, Chip Zien as Thenardier, Ann Harada as Madame Thenardier, Adam Jacobs as Marius and Max von Essen as Enjolras.

Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Les Mis�rables is 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.

The original Broadway production opened on 12 Mar 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical. Les Mis�rables went on to play a total of 6,680 performances, making it Broadway's third longest-running show.

The London production originally opened at the Barbican Theatre on 8 Oct 1985, the Cameron Mackintosh/Royal Shakespeare Company production transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen�s Theatre on 3 April 2004.

When Les Miserables celebrated its 21st London birthday on 8 October 2006, it became the world�s longest running musical, surpassing the record previously held by �Cats� in the West End.

Les Miserables has been seen by over 55 million people worldwide in 38 countries and in 21 languages. There have been 33 cast recordings of "Les Miserables", including the multi-platinum London cast recording and the Grammy Award-winning Broadway cast and complete symphonic albums. The video of the 10th Anniversary Royal Albert Hall Gala Concert has sold well over one million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling musical videos in the UK.