"Les Miz" News

A couple of Les Miserables news items:

- The Hollywood Bowl has announced some of the stars of its Les Miserables in Concert series on August 8, 9 and 10. The principal cast will include Huntington's J. Mark McVey as Jean Valjean, a role he performed on Broadway and in London, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Javert, Lea Michele as Eponine, Melora Hardin as Fantine, Aaron Lazar as Enjolras and Rosie O'Donnell as Madame Thenardier. You can read more about the concert right here.

- A new edition of the 10th anniversary concert video of Les Miz is also now available. Taped in 1995 with a dream cast, the performance includes (from the original London company) Colm Wilkinson (Valjean), Michael Ball (Marius) and Alun Armstrong (Thenardier); and (from Broadway) Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Eponine) and Michael Maguire (Enjolras); along with Ruthie Henshall (Fantine); and (from Australia) Philip Quast (Javert).

It's a tremendous recording, and well worth watching - I may need to get a new one because I've about worn out the original DVD I bought years ago. It's not quite as good as seeing the actual show, but it's darned close, and you'd have a tough time finding a more talented cast. The two-disc set includes a behind the scenes documentary.

(Of course, my favorite version is still the one First Stage presented a two years ago, but then I'm prejudiced.)