NEWS
July 2010
Cleopatra
Claude-Michel has composed the score for the new full-length ballet Cleopatra. He has been working with David Nixon, artistic director of Northern Ballet. David first talked to Claude-Michel four years ago with some ideas for a story line and a rough script. Then, after Marguerite, Claude-Michel set to work writing a kind of scenario in order to create a sound. When he played it to him, David decided he definitely wanted to do it. Claude-Michel has written 50% of the orchestrations, working with John Longstaff, who has also written the music down, and therefore the orchestrations will be co-signed.
Cleopatra will premiere at the Grand Theatre in Leeds on Sat 26 February 2011 and will go on a national tour, including Sadler’s Wells in May 2011. Further dates to be announced later.
Les Misérables
Nick Jonas
Photo: Michael Le Poer Trench
Due to an amazing public response the 7pm concert sold out very quickly and a 1.30pm matinee performance has been added.
On 21 June there was an extraordinary pre-performance buzz in the Queens theatre and probably the youngest ever audience for Les Mis. The reason? It was the West End debut of pop singer Nick Jonas, playing Marius. Nick was due to play the role for just three weeks as a preparation for the O2 concert but this was extended a further two weeks, till 24 July due to a change in the Jonas brothers world tour schedule that will now start at a later date.
Camilla Kerslake was playing Cosette until 12 July when X Factor’s Lucie Jones took over and Alistair Brammer returns to the role of Marius from 26 July. There are several new company members but Simon Bowman continues in the role of Jean Valjean and Norm Lewis took over the role of Javert on 5 July.
Love Story
Love Story is a new musical by Howard Goodall and Stephen Clark, who co-wrote with Alain on Martin Guerre. It played at Chichester’s Minerva Theatre from 29 July to 26 June and will transfer to the West End’s Duchess Theatre, opening 6 December 2010, following previews from 27 November and booking to 26 February 2011. It will be produced in the West End by Adam Spiegel, Stephen Waley-Cohen and Michael Ball, in his first role as a producer. It is a quite exceptional musical and a full review is in UPDATES.
June2010
Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert
The Les Misérables 25th Anniversary Concert will take place at the O2 Arena on Sunday 3rd October at 7pm.
This celebration will make theatrical history with an international first – three different productions in London at the same time: the original production at the Queen’s theatre, the new 25th Anniversary Touring production at the Barbican and the one night O2 concert.
The concert will have a stunning cast with pop stars and classical singers as well as many West End and Broadway favourites: Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Norm Lewis as Javert, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Camilla Kerslake as Cosette, Nick Jonas as Marius, Matt Lucas as Thénardier and Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier. The role of Eponine has yet to be cast. Seventeen year old pop star Nick Jonas played Gavroche for the final nine months of the show’s original Broadway run in 2003.
The concert will feature over 300 actors and musicians including the current London cast, starring Simon Bowman, the 25th Anniversary touring cast, starring John Owen-Jones, and members of the original 1985 London cast.
The O2 concert and the 25th Anniversary production are both directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley. Original costumes by Christine Rowland, lighting by Patrick Woodroffe and Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter.
As Cameron Mackintosh says: ‘It will be a weekend of ultimate MIZery!’
May 2010
Les Misérables US TOUR DATES
DREAM THE DREAM, the 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables, will begin its North American tour at the Paper Mill Playhouse, New Jersey on 19th November 2010.
Cameron Mackintosh presents this new production with glorious new staging and spectacular re-imagined scenery and stunning projections, inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. It has already been acclaimed by critics, fans and new audiences and is breaking new box office records wherever it goes.
This new production does not seek to replace the original but to sit happily beside it. Although every word of Herbert Kretzmer’s much-loved lyrics is the same, the new orchestrations, new direction, lighting and new staging, with stunning projections, tell the story in a stimulating and refreshing new way that enables us to dream a new dream and takes us on a new adventure that we cannot fail to enjoy. Vive la difference!
For more information on this production in the UK see the UPDATES section of the website and the August NEWS.
Here are the long awaited dates of the North American tour of this new production. You will probably see them here first and some of the venues do not list the show on their websites as yet. Additional tour dates and casting will be posted at a later date.
19 Nov - 19 Dec 2010
PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE
NEW JERSEY
Box Office: 973-376-4343
www.papermill.org
4 - 16 Jan 2011
KIMMEL CENTER
PHILADELPHIA, PA
Box Office: 215-893-1999
www.kimmelcenter.org
18 - 30 Jan 2011
BROWARD CENTER
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL
Box Office: 954-462-0222
www.browardcenter.org
1 - 6 March 2011
HIPPODROME THEATRE
BALTIMORE, MD
Box Office: 410-837-7400
www.france-merrickpac.com
8 - 13 March 2011
KENTUCKY CENTER
LOUISVILLE, KY
Box Office: 502-584-7777
www.kentuckycenter.org
15 - 20 March 2011
OHIO THEATRE
COLUMBUS, OH
Box Office: 614-469-0939
www.capa.com
22 March - 3 April 2011
FISHER THEATRE
DETROIT, MI
Box Office: 313-872-1000
www.broadwayindetroit.com
5 - 17 April 2011
PALACE THEATRE/PLAYHOUSE SQUARE
CLEVELAND, OH
Box Office: 216-241-6000
www.playhousesquare.com
3 - 8 May 2011
WALTON CENTER
FAYETTEVILLE, AR
Box Office: 479-443-5600
www.waltonartscenter.org
24 May -
5 June 2011
CAPITOL THEATRE
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Box Office: 801-355-2787
www.arttix.org
Marguerite
The European Continental Premiere of Marguerite will take place in December 2010 at the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
The young Czech creative team is lead by opera director Gabriela Haukvicová. Ms. Haukvicová will be the second director in the world to bring Marguerite to the stage. Both previous productions, in London and Tokyo, were directed by Jonathan Kent. Marguerite will be translated into Czech by prominent librettist Michael Prostějovský. The Czech language will be the third language that Marguerite will be presented in. The show will be conducted by Karol Kevický and choreographed by Kristýna Cerná. Paris of the 1940’s will be brought on stage by the production designer Aleš Valášek, the overall winner of the prestigious British Linbury Prize for Stage Deign 2009.
Look out for casting and further information at a later date.
March 2010
Congratulations to the Ballinrobe Musical Society for their splendid production of The Pirate Queen. It was put on with an extraordinary level of passion and commitment with excellent singing, acting and dancing and with superb technical staging and direction. An amazingly professional production!
January 2010
The Pirate Queen
The world amateur première of The Pirate Queen will play at the Ballinrobe Community School from 11 to 20 February 2010. The Ballinrobe Musical Society has been granted a one off licence to bring the show home to its roots in County Mayo, the land of Grace O’Malley’s birth. They believe they can bring something unique to its interpretation – the soul, spirit and passion of Grace O’Malley, the people and the place from where she hailed and sailed. For further information and ticket details visit: www.ballinrobemusicalsociety.com
Herbert Kretzmer, Cameron's mother, Cameron Mackintosh and Claude-Michel Schönberg at the opening night party in Cardiff
Les Misérables
The brand new 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables had its official opening night on the 22nd December at the Cardiff Millennium Centre. It provided a revelationary new insight into this well loved favourite with a production that is altogether lighter and brighter with stunning projections and effects. For more photos and a review see the UPDATES section. For new tour dates see below.
The dates of the tour are:
11 December 2009 - 16 January 2010
WALES MILLENNIUM CENTRE CARDIFF
Box Office: 08700 40 2000
www.wmc.org.uk
19 January - 13 February 2010
MANCHESTER PALACE THEATRE
Box Office: 0844 847 2403
www.palaceandoperahouse.org.uk
16 February - 20 March 2010
NORWICH THEATRE ROYAL
Box Office: 01603 63 0000
www.theatreroyalnorwich.co.uk
23 March - 17 April 2010
BIRMINGHAM HIPPODROME
Box Office: 0844 338 5000
www.birminghamhippodrome.com
20 April - 15 May 2010
EDINBURGH PLAYHOUSE
Box Office: 0844 847 166
www.edinburghplayhouse.org.uk
26 May - 4 July 2010
PARIS
THE CHATELET
Box Office: +33 (0) 1 40 28 28 40
www.chatelet-theatre.com
13 Jul-7 Aug 2010
BRISTOL HIPPODROME
Box Office: 0844 847 2325
www.bristolhippodrome.org.uk
10-21 Aug 2010
SALFORD
THE LOWRY
Box Office: 0843 208 6000
www.thelowry.com
24 Aug-11Sep 2010
SOUTHAMPTON
THE MAYFLOWER
Box Office: 02380 711 811
www.mayflower.org.uk
14 Sep - 2 Oct 2010
LONDON
BARBICAN CENTRE
Box Office: 0844 848 4490
www.barbican.org.uk
December 2009
From the left: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Margaret Vermette and Alain Boublil at the opening night party in Tokyo
The Pirate Queen
The first Japanese production of The Pirate Queen opened at the Imperial theatre in Tokyo on 28 November. This performance was attended by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and received a long standing ovation from the audience. It was an excellent production by Toho and I was fortunate to be there to enjoy it. For more details and photos see the UPDATES section.
August 2009
The Pirate Queen
A Japanese production of The Pirate Queen is due to open on 28 November and run until 25 December 2009 at the Imperial Theatre, Tokyo. It will then play at the Umeda Arts Theatre, Osaka from 1 January to 11 January 2010. It will be produced by TOHO.
Les Misérables
Later this year Les Misérables will enter its 25th year in the West End and in order to celebrate this record-breaking achievement Cameron Mackintosh is presenting a new production of the show, which will begin a major international tour at the Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff on 11 December.
Cameron Mackintosh: To celebrate 25 years of Les Misérables I cannot think of a better gift to the show than to deliver a brand new production, just like I did with my critically acclaimed national tours of Mary Poppins and Miss Saigon. For this new production, not only has Victor Hugo inspired Boublil and Schönberg’s legendary musical adaptation, he has also provided, through some of his extraordinary artwork, the inspiration for the spectacular new sets.
A great cast line up will see John Owen Jones playing Jean Valjean, with Earl Carpenter as Javert and Gareth Gates as Marius.
This exciting new production will be directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley, inspired by the works of Victor Hugo and John Napier. Original costumes will be by Andreane Neofitou, with lighting by Paule Constable and sound by Mick Potter.
February 2009
Marguerite opened at Tokyo’s Akasaka Act Theater on February 10. It will play there until February 19, then at Osaka’s Umeda Arts Theater from February 25 to March 5, and then at Tokyo’s Nissay Theater from March 12 to 29.
Miss Saigon is currently playing at the Hakataza Theatre in Fukuoka until March 25.
Les Misérables will begin its 2009 run on March 3 at the Chunichi Theatre in Nagoya. It will play four touring venues throughout March and April, before taking a summer break and playing a two month season in Tokyo from October, after which The Pirate Queen will open.
Simon Bowman’s long awaited album One Night with You has just been released. There are songs from Les Misérables and Miss Saigon as well as the many other West End shows and worldwide concerts in which he has played leading roles. There are a few surprises too! Details can be found on the LINKS page which takes you to his website and the CD can be ordered directly from there.
Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil before the Marguerite Première
July 2008
The original London cast recording of Marguerite was released in July on the First Night Records label. The 26 track CD includes the wonderful songs: Jazz Time, China Doll, The Face I See, Time Was When, Intoxication and How Did I Get To Where I Am? This CD is highly recommended and if you can’t get to see the show, the short dialogue passages fill in the story and with the songs you get a real feel of the show.
A Japanese production of Marguerite, directed by Jonathan Kent and starring Sumire Haruno, the leading actress from the Takarazuka Revue, will open at the Akasaka ACT in Tokyo in February 2009, followed by performances in Osaka. This production of Marguerite will be presented by Horipro and Umeda Arts Theater. Plans are underway for a Spanish Production of Marguerite in 2009 and a French production in 2010.
Miss Saigon opens in Tokyo this month and Les Misérables will tour Japan in the spring.
A new production of The Pirate Queen will open at the Imperial Theatre in Tokyo in December 2009
The after-show party at Mint Leaf. From the left Claude-Michel Schönberg, Jonathan Kent, Ruthie Henshall, Michel Legrand and Alain Boublil
May 2008
Marguerite opened on May 20 at the Theatre Royal Haymarket to an enthusiastic response from an audience who clearly appreciated at last having a brand new, gutsy musical with a compelling storyline, beautiful and heartbreaking melodies, a spectacular set and outstanding performances.
The critical response was, on the whole, very good with some excellent reviews, particularly from the Daily Mail and the Sunday Telegraph and a few mixed reviews. (Review extracts and a brief story synopsis can be found in the UPDATES section)
March 2008
Marguerite is the World Première of a collaboration between Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg, Michel Legrand, Herbert Kretzmer and Jonathan Kent. It is the finale of the inaugural season of the Theatre Royal Haymarket Company. Performances begin at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London on May 7, with the official opening night on May 20, and it will run there until November 1.
A love story set in Paris during the Second World War, Marguerite draws inspiration from one of the greatest romantic novels, La Dame Aux Camélias by Alexandre Dumas, fils. Marguerite is the beautiful and notorious mistress of a high ranking German officer, Otto. Armand is a young musician, half her age, who falls obsessively in love with her. Their dangerous love story is played out against the background of Occupied Paris.
Ruthie Henshall is playing the title role, with Julian Ovenden as Armand and Alexander Hanson as Otto.
See more on the UPDATES and SHOWS pages and check the Marguerite website: www.marguerite-themusical.com, where you can hear songs from Marguerite recorded by the cast from the show.
