Do not forget his name! Earl Carpenter will return to the Broadway revival of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s Les Miserables as Javert on May 12 replacing Will Swenson, who is set to depart the production on May 10. Carpenter previously stepped into the role while Swenson went on hiatus for Bull Durham last summer.
Carpenter also appeared as Javert in the Toronto production of Les Miz opposite Tony nominee Ramin Karimloo as Valjean. He began his West End career in Les Miz at the Palace Theatre in 1996, as Courfeyrac. In 2008 he played the part of Javert at the Queens Theatre and then in the 25th Anniversary U.K tour. He was then the Bishop of Digne at London’s O2 Arena concert in 2010. Other West End, UK and European stage credits include The Phantom of the Opera, Evita, We Will Rock You, Zorro, Sunset Boulevard, Beauty and the Beast, The Secret Garden, The Merry Widow, Between the Lines and The Witches of Eastwick.
Directed by James Powell and Laurence Connor, the newly reimagined production is playing at the Imperial Theatre. The current cast includes Karimloo as Valjean, Samantha Hill as Cosette, Chris McCarrell as Marius, Wallace Smith as Enjolras, Erika Henningsen as Fantine, Brennyn Lark as Eponine, Gavin Lee as Thenardier and Rachel Izen as Madame Thenardier.
As previously reported, Swenson will appear opposite his wife, six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, in A Moon for the Misbegotten at Williamstown beginning August 5.