Look out for new feisty innkeepers, hopeless romantics, botched haircut victims and more! Beginning March 3, the Broadway revival of Les Miserables will welcome five new leads at the Imperial Theatre: Tony and Olivier Award nominee Gavin Lee as Thenardier, current ensemble member Chris McCarrell as Marius, Wallace Smith as Enjolras, Erika Henningsen as Fantine, Brennyn Lark as Eponine and Rachel Izen as Madame Thenardier. They will take over for Cliff Saunders, Andy Mientus, Kyle Scatliffe, Caissie Levy, Eponine understudy Brittney Johnson and Keala Settle respectively.
Lee received Tony and Olivier nods for his performance as Bert in Mary Poppins; he also appeared in the West End in Contact, Oklahoma!, Crazy For You and Me & My Girl. McCarrell was recently seen on screen as a Lost Boy in Peter Pan Live!; Les Miz marks his Broadway debut. Smith’s Broadway credits include Rocky, Godspell, American Idiot, The Lion King, Hair and Ragtime. Les Miz will mark the Broadway debuts for both Hennigsen and Lark. Izen returns to the Great White Way after appearing in Mary Poppins. She was seen on the London stage in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Lautrec and Annie.
Tony nominee Ramin Karimloo will continue in the role of Jean Valjean through the summer. The current cast also includes Tony nominee Will Swenson as Javert and Samantha Hill as Cosette. The role of Eponine is currently played by Erin Clemons, who steps in temporarily following Tony winner Nikki M. James’ departure earlier this month. Johnson begins performances as Eponine on February 10.
Based on the classic novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg, with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, original French text by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, an original adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, and additional material by James Fenton. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1987 and was revived previously in 2006.