Les Misérables: The Staged Concert
Les Misérables: The Staged Concert is a 2019 British live stage recording of the 1980 musical Les Misérables, itself an adaptation of Victor Hugo's 1862 novel, filmed at the Gielgud Theatre in London's West End on 2 December 2019, and broadcast live to UK and Irish cinemas. Starring Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas, it was the final performance of the stage production Les Misérables: The All-Star Staged Concert, which ran for four months from 10 August.
| Les Misérables: The Staged Concert | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Nick Morris Laurence Connor (stage direction) Jean-Pierre van der Spuy (stage direction) |
| Produced by | Dione Orrom |
| Based on | |
| Starring | Michael BallAlfie BoeCarrie Hope FletcherMatt LucasRob HouchenBradley JadenKaty SecombeShan AkoLily Kerhoas |
| Music by | Claude-Michel Schönberg |
| Edited by | Tim Thompsett |
Production company | Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 145 minutes 165 minutes (including encore) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Background
It was announced in January 2019 that the original production of Les Misérables would close in July 2019 and move to the adjacent Gielgud Theatre for four months to allow for the Queen's Theatre (as it was then called) to be refurbished and reopen in December 2019 with a new updated production.[1] The move would allow the show to continue its record breaking run.[2] The following month, it was announced that the Gielgud production would take the form of an all star-staged concert and run for 16 weeks between 10 August and 30 November.[3]
The Staged Concert
Due to the success of the production, producer Cameron Mackintosh announced that an extra performance had been added on 2 December 2019 which would be broadcast live to cinemas across the UK, Republic of Ireland and the United States.[4] A subsequent change meant that the concert was not broadcast live in North America, with the date pushed back to 8 December.[5]
The stage concert returned for a limited 6 week run at the Sondheim Theatre from 5 December 2020 to 17 January 2021. It has been extended and will now play until 28 February 2021.[6]
Cast
The all-star cast featured Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Michael Ball as Javert, Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine and Matt Lucas and Katy Secombe as the Thénardiers. Additionally, Earl Carpenter played the dual role of Bishop of Digne and Bamatabois whilst understudying Javert and John Owen-Jones played Jean Valjean for three performances a week. The orchestra was conducted by Alfonso Casado Trigo. The full cast is listed below:
- Michael Ball as Javert
- Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean
- John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean at selected performances
- Carrie Hope Fletcher as Fantine
- Matt Lucas as Thénardier
- Rob Houchen as Marius
- Bradley Jaden as Enjolras
- Katy Secombe as Madame Thénardier
- Shan Ako as Éponine
- Lily Kerhoas as Cosette
- Ellie Shenker as Little Cosette
- Logan Clark as Gavroche
- Earl Carpenter as Bishop of Digne/Bamatabois
- Raymond Walsh as Grantaire
- Craig Mather as Combeferre
- Vinny Coyle as Feuilly
- Niall Sheehy as Courfeyrac
- Ciaran Joyce as Joly
- James Nicholson as Jean Prouvaire
- Andrew York as Lesgle
- Gavin James as Factory Foreman
- Celia Graham as Factory Girl
- Leo Roberts as Brujon
- Stephen Matthews as Babet
- Oliver Jackson as Claquesous
- Adam Bayjou as Montparnasse
- Tamsin Dowsett as Locket Crone
- Grainne Renihan as Hair Crone
- Samantha Dorsey, Holly-Ann Hull, Rosa O'Reilly and Sophie Reeves as Lovely Ladies
- Rosanna Bates, Nicola Espallardo and Gemma Wardle as Factory Workers
Encore
On the final performance, as an encore, five Jean Valjeans sang "Bring Him Home": Alfie Boe who had performed in the concert, John Owen-Jones who shared the role with Boe, Jon Robyns from the new London cast, Dean Chisnall from the 2019 tour, and Killian Donnelly who was in the 2010 concert and the 2012 motion picture. Bradley Jaden (who would play Javert in the new production) and Michael Ball also sang "Stars". After speeches from Cameron Mackintosh, and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the performance concluded with the ensemble performing "One Day More".
Home media
The Staged Concert was released digitally on 20 April 2020 in the UK and Australia,[7] with a twice-delayed DVD and Blu-ray following on 2 November 2020 in the UK, having originally been scheduled for release on 6 April and then 20 April.[8][9]
The film was released digitally in North America on 4 August 2020.[10]
References
- Wood, Alex. "Les Misérables to move to Gielgud theatre in July 2019". WhatsOnStage. WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 8 January 2019.
- Bowie-Sell, Daisy. "Les Misérables to move theatres to make way for Queen's Theatre renovations". WhatsOnStage. WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
- Wood, Alex. "Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher and Matt Lucas to star in Les Misérables at the Gielgud Theatre". WhatsOnStage. WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
- Perks, Daniel. "All-star Les Misérables staged concert to be broadcast in cinemas". WhatsOnStage. WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 1 November 2019.
- News Desk, BWW. "LES MISERABLES Changes Dates of Broadcast in U.S. Cinemas". Broadway World. Wisdom Digital Media. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
- "Les Miserables – The Staged Concert extends run again". bestoftheatre.co.uk. Best of Theatre. Retrieved 16 December 2020.
- "Bring it Home". Cameron Mackintosh Ltd. Retrieved 19 April 2020.
- Wood, Alex. "All-Star Les Misérables West End concert production recording announces new home release date". WhatsOnStage. WhatsOnStage.com. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- "Universal pushes back 'LES MIZ' Staged Concert release date due to new 'bonus features'". Filmed on Stage. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
- Ltd, Cameron Mackintosh. "Les Misérables | Welcome to the Official Website". www.lesmis.com. Retrieved 15 May 2020.