les misérables - 1980

MUSIC: Claude-Michel Schönberg
LYRICS: Alain Boublil& Herbert Kretzmer
BOOK: Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil, Trevor Nunn & John Caird

LES MISERABLES, affectionally known as Les Mis to its fans, is arguably the most famous musical in the world, having been produced in over 40 different countries including Norway, Serbia, Mauritius, Israel and Hungary amongst others. Cast albums have been released in many languages - notably the Japanese cast, who have several casts simultaneously and put out a recording for each! The 1987 Broadway production won no less than eight Tony awards and was nominated for four others. The first production was in Paris, France, and the first English production opened five years later in London.

The show is based, of course, on Victor Hugo's hugely successful novel of the same name. While the basic story remains true to the book, many liberties were taken with the characters and sub-plots. Many of the West End and Broadway's leading performers have appeared in the show, including Lea Salonga, Ruthie Henshall, John Owen Jones, Colm Wilkinson, Judy Kuhn, Michael Ball, Frances Ruffelle, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Lea Michele.