CAST ANNOUNCED FOR MANILA PRODUCTION OF LES MISÉRABLES
The full company has been confirmed for the Manila season of Boublil & Schönberg’s legendary musical LES MISÉRABLES. Presented in Manila by Smart Infinity, the anticipation remains high for the forthcoming arrival of the musical.
Following an extensive search, Cameron Mackintosh is thrilled to reveal the talented cast for the highly-anticipated Manila engagement of LES MISÉRABLES.
“I am excited to now be bringing the new production to The Theatre at Solaire, which has proved just as successful all over the world as the original production that has celebrated its thirtieth anniversary in London last October – the only place in the world where you can still see the original production. Having created my new production over five years ago to celebrate the twenty-fifth anniversary of LES MISÉRABLES, it is now in its second year on Broadway, having broken box office records across America and in Canada for over three years, with separate companies in Japan, Korea, Spain and of course Australia, where it swept all the top awards and closed last week after an incredible nineteen month run.
(READ: LES MISÉRABLES Finally Coming to Manila)
I am delighted to bring this hugely successful new production to Manila with this incredible cast.” Cameron Mackintosh said.
LES MISÉRABLES Manila Cast Details
Playing the iconic role of Jean Valjean is established actor and musical theatre star Simon Gleeson, fresh from his stint as Prisoner 24601 in Australia. Simon has worked extensively in theatre, film and television in Australia and the UK, including performing in London’s prestigious West End. His portrayal as Jean Valjean has earned him a Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Musical.
“I’m so thrilled to be playing Valjean for the Manila season of LES MISÉRABLES,” Simon said. “With arguably the most breathtaking score in musical theatre history, LES MISÉRABLES transformed musical theatre when it first opened. The show remains iconic and relevant today because it deals with themes of love, courage, the human spirit and the difficult choices we make which define who we are and what we stand for.”
Earl Carpenter plays Valjean’s lifelong antagonist Javert. Carpenter, who just concluded his run as the inspector in LES MISÉRABLES on Broadway, has also appeared in original and 25th Anniversary productions and concert celebrations of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Witches of Eastwick, Sunset Boulevard and Evita.
Starring as Fantine is Manila’s very own Rachelle Ann Go. While her career in the Philippines took off after she won the Grand Prize in the reality talent search Search For A Star in 2004, her international recognition sky-rocketed when she won awards for her portrayal of Gigi in Miss Saigon. Other theatre credits include Fantine in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, London, Ariel in the local production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, and Jane Porter in the musical adaptation of Tarzan.
Go is not the only Filipina taking on a titular character in the cast, as Australian-Filipina Chloe De Los Santos will be playing the role of Little Cosette. Chloe trained at the Young Australian Talent Company, CAPA and played Ying Yaowalak in The King and I for Opera Australia.
Playing Madame Thénardier is Helen Walsh. She joins the company directly from the London production of Les Misérables. Originally from Australia, Walsh has performed all over the world, and for the last ten years, in London. Other highlights include the London productions of Candide, The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and Sister Act.
Joining Helen in the role of the master of the house Monsieur Thénardier is Cameron Blakely. Blakely has appeared in Into The Woods, Oliver!, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Concert), Fiddler On The Roof. He has previously performed the roles of Thénardier in Les Miserables at Queens Theatre, London and Bamatabois in the Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena.
Playing the love struck revolutionary Marius is Paul Wilkins. Paul’s most notable roles include Joly in the 30th anniversary cast of Les Misérables at the Queens Theatre, London and Follies in Concert at The Royal Albert Hall.
After making her professional debut in the Australian production of LES MISÉRABLES, WAAPA 2012 graduate and Helpmann Award winner Kerrie Anne Greenland will play Éponine, with fellow graduate Emily Langridge cast in the beloved role of Cosette. Chris Durling, who was nominated for a Helpmann Award for his performance in the Australian production, is excited to be playing Enjolras, the passionate student leader of the revolution.
Ensemble members are: Claudia Ballen, Daniel Belle, Billy Bourchier, Hugo Chiarella, Melanie Cornell, Jessica Daley, Chloe De Los Santos, Mischana Dellora Cornish, Emilie Du Leslay, Blake Erickson, David Francis, Venice Harris, Matt Harrop, Tamlyn Henderson, Callum Hobson, Nigel Huckle, Holly-Anne Hull, James Hume, Ciaran Joyce, Liam Mcilwain, Sarah Murr, Adèle Parkinson, Joel Parnis, Kieran McGinlay, Michaela Powell, Lauren Soley, Mable Tamone, Oscar Tollofsen, Natasha Veselinovic, Tom Vincent & Sebastian Witt.
The award winning Musical
Set against the backdrop of 19th-century revolutionary France, LES MISÉRABLES is a much loved blockbuster musical which has been seen by over 70 million people worldwide in 42 countries and in 22 languages, LES MISÉRABLES is undisputedly one of the most popular musicals of all time. Having won more than 125 major awards around the world it has been hailed as the most stirring, moving musical ever. Based on Victor Hugo’s classic novel, it is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of LES MISÉRABLES includes the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream”, “On My Own”, “Stars”, “Bring Him Home”, “Do You Hear the People Sing?”, “One Day More”, “Empty Chairs at Empty Tables”, “Master of the House” and many more.
This new production of LES MISÉRABLES has been praised by critics, fans and new audiences, breaking box office records internationally and inspiring filmmakers to make the outstandingly successful movie which went on to win 3 Oscar’s®, 3 Golden Globes® 4 BAFTAs and 5 Helpmann Awards® Cameron Mackintosh’s production of LES MISÉRABLES is written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and is based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It has music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel. Adapted by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, it has additional material by James Fenton. The 25th Anniversary Production is directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley. Original costumes are by Andreane Neofitou, additional costumes by Christine Rowland, lighting
design by Paule Constable and sound design by Mick Potter. Executive Producer of the Asian production is Michael Cassel.
LES MISÉRABLES CAST PROFILES AND PHOTOS
SIMON GLEESON – Jean Valjean
Awards & Nominations: Helpmann Award winner Best Male Actor in a Musical – Les Misérables; Green Room Award nomination – Best Actor Leading Role in a Musical – Les Misérables and Chess; Sydney Theatre Awards nomination – Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Love Never Dies and Les Misérables. Stage: Rupert (Melbourne Theatre Company/Kennedy Center, Washington), Chess (The Production Company), Love Never Dies (RUG), Shoes (Sadlers Wells, London), Starting Here, Starting Now (Manilla Street), Imagine This (New London Theatre, West End). Film and
television: City Homicide (SNOL); Kombat Opera Presents (BBC); Eastenders (BBC); Blue Heelers (Southern Star); Seachange (ABC).
EARL CARPENTER – Javert
Earl has performed in Cameron Mackintosh’s and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s original and 25th Anniversary productions and concert celebrations of Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, The Witches of Eastwick, Sunset Boulevard and Evita; Queen’s We Will Rock You to the world première of Zorro to the Scottish première of The Secret Garden to original UK production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and Bill Kenwright’s Robin, Prince of Sherwood and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor© Dreamcoat in London’s West End, New York’s Broadway, Toronto and throughout the UK, France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria.
RACHELLE ANN GO – Fantine
Theatre credits: Fantine in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre, London). Gigi in Miss Saigon (Prince Edward, London) for which she won the WhatsOnStage award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical and the Broadway World Award for Best Featured Actress in a New Production of a Musical, Ariel in the Atlantis Production of Disney’s Little Mermaid, which earned her the Best Actress Award for a Musical in the Broadway World Awards. Jane Porter in the musical adaptation of Tarzan.
HELEN WALSH – Madame Thénardier
Helen graduated from the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (now the University of Southern Queensland), Australia, majoring in Voice. She has since performed all over the world, and for the last ten years, in London. Since moving to the UK, Helen has appeared as Ensemble and cover Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables (Queen’s Theatre, London); Baroness & cover Old Lady in Candide (Menier Chocolate Factory); Sister Margaretta & understudy mother Abbess in The Sound of Music (Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park); Auntie Em in The Wizard of Oz (London Palladium); Ensemble and cover Mother Superior & Mary Lazarus in Sister Act (London Palladium); Frau Schmidt in The Sound of Music (London Palladium); and Shawntel/Eve in Jerry Springer the Opera (UK Tour).
CAMERON BLAKELY – Monsieur Thénardier
Theatre: Narrator/Mysterious Man – Into The Woods (Royal Exchange Theatre), Fagin – Oliver!(Watermill Theatre), Gatch/Twimble – How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Concert), Lazar Wolf – Fiddler On The Roof (Grange Park Opera) Mr Lucas/Mr Scruton – The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole (Leicester Curve) Thenardier – Les Misérables (Queens Theatre) Bamatabois – Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert (O2 Arena) Sam – Mamma Mia! (international tour) Stacey – Smash (Menier Chocolate Factory)
KERRIE ANNE GREENLAND – Éponine
A graduate of WAAPA in 2012. Theatre credits include: Playground (Chapel Off Chapel), In A Pink Tutu (National Institute of Dramatic Art), Cole Porter Celebration Concert (Sydney Opera House), The Good Fight (New Musicals Australia). Into The Woods, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying, Xanadu, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice, Violet (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts). Awards & Nominations: Helpmann Award winner Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical – Les Misérables.
EMILY LANDGRIDGE – Cosette
Emily graduated WAAPA in 2012, with a Bachelor of Music Theatre. Theatre credits include: Gypsy (The Production Company), Pirates of Penzance (The Production Company), Playground (Nick Hedger – Chapel Off Chapel), Atlantis: in Concert (Matthew Robinson –Chapel Off Chapel), DreamSong: a New Musical (Rob Tripolino and Hugo Chiarella – Theatre Works), Xanadu, Into the Woods, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts).
CHRIS DURLING – Enjolras
Chris graduated from the University of Ballarat – Arts Academy. Credits include: Jersey Boys (performed the roles of both Frankie Valli and Bob Gaudio), Fame (Nick Piazza), An Officer and a Gentleman – workshop (Zac Mayo), Saturday Night (Artie), High School Musical (Troy Bolton), John & Jen (John), Follies (Young Buddy), Damn Yankees, My Fair Lady (Freddy), a cabaret with Broadway composer John Bucchino and, most recently, the role of Doody in Grease. Chris was nominated for a Helpmann Award for his role as Enjolras.
PAUL WILKINS – Marius
Paul is originally from Hampshire, UK, and graduated from The Arts Educational Schools, London in the summer of 2015. Whilst training, Paul has played the roles of Moose in Crazy for You and Lonigan in Wonderful Town. Paul also recently performed in Friday Night is Music Night for BBC2 as a soloist. After graduation Paul went straight in the West End cast and 30th Anniversary production of Les Misérables as Ensemble/cover Marius and is thrilled to be playing the role itself on the Asian Tour.
CHLOE DE LOS SANTOS – Young Cosette
Theatre credits: Ying Yaowalak in The King and I (Opera Australia). Training: Young Australian Talent Company, CAPA.
The Manila premiere of Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed new production, LES MISÉRABLES, arrives at The Theatre at Solaire from March 2016.
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