Les Misérables (musical)

Les Misérables (musical)
Name	Les Misérables
Caption	Original poster of the musical
Music	Claude-Michel Schönberg
Lyrics	Alain Boublil
Book	Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg
Basis	Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables
Awards	Tony Award for Best Musical, Olivier Award for Best New Musical

Les Misérables (musical) is a renowned musical composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg with lyrics by Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer, based on the novel of the same name by Victor Hugo. The musical premiered at the Palais des Sports in Paris in 1980, directed by Robert Hossein, and has since become one of the most successful and longest-running musicals in history, with productions in over 40 countries, including London's West End and New York City's Broadway. The musical has been performed by numerous notable actors, including Colm Wilkinson, Roger Rees, and Patti LuPone, and has won several awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, presented by the Society of London Theatre.

Background

The musical is set in 19th-century France, during the June Rebellion, and tells the story of Jean Valjean, a former prisoner who seeks redemption, and Javert, a police inspector who pursues him, with the backdrop of the French Revolution and the Battle of Waterloo. The novel by Victor Hugo was first published in 1862 and has since been adapted into numerous films, plays, and musicals, including the famous 1935 film adaptation starring Fredric March and Charles Laughton. The musical adaptation was first conceived by Cameron Mackintosh, a British producer, who teamed up with Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil to create the iconic score, which features songs like I Dreamed a Dream, performed by Susan Boyle on Britain's Got Talent, and One Day More, which has been covered by numerous artists, including Neil Diamond and Johnny Cash.

Music

The music of the musical was composed by Claude-Michel Schönberg, with lyrics by Alain Boublil and Herbert Kretzmer, and features a range of iconic songs, including Who Am I?, Stars, and Do You Hear the People Sing?, which has become an anthem for social justice movements around the world, including the Arab Spring and the Occupy Wall Street movement. The score has been performed by numerous notable orchestras, including the London Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, and has been conducted by renowned conductors, such as James Levine and Simon Rattle. The musical has also been adapted into a concept album, featuring performances by David Essex, Frances Ruffelle, and Michael Ball, which was released by Decca Records and Polydor Records.

Plot

The plot of the musical follows the story of Jean Valjean, a former prisoner who is released from prison and seeks redemption, and Javert, a police inspector who pursues him, with the backdrop of the June Rebellion and the French Revolution. The story also follows the characters of Fantine, a young woman who is forced into prostitution, and Cosette, her daughter, who is adopted by Jean Valjean, and Marius Pontmercy, a young revolutionary who falls in love with Cosette. The musical features a range of dramatic and emotional scenes, including the Battle of the Barricades, which has been staged by numerous notable directors, including Trevor Nunn and John Caird, and the iconic Confrontation scene between Jean Valjean and Javert, which has been performed by numerous notable actors, including Terrence Mann and Norm Lewis.

Productions

The musical has been produced in numerous countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, and Japan, and has been performed in over 40 languages, including English, French, and Spanish. The original London production, directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened at the Barbican Centre in 1985 and transferred to the Palace Theatre in 1986, where it ran for 19 years, starring notable actors such as Colm Wilkinson and Roger Rees. The Broadway production, also directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, opened at the Imperial Theatre in 1987 and ran for 16 years, starring notable actors such as Terrence Mann and Lea Salonga. The musical has also been adapted into a film adaptation, directed by Tom Hooper and starring Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, and Eddie Redmayne, which was released by Universal Pictures and Working Title Films.

Characters

The musical features a range of complex and iconic characters, including Jean Valjean, Javert, Fantine, Cosette, and Marius Pontmercy, each with their own unique story and motivations. The characters have been portrayed by numerous notable actors, including Colm Wilkinson, Roger Rees, and Patti LuPone, and have been interpreted in various ways, including the 2013 film adaptation, which starred Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as Javert. The characters have also been analyzed by numerous scholars and critics, including Victor Hugo himself, who wrote extensively about the characters and their motivations in his novel, and Cameron Mackintosh, who has written about the characters and their development in the musical.

Reception

The musical has received widespread critical acclaim, with numerous positive reviews from critics, including The New York Times, The Guardian, and Variety. The musical has won numerous awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical and the Olivier Award for Best New Musical, and has been nominated for numerous other awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical. The musical has also been recognized for its social and cultural impact, including its portrayal of social justice issues, such as poverty and inequality, and its influence on popular culture, including the 2012 film adaptation of The Hunger Games, which featured a similar rebellious theme. The musical continues to be performed and adapted around the world, with new productions and interpretations emerging all the time, including a 2020 concert version at the Gielgud Theatre in London, starring Jon Robyns and Bradley Jaden.

Category:Musicals