Les Misérables

Background

Alain Boublil's initial idea to adapt Victor Hugo's novel into a musical came while at a performance of the musical Oliver! in London:

As soon as the Artful Dodger came onstage, Gavroche came to mind. It was like a blow to the solar plexus. I started seeing all the characters of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables—Valjean, Javert, Gavroche, Cosette, Marius, and Éponine—in my mind's eye, laughing, crying, and singing onstage.

He shared the idea with his collaborator, the French composer Claude-Michel Schönberg, and the two developed a rough synopsis and analysis of each character's mental and emotional state, as well as that of an audience. Schönberg then began work on the music, while Boublil started writing the text. According to Boublil, "I [began] work on the words ... after myself deciding on the subject and title of every song—in collaboration with my friend, poet Jean-Marc Natel." Two years later, a two-hour demo tape of Schönberg accompanying himself on the piano and singing every role was completed. An album of this collaboration was recorded at CTS Studios in Wembley and was released in 1980, selling 260,000 copies.

The Les Misérables concept album was released in French in 1980. It starred Maurice Barrier as Jean Valjean, with Jacques Mercier as Javert, Rose Laurens as Fantine, Yvan Dautin and Marie-France Roussel as the Thénardiers, Richard Dewitte as Marius, Fabienne Guyon as Cosette, Marie-France Dufour as Éponine, Michel Sardou as Enjolras, Schönberg as Courfeyrac and Salvatore Adamo as Combeferre. The first stage adaptation was presented at the Palais des Sports in September of that year with many of the same cast, including Barrier, Laurens, Dautin, Roussel, and Guyon; Jean Vallée played Javert.

In 1983, about six months after producer Cameron Mackintosh had opened Cats on Broadway, he received a copy of the French concept album from director Peter Farago. Farago had asked Mackintosh to produce an English-language version of the show. Initially reluctant, Mackintosh eventually agreed. In conjunction with the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Mackintosh assembled a production team to adapt the French musical for a British audience. After two years in development, the English-language version, translated by Herbert Kretzmer (lyrics) and Siobhan Bracke (book), and expanded with additional material by James Fenton, opened in London in October 1985 at the Barbican Centre, then the London home of the RSC. The production was shaped and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, then both senior directors with the RSC. It then transferred to the West End.

Reception and milestones

Critical reviews for Les Misérables were initially negative. At the opening of the London production, The Sunday Telegraph's Francis King described the musical as "a lurid Victorian melodrama produced with Victorian lavishness", and Michael Ratcliffe of The Observer considered the show "a witless and synthetic entertainment", while literary scholars condemned the project for converting classic literature into a musical. Irving Wardle of The Times dissented, calling the musical's book a bold and ingenious abridgement of Hugo's plot. Public opinion differed from the critical consensus: the box office received record orders. The three-month engagement sold out, and reviews improved. The show placed first in a BBC Radio 2 listener poll of Britain's "Number One Essential Musicals" in 2005, receiving more than forty percent of the votes. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in London: the original production at the Queen's Theatre; the 25th Anniversary touring production at the Barbican Centre; and a concert at London's O2 Arena. The London production has played more than 16,000 performances and is the second longest-running musical in the world after The Fantasticks, the second longest-running West End show after The Mousetrap.

The first Broadway production opened on 12 March 1987 and ran until 18 May 2003, closing after 6,680 performances. At the time of its closing, it was the second-longest-running musical in Broadway history. The show was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.

Emblem

The musical's emblem is a picture of the waif Cosette sweeping the Thénardiers' inn, usually cropped to a head-and-shoulders portrait, superimposed on the French flag. The image is modeled on an 1879 illustration of Cosette by Émile Bayard, which appeared in early French editions of Victor Hugo's novel.

Synopsis

Prologue

In 1815 France, Jean Valjean, "Prisoner 24601", is released on parole by guard Javert after 19 years of hard labor in prison for stealing bread ("Work Song (Look Down)"). Marked by his yellow ticket of leave ("On Parole"), Valjean is shunned and cannot find decent work until the Bishop of Digne offers him shelter. Valjean steals the Bishop's silver, but the Bishop pretends to have given it to him and also gives him a pair of silver candlesticks ("Valjean Arrested, Valjean Forgiven"). Valjean vows to start an honest life ("Valjean's Soliloquy (What Have I Done?)"). He tears up his ticket, breaking parole.

Act I

By 1823, Valjean is living disguised as Monsieur Madeleine, a factory owner and the mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. Fantine, a single mother working at Valjean's factory, is fired after a disagreement with the lustful foreman and sinks into poverty ("At the End of the Day"; "I Dreamed a Dream"), selling her locket and hair, and becoming a prostitute ("Lovely Ladies"). When she fights back against an abusive customer, Javert, now a police inspector, arrests her. Valjean intervenes and takes her to a hospital ("Fantine's Arrest").

When Valjean rescues a man pinned by a runaway cart, Javert, who has pursued him over the years, suspects his true identity. Learning an innocent man is about to be jailed in his place, Valjean confesses ("Who Am I?"). At the hospital, Fantine dies after Valjean promises to rescue her daughter Cosette from the thieving Thénardiers, innkeepers who are paid to raise her ("Fantine's Death (Come to Me)"). Valjean escapes Javert ("The Confrontation"). In Montfermeil, the Thénardiers use Cosette as a servant, treating her cruelly, while extorting money from Fantine ("Castle on a Cloud"; "Master of the House"). Valjean pays them 1,500 francs to release Cosette ("The Bargain") and takes her to Paris ("The Waltz of Treachery").

In 1832 Paris, unrest grows with the impending death of the merciful General Lamarque. Student revolutionaries Marius Pontmercy and Enjolras prepare for an uprising. The Thénardiers, who have lost their inn and now lead a gang of street criminals, plot scams. Their daughter Éponine befriends the streetwise urchin Gavroche ("Look Down"). She secretly loves Marius, but he falls instantly for Cosette when he meets her with Valjean, whom the Thénardiers attempt to rob ("The Robbery"). Valjean is recognized, but he and Cosette escape; Javert vows to recapture him ("Stars"). Marius persuades Éponine to help him find Cosette ("Éponine's Errand").

As Enjolras rallies the students ("The ABC Café/Red and Black"), Marius pines for Cosette. News of Lamarque's death sparks plans for revolution ("Do You Hear the People Sing?"). Cosette confronts Valjean about his secrets ("In My Life"). Éponine finds Cosette, and Marius and Cosette confess their love ("A Heart Full of Love"). Thénardier and his gang arrive to rob Valjean's house but are foiled by Éponine's warning ("The Attack on Rue Plumet"). Believing Javert has found him, Valjean plans to flee with Cosette. On the eve of the 1832 Paris Uprising, Enjolras exhorts all of Paris to join the revolution. Éponine acknowledges in anguish that Marius will never love her. Javert plans to spy on the students and rebels, who steel themselves for battle ("One Day More").

Act II

The students build a barricade; Marius discovers that Éponine has disguised herself as a boy to join the rebels ("Building the Barricade"). To keep her safe, he sends her to deliver a farewell letter to Cosette ("On My Own"). Valjean intercepts the letter and learns about Marius and Cosette's romance. The French army arrives, demanding surrender ("At the Barricade"). Javert, disguised as a rebel, is exposed as a spy by young Gavroche ("Little People"). Wounded during the fighting, Éponine, confessing her love for Marius, dies in his arms ("A Little Fall of Rain (Eponine's Death)"), leaving Marius heartbroken.

Valjean arrives disguised as a soldier, hoping to protect Marius ("Night of Anguish"). He saves Enjolras from a soldier. Valjean releases Javert instead of executing him, shaking Javert's rigid view of God and justice ("The First Attack"). As dawn approaches, the students prepare for attack ("Drink with Me"). Valjean prays for Marius's safety, offering God his own life ("Bring Him Home"). Enjolras realizes the people of Paris have not risen up but resolves to fight on ("Dawn of Anguish"). The army attacks; Gavroche is killed ("The Second Attack (Death of Gavroche)"), and all the students but Marius die. Valjean carries a gravely wounded Marius through the sewers and collapses ("The Final Battle"). Thénardier, looting bodies, comes upon the unconscious Valjean and Marius, taking a ring from the latter and fleeing ("Dog Eats Dog"). At the sewer's exit, Valjean finds Javert waiting; he begs Javert for time to bring Marius to a doctor. Javert, unable to reconcile Valjean's mercy with his worldview, kills himself ("Javert's Suicide").

Paris mourns the fallen students ("Turning"). Marius grieves his friends and wonders who saved him ("Empty Chairs at Empty Tables"). Valjean blesses Marius and Cosette's marriage ("Every Day") but tells Marius he is an escaped convict and must leave to protect Cosette ("Valjean's Confession"). At their wedding ("Wedding Chorale"), the Thénardiers attempt to blackmail Marius, who realizes Valjean carried him from the barricades ("Beggars at the Feast"). Marius and Cosette rush to find Valjean.

Epilogue

At a convent, Valjean awaits death. Fantine's spirit assures him of forgiveness. Cosette and Marius arrive in time to bid farewell. Valjean thanks God for seeing Cosette grown and happy ("Valjean's Death"). He entrusts her with his past and tells her the truth about her mother. Guided by the spirits of Fantine and Éponine, who remind him that "to love another person is to see the face of God", he dies at peace, joining the souls of the fallen in a hopeful vision of freedom ("Do You Hear the People Sing?" (reprise)").

Musical numbers

Prologue

"Work Song (Look Down)" – Chain Gang, Jean Valjean, Javert

"On Parole" – Jean Valjean, Farmer, Laborer, Innkeeper, Innkeeper's Wife, Bishop

"Valjean Arrested/Valjean Forgiven" – Bishop, Constables

"Valjean's Soliloquy (What Have I Done?)" – Jean Valjean

Act I

"At the End of the Day" – Fantine, Foreman, Jean Valjean, Factory Workers, Townspeople

"I Dreamed a Dream" – Fantine

"Lovely Ladies" – Fantine, Sailors, Old Woman, Pimp, Crone, Prostitutes

"Fantine's Arrest" – Bamatabois, Fantine, Javert, Jean Valjean

"The Runaway Cart" – Fauchevelant, Jean Valjean, Javert

"Who Am I?" – Jean Valjean

"Fantine's Death (Come To Me)" – Fantine, Jean Valjean

"Confrontation" – Jean Valjean, Javert

"Castle on a Cloud" – Little Cosette, Little Eponine, Madame Thénardier

"Master of the House" – Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Inn Guests

"The Bargain/Thénardier's Waltz of Treachery" – Jean Valjean, Little Cosette, Thénardier, Madame Thénardier

"Look Down" – Gavroche, Marius, Enjolras, Townspeople

"The Robbery" – Thénardier, Madame Thénardier, Marius, Eponine, Jean Valjean, Javert, Gavroche

"Stars" – Javert

"Eponine's Errand" – Eponine, Marius

"The ABC Cafe/Red and Black" – Enjolras, Marius, Grantaire, Gavroche, Students

"Do You Hear The People Sing?" – Enjolras, Marius, Students

Act II

"Building the Barricade" – Enjolras, Javert, Grantaire, Marius, Éponine, Students

"On My Own" – Éponine

"At the Barricade" – Enjolras, Marius, Gavroche, Army Officer, Students

"Javert at the Barricade" – Javert, Enjolras

"Little People" – Gavroche, Enjolras, Javert

"A Little Fall of Rain (Eponine's Death)" – Éponine, Marius

"Night of Anguish" – Enjolras, Students

"The First Attack" – Enjolras, Marius, Jean Valjean, Javert, Students

"Drink With Me" – Grantaire, Students, Women's Chorus

"Bring Him Home" – Jean Valjean

"Dawn of Anguish" – Enjolras

"The Second Attack (Gavroche's Death)" – Enjolras, Marius, Jean Valjean, Gavroche, Grantaire, Students

"The Final Battle" – Army Officer, Enjolras, Students

"The Sewers/Dog Eats Dog" – Thénardier

"Javert's Suicide" – Javert

"Turning" – Townspeople

"Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" – Marius

"A Heart Full of Love" (reprise) – Marius, Cosette, Jean Valjean

Epilogue

"Valjean's Death" – Valjean, Fantine, Marius, Cosette, Eponine

"Do You Hear the People Sing?" (reprise) – Company

Casts

Notable replacements

Jean Valjean: Alfie Boe, Simon Bowman, Killian Donnelly, Dudu Fisher, Simon Gleeson, Peter Jöback, Ramin Karimloo, Peter Karrie, Peter Lockyer, Robert Marien, John Owen-Jones, Gerónimo Rauch, Jon Robyns, Stig Rossen, Drew Sarich, Dave Willetts

Javert: Michael Ball, David Burt, Earl Carpenter, Clive Carter, Peter Corry, Hadley Fraser, Ethan Freeman, Bradley Jaden, Norm Lewis, Michael McCarthy, Tam Mutu, Jérôme Pradon, Philip Quast, Jeremy Secomb, Hayden Tee, David Thaxton

Fantine: Madalena Alberto, Joanna Ampil, Gunilla Backman, Samantha Barks, Sierra Boggess, Ava Brennan, Allyson Brown, Carmen Cusack, Kerry Ellis, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Rachelle Ann Go, Carola Häggkvist, Katie Hall, Ruthie Henshall, Na-Young Jeon, Lucie Jones, Kathleen Rowe McAllen, Siobhán McCarthy, Claire Moore, Silvie Paladino, Jenna Russell, Celinde Schoenmaker, Caroline Sheen, Carley Stenson, Rebecca Storm, Patrice Tipoki

Marius: Graham Bickley, Simon Bowman, Alistair Brammer, Glenn Carter, Martin Crewes, Hadley Fraser, Gareth Gates, Nick Jonas, Jon Lee, Tom Lowe, Adrian Lewis Morgan, Jon Robyns, Martin Smith, Hayden Tee, Jac Yarrow

Cosette: Gina Beck, Celia Graham, Katie Hall, Lucie Jones, Camilla Kerslake, Myrra Malmberg

Young Cosette: Serrana Su-Ling Bliss

Éponine: Sabrina Aloueche, Joanna Ampil, Samantha Barks, Meredith Braun, Shonagh Daly, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Linzi Hateley, Danielle Hope, Laura Michelle Kelly, Alexia Khadime, Eva Noblezada, Silvie Paladino, Siân Reeves, Lea Salonga, Caroline Sheen, Nancy Sullivan, Nathania Ong,, Jess Folley, Shan Ako

Young Éponine: Carrie Hope Fletcher

Thénardier: Martin Ball, Cameron Blakely, Adam Gillen, Barry James, Luke Kempner, Chris Langham, Matt Lucas, Hilton McRae, Peter Polycarpou, Stephen Tate

Productions

Resident productions

After the French concept album was released in 1980, in September of that year, a stage version directed by veteran French film director Robert Hossein was produced at the Palais des Sports in Paris. The show was a success, with 100 performances seen by over 500,000 people.

Most of the cast from the concept album performed in the production. The cast included Maurice Barrier as Valjean, Jean Vallée as Javert, Rose Laurens as Fantine, Maryse Cédolin and Sylvie Camacho and Priscilla Patron as Young Cosette, Marie-France Roussel as Mme. Thénardier, Yvan Dautin as M. Thénardier, Florence Davis and Fabrice Ploquin and Cyrille Dupont as Gavroche, Marianne Mille as Éponine, Gilles Buhlmann as Marius, Christian Ratellin as Enjolras, Fabienne Guyon as Cosette, René-Louis Baron as Combeferre, Dominique Tirmont as M. Gillenormand, Anne Forrez as Mlle. Gillenormand, and Claude Reva as the storyteller.

The English-language version, with lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and additional material by James Fenton, was substantially expanded and reworked from a literal translation by Siobhan Bracke of the original Paris version, in particular adding a prologue to tell Jean Valjean's background story. Kretzmer's lyrics are not a direct translation of the French, a term that Kretzmer refused to use. A third of the English lyrics were a rough translation, another third were adapted from the French lyrics and the final third consisted of new material. The majority is performed in recitative style; the vocalists use natural speech rather than strict musical metrics.

The first production in English, produced by Cameron Mackintosh and adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, played in preview performances beginning on 28 September 1985 and formally opened on 8 October 1985 at the Barbican Centre, London. It was billed in the programme as "The Royal Shakespeare Company presentation of the RSC/Cameron Mackintosh production". The set was designed by John Napier, costumes by Andreane Neofitou and lighting by David Hersey. Musical supervision and orchestrations were by John Cameron, who had been involved with the show since Boublil and Schönberg hired him to orchestrate the original French concept album. Musical staging was by Kate Flatt with musical direction by Martin Koch.

The original London cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, Roger Allam as Javert, Ken Caswell as the Bishop of Digne, Patti LuPone as Fantine, Zoë Hart, Justine McIntyre, Jayne O'Mahony and Joanne Woodcock as Young Cosette, Danielle Akers, Gillian Brander and Juliette Caton as Young Éponine, Susan Jane Tanner as Madame Thénardier, Alun Armstrong as Thénardier, Frances Ruffelle as Éponine, Rebecca Caine as Cosette, Michael Ball as Marius, David Burt as Enjolras, Clive Carter as Grantaire/Bamatabois, with Ian Tucker, Oliver Spencer and Liza Hayden sharing the role of Gavroche.

Touring productions

The show had three national touring companies of the original Broadway production in the US, all of which shared the Broadway producer and manager, creative teams, as well nearly identical sets, costumes, and lighting. While the touring production and the New York production were running simultaneously, the staff, cast members, crew, and musicians of the two productions interchanged often, which contributed to keeping both companies of the show in form. When the New York production closed in 2003, the Third National Tour continued for another three years, and enjoyed the influx of many members from the original and subsequent New York companies.

The First National Tour opened at Boston's Shubert Theatre on 12 December 1987 and continued to play major cities until late 1991. The Second National Tour (called "The Fantine Company") opened at Los Angeles' Shubert Theatre on 1 June 1988. The production played for fourteen months and then transferred to San Francisco's Curran Theatre, where it enjoyed a similar run. The Third National Tour of Les Misérables (called "The Marius Company") was one of the longest running American touring musical productions. Opening on 28 November 1988, at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Florida, and closing on 23 July 2006, at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, the tour ran for seventeen years and 7,061 performances. The tour played in 145 cities in 43 states. The same touring company also frequently performed in Canada, made a 1994 diversion to Singapore, and another diversion in 2002 to be the first Western musical production to visit China, opening in Shanghai's Grand Theatre for a three-week engagement.

All US productions (including Broadway and its revival) were visually identical in scale and design but the third national tour was notable for its portability without sacrificing the Broadway-caliber experience. Thanks to innovative touring techniques borrowed from the pop/rock concert industry, the 4.5 million dollar production was adaptable to smaller and larger venues and traveled complete in all of 8 semi tractor trailers. It was set up and ready to go in less than 24 hours and broken down and packed up in about 16 hours. This allowed it to reach many cities and venues in its acclaimed, original Broadway form.

A national tour began on 21 September 2017 at the Providence Performing Arts Centre (PPAC). It starred Nick Cartell as Valjean, Josh Davis as Javert, Melissa Mitchell as Fantine, J. Anthony Crane as Thénardier, Allison Guinn as Madame Thénardier, Joshua Grosso as Marius, Phoenix Best as Éponine, Matt Shingledecker as Enjolras and Jillian Butler as Cosette. The roles of young Cosette and Éponine were shared by Zoe Glick and Sophie Knapp, while the role of Gavroche was shared by Jordan Cole and Julian Lerner. It used much of the staging and technical work of the 2014 Broadway revival.

Concert productions

10th anniversary concert (1995)

On 8 October 1995, the show celebrated the tenth anniversary of the first West End production with a concert at the Royal Albert Hall. This 10th Anniversary Concert was nearly "complete", missing only a handful of scenes, including "The Death of Gavroche", "The Robbery" and the confrontation between Marius and the Thénardiers at the wedding feast. Sir Cameron Mackintosh hand-selected the cast, which became known as the Les Misérables Dream Cast, assembled from around the world, and engaged the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. The concert concluded with seventeen Valjeans from various international productions singing, "Do You Hear the People Sing?" in their native languages. The concert cast included Wilkinson as Valjean, Quast as Javert, Paul Monaghan as the Bishop of Digne, Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Hannah Chick as Young Cosette, Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Armstrong as Thénardier, Adam Searles as Gavroche, Maguire as Enjolras, Ball as Marius, Kuhn as Cosette, Lea Salonga as Éponine, and Crivello as Grantaire. The concert was staged by Ken Caswell and conducted by David Charles Abell.

25th anniversary concert (2010)

The 25th Anniversary Concert of the first West End production was held at The O2 in North Greenwich, South East London, United Kingdom, on Sunday, 3 October 2010 at 1:30 pm and 7:00 pm. It featured Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Norm Lewis as Javert, Salonga as Fantine, Nick Jonas as Marius, Hall as Cosette, Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Karimloo as Enjolras, Samantha Barks as Éponine, Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Mia Jenkins as Young Cosette, Rob Madge as Gavroche, Hadley Fraser as Grantaire, Carpenter as the Bishop of Digne, and Blakely as Bamatabois. Casts of the current London, international tour, original 1985 London, and several school productions took part, comprising an ensemble of three hundred performers and musicians. The concert was directed by Laurence Connor & James Powell and conducted by David Charles Abell.

The All-Star Staged Concert (2019–2021)

From 10 August to 2 December 2019, the musical was performed as a staged concert version at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End during the refurbishment of the adjacent Sondheim Theatre. Featuring a cast and orchestra of over 65, it starred Ball (Javert), Boe as (Valjean; Owen-Jones at some performances), Fletcher (Fantine), Lucas and Katy Secombe (Thénardiers) Rob Houchen (Marius), Bradley Jaden (Enjolras), Ako (Éponine), Kerhoas (Cosette), and Carpenter (Bamatabois). Simon Bowman played the Bishop of Digne for eight days after which Carpenter took over the role alongside his other two parts. The final concert was filmed and broadcast live to cinemas on 2 December and has since been released on home video and as an album. The concert returned for a run at the Sondheim Theatre from 5 December 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the audience were socially distanced and capacity was limited to 50%. Under local COVID restrictions, the show was suspended on 16 December 2020 after 10 performances (Boe played Valjean for eight, and Owen-Jones twice). It reopened on 20 May 2021 and ran until 5 September with Robyns as Valjean, Jaden as Javert, Lucie Jones as Fantine, Carey and Gabrielle as the Thénardiers, Ako as Éponine, Apps as Marius, Jamie Muscato as Enjolras, Charlie Burn as Cosette, Carpenter as the Bishop of Digne, Blakely as Bamatabois/Babet, and at certain performances Dean Chisnall as Valjean.

The Arena Spectacular World Tour (2024–2026)

A concert production began a world tour on 19 September 2024, starting in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The tour utilized guest performers at some stops. Performers who starred in the production included Alfie Boe, Donnelly, Peter Jöback and Gerónimo Rauch as Valjean, and Ball, Jaden, Tee and Jeremy Secomb as Javert. Also in the cast were Hall, Jones, Jeon, Go and Barks as Fantine; Gavin Lee, Luke Kempner and Lucas as Thénardier; Bonnie Langford, Prior, Linzi Hateley and Salonga as Madame Thénardier; Secomb, Carpenter, Polycarpou, Quast, and Tommy Körberg as the Bishop of Digne; Nathania Ong as Éponine; Jac Yarrow as Marius; and Madge as Bamatabois. UK and US reviews of the concert were favourable. After stopping in 34 cities in 17 countries in Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, the tour ended at Radio City Music Hall in New York on 9 August 2026.

International productions

The show has been produced in at least 42 countries and translated into at least 23 languages: English, French (re-translated from the English version), Croatian (three versions), German (Austria and Germany), Spanish (six versions: two from Spain, two from Mexico, one from Argentina, and one from Venezuela), Japanese, Hebrew, Hungarian, Icelandic, Norwegian (Bokmål and Nynorsk), Polish, Swedish (in Sweden and in Finland), Dutch (Netherlands and Belgium), Danish, Finnish, Brazilian Portuguese, Estonian, Czech, Mauritian Creole, Basque, Catalan and Korean. Including singles and promos, there have been over seventy official recordings from worldwide productions.

The first full production in the European mainland was in Oslo, Norway at Det Norske Teatret and opened on 17 March 1988. The production was in Norwegian and starred singer/actor Øystein Wiik as Jean Valjean, Paul Åge Johannessen as Javert, Øivind Blunck as Thénardier, Kari Gjærum as Fantine, Amund Enger as Enjolras and Guri Schanke as Éponine. The production was a box office hit, with approximately 10% of Norway's entire population seeing the show in the first 6 months. Øystein Wiik went on to star as Jean Valjean in productions in Vienna and London in 1989–1990.

The stage show, which had changed so significantly since its Parisian conception as a stadium concert in 1980, was translated back into the language of Victor Hugo for its French world première in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1991. Five shows a week were in French, and three per week were in English.

In 1998, a concert version in English was produced in Malta, at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta. This production was staged by a company called Act React and featured Ray Mangion as Jean Valjean, Roger Tirazona as Javert, Julie James as Fantine, Leila Benn Harris as Éponine, Claire Debono as Cosette, Fabrizio Faniello as Marius, Lawrence Gray as Enjolras, Rennie Vella as Thenardier, Doreen Galea as Madame Thenardier, Dean Zammit as Gavroche and Hannah Schembri as Little Cosette.

North American productions

In September 2008, a mini-tour produced by Atlanta's Theater of the Stars played Eisenhower Hall at the United States Military Academy, in West Point, New York; the Filene Center at the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, Virginia; Kansas City Starlight Theatre; and the Fox Theater in Atlanta. The set featured original pictures painted by Victor Hugo. Robert Evan reprised the role of Valjean. Also featured were Nikki Renée Daniels as Fantine and Robert Hunt as Javert, both reprising their roles from the Broadway revival. Fred Hanson directed the production. The creative team included Matt Kinley as Scenic Designer, Ken Billington as Lighting Designer, Peter Fitzgerald and Erich Bechtel as Sound Designers, Zachary Borovay as Projection Designer, and Dan Riddle as musical director and Conductor.

In 2008, the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia staged a small venue "black box" version of the play. Signature received Mackintosh's special permission for the production: "One of the great pleasures of being involved with the creation of Les Misérables is seeing this marvelous musical being done in a completely different and original way." The production officially opened on 14 December 2008 (after previews from 2 December), and ran through 22 February 2009.

A 2014 production at the Dallas Theater Center modernized the staging with a setting in the modern-day United States. The concept was thought to be a refreshing stylistic change and effective as a commentary on modern inequality. The unauthorized depart from the authors' libretto and score, however, was controversial.

In Panama, Les Misérables was staged in 2014 in Spanish at the National Theatre of Panama for a short, sold-out run, directed by Aaron Zebede.

School edition

The school edition cuts a considerable amount of material from the original show. It is divided into thirty scenes and, although no critical scenes or songs have been removed, it runs 25–30 minutes shorter than the official version making the total running time about 2.5 hours. "Valjean's Soliloquy", "Stars", "A Little Fall of Rain", "Turning", and "Castle on a Cloud" lose a verse each. During "Fantine's Arrest", Bamatabois loses two verses. The song "Fantine's Death/Confrontation" is edited, and the counterpoint duel between Javert and Valjean is cut, as well as a verse by Fantine. "Dog Eats Dog" by Thénardier is truncated. "Beggars at the Feast", is shortened, with Thénardier losing a verse, and the song before it, "Wedding Chorale", is removed entirely, although the rest of the wedding remains in place. Also, the drinker's introduction to "Master of the House" is cut.

Film adaptation

A film version directed by Tom Hooper was released in 2012 to generally positive reviews; it won three Academy Awards and was nominated for five more, including Best Picture.

Recordings

French

Les Misérables (1980). The original concept album was released in France as a 2-LP set on the Tréma record label.

English

Les Misérables – Original London Cast Album (1985). Features a song titled "I Saw Him Once", sung by Cosette, which was later incorporated into the first part of "In My Life". The album has sold 887,000 copies in the US as of 2013.

Les Misérables – Broadway Album (1987). As with its predecessor, it is incomplete, leaving out songs or parts that are more important narratively than musically (e.g., "Fantine's Arrest", "The Runaway Cart", "The Final Battle"). The album has sold 1,596,000 copies in the US as of 2013.

Les Misérables – The Complete Symphonic Recording (1988). Released in 1989, the recording features the entire score. (The Czech Revival Recording is the only other album, in any language, to feature the entire score; the four 2003 Japanese recordings feature the entire score after the cuts first made on Broadway at the end of 2000.) It employs an international cast featuring performers from the major early productions of the musical. Produced by David Caddick and conducted by Martin Koch, it won the Best Musical Cast Show Album Grammy Award in 1990.

Les Misérables in Concert – The Dream Cast (video, 1995). The 10th Anniversary live recording of a concert version at the Royal Albert Hall includes encores. The songs vital to the plot are included, but others, such as "At the Barricade", were left out.

Les Misérables Live! – The 2010 Cast Album [New 25 Anniversary Production] (2010) a.k.a. Les Miserables Live! – Dream the Dream. Recorded live at the Palace Theatre in Manchester, it features new arrangements and orchestrations.

Les Misérables in Concert – The 25th Anniversary (video, 2010). The live concert video at the O2 Arena was shown in select US theaters via NCM Fathom Events. DVD and Blu-ray versions were released in the UK in 2010 and in the United States in 2011 to promote the 2012 film adaptation.

Les Misérables – Highlights from the Motion Picture Soundtrack (2012).

Les Misérables – The Staged Concert (video, 2019).

Awards and nominations