Ramin Karimloo, Genevieve Leclerc, Samantha Hill Cast for ‘Les Miserables’ Toronto
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Earlier this year, a new 25th anniversary production of “Les Miserables” was announced for Toronto, and now we know Ramin Karimloo, Genevieve Leclerc and Samantha Hill will star in the upcoming musical.
The production will begin in October at the Princess of Wales Theatre as part of the 2013-2014 Mirvish Subcription Season, though exact dates will be announced later. The engagement likely will last until spring 2014.
David and Ed Mirvish presented the Canadian premiere of “Les Miserables” back in 1989, and the new version is based on that musical with new orchestrations as well as new scenic and design elements.
“What we’re not bringing is the old version, we’re bringing the new version… for the 25th anniversary,” producer Cameron Mackintosh told the CBC. “It’s completely new sets, they’re based on paintings by Victor Hugo – we discovered he’d painted over 400 impressionistic paintings, so the set has come to life out of his work, as well as his words… It’s got completely new orchestrations.
Karimloo, known as the star of the London versions of “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Love Never Dies,” will play Jean Valjean in Toronto. He is a native of Ontario and has previously played the role of Valjean on West End in London.
“Since this is the ‘new’ 25th anniversary production I’m looking forward to taking the show step by step with the new cast and seeing what we can create,” Karimloo told BroadwayWorld.com in an interview. “The process/rehearsals are always so much fun when you come in with an empty page.”
Leclerc, a native of Quebec, will star as Fantine. She currently is playing the same role as part of the U.S. tour. Hill is from Winnipeg will play Cosette. She currently is Christine Alternate in the Broadway production of “The Phantom of the Opera” and will take over the Principal Christine role starting the week of March 4.