Ramin Karimloo to join cast of Les Miserables
October 28, 2011
Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies star to play Jean Valjean in London
Ramin Karimloo to play Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. Photo: Roy Tan
West End actor Ramin Karimloo will star as Jean Valjean in Cameron Mackintosh’s London production of Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre from 29 November 2011 to 3 March 2012. He will take over from Alfie Boe, who is currently playing the role until 26 November 2011.
Ramin will join a cast that includes Hadley Fraser as Javert, Caroline Sheen as Fantine, Alexia Khadime as Eponine, Craig Mather as Marius, Cameron Blakely as Thénardier, Katy Secombe as Madame Thénardier, Liam Tamne as Enjolras and Lisa-Anne Wood as Cosette.
Ramin Karimloo is best known for playing Andrew Lloyd-Webber’s ‘The Phantom’ in both The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre and its sequel, Love Never Dies, which ran at the Adelphi. He also featured in the recent 25th Anniversary celebrations for Phantom at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ramin is no stranger to Les Mis having played Enjolras in the West End – and at the show’s 25th aniversary concert at the O2 last year. His other credits include Miss Saigon.
Mackintosh is currently working on the movie version of Les Miserables with Working Title films, with Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier and Geoffrey Rush rumoured to be playing Monsieur Thenardier. The movie will be directed by Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) and written by William Nicholson.
LINKS
Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London
Les Miserables cast change: Alfie Boe and Matt Lucas join the long-running show
June 23, 2011
A major cast change has taken place at long-running musical Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London – the most significant for a number of years.
Alfie Boe and Matt Lucas in last year's Les Miserables 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2
A range of high-profile West End and international actors have joined the cast of the show, from 23 June 2011, including leading opera tenor Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Little Britain and Come Fly With Me! star Matt Lucas as Thénardier, and one of Cameron Mackintosh’s long-time collaborators, Caroline Sheen, who will play the part of Fantine following a year-long US run as Mary Poppins in Mackintosh’s touring production of the show.
Other significant performers new to the cast include Hadley Fraser (Les Miserables) as Javert, Alexia Khadime (Wicked) as Eponine, Katy Secombe (Mamma Mia!) as Madame Thénardier and Liam Tamne (Hairspray) as Enjolras.
The show will also feature two rising young stars: beautiful Lisa-Anne Wood has been plucked out of Guildford to play Cosette and Craig Mather, who graduated from Mountview last year, will play Marius.
The show has been closed for three days to make the change, and to install a new surround sound system and enlarge the orchestra pit to accommodate extended orchestrations developed for the 25h Anniversary tour.
Les Miserables celebrated its 25th birthday last year with a sell-out concert at the O2 in London, which featured Boe and Lucas, and a large-scale National touring production.
CAST PHOTO GALLERY
PHOTO THUMBNAILS
LINKS
Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London
Brian Conley to join Hairspray
April 23, 2009
Save £25 on tickets to Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre
Brian Conley is to join the cast of Hairspray, replacing Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad, from Monday 27 July. Also joining the cast will be newcomer Chloe Hart playing Tracy Turnblad and Liam Tamne (Wicked) as Link Larkin.
Recently Nigel Planer (The Young Ones) and Verity Rushworth (Emmerdale) joined the Hairspray team. The musical continues to break all box office records at the Shaftesbury Theatre and is booking until April 2010.
Brian Conley is one of the UK’s biggest entertainment stars with credits spanning musicals, television, film, comedy and variety. His career highlights include multiple series of “The Brian Conley Show” for ITV, regular appearances at “The Royal Variety Show”, television comedies “The Grimleys” and “Time After Time” and lead roles in hit musicals “Me & My Girl”, “Jolson” and “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang”, as well as many sold-out comedy and music tours and pantomimes.
In a recent press announcement by the production, Brian said: “I’ve done a lot in my career, but wearing a dress and heels every night and being married to Nigel Planer weren’t things I was expecting to be doing all at the same time, and in front of thousands of people! I’m absolutely delighted to be back in the West End and joining one of the most uplifting, happy and, not to mention, successful shows in town. Being part of something that brings a smile to people’s faces, especially in these troubled times, is a real treat and I can’t wait to get on stage at the Shaftesbury.”
Save £25 on tickets to Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre
