RAMIN KARIMLOO in Les Miserables
December 5, 2011
West End star Ramin Karimloo in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre
RAMIN KARIMLOO, star of Les Miserables. Photo: © Roy Tan
Ramin Karimloo is the stuff that Glee is made of. As a sporty, hockey-playing teenager, not dissimilar to Glee’s Finn Hudson, he was dragged along to see Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. And so a musical theatre star was born.
“From that moment, I thought that’s what I am going to do. It wasn’t a desperate aim. It was a fact,” he told the Daily Telegraph in February this year.
Ramin went on to realise his dream and to star as the Phantom in the hit show, before moving from Her Majesty’s Theatre to the Adelphi Theatre to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom sequel, Love Never Dies.
Born in Iran and raised in Canada, Ramin started his career as an actor after singing in rock bands and playing cruise ships. Once in England, he turned to musical theatre, playing a wide range of roles including Enjolras in Les Misérables at the Queen’s Theatre, Chris in Miss Saigon and Sunset Boulevard.
Ramin also featured in the O2 Arena concert celebrating the 25th anniversary of Les Miserables, returning to the role of Enjolras.
And now it is to Les Miserables that he is returning, playing Jean Valjean in the show until 3 March 2012.
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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.
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West End Tug of War won by Lend Me A Tenor!
July 14, 2011
In a rather random PR stunt that only the West End could have got away with, the inaugural West End Tug of War contest took place this week between cast members of the Gielgud and Queen’s Theatres.
Matthew Kelly and the cast of Lend Me A Tenor pick up the winning trophy
The stage doors of the two theatres both empty out on to Winnett Street, and so battle commenced on the street between the Gielgud’s Lend Me A Tenor cast and the Queen’s Les Miserables during the break between their matinee and evening performances on Wednesday 13 July.
The Gielgud’s Lend Me A Tenor had originally challenged the Queen’s Les Miserables to the Tug of War, and after a best-of-three it was the Tenors who took the prize, with Matthew Kelly accepting the trophy on behalf of the Tenors.
The Tug of War was said to bring back happy memories of the annual Society of West End Theatre (now SOLT) West End bed race in Leicester Square. Could the Tug of War become an equally big event?
LINKS
Book tickets to Lend Me A Tenor at the Gielgud Theatre
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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
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ALFIE BOE in Les Miserables
April 27, 2011
Alfie Boe stars in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London.
Following his breathtaking performance in the Les Mis 25th anniversary concert at the O2 in 2010, Alfie Boe has signed up to play Jean Valjean in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London (until 26 November 2011).
Alfie studied at The Royal College of Music, followed by further studies at the National Opera Studio and the Royal Opera House Young Artist’s Programme. While at the ROH, Alfie was approached by Baz Luhrmann to star in his Broadway production of Puccini’s La Boheme. In 2006 Alfie signed to the label Classic FM Presents and released his debut album. In 2007, Alfie signed to EMI and within less than 3 months his second album, ‘Onward’, was released – recorded with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. ‘Onward’ went straight to No.1 in the UK classical chart. 2007 saw him touring the UK and Ireland and also performing in a sell out run of Kismet for English National Opera at The Coliseum, London. Alfie was nominated for a Classical Brit Award for ‘Best Album’. Alfie is also proud of his role as Ambassador for HRH’s Arts and Kids Foundation. Also in 2007 Alfie released his second album ‘La Passione’, and toured with the Philharmonia Orchestra. Other Festival appearances include; Llangollen, Chester, North Devon and Kings’ Lynn. Orchestral engagements include concerts with the RPO, Manchester Camerata, BBC National Orchestra of Wales and the RLPO. 2008 credits include; English National Opera production of Lehar’s engrossing opera, The Merry Widow. Alfie also played The Italian Tenor in der Rosenkavalier at ENO, Royal Opera House production of Elektra, conducted by Mark Elder. Alfie was nominated in two categories at the Classical Brit Awards. In 2009 Alfie recorded his fourth album for Linn Records – “Franz Lehar – Love Was A Dream”. Festival appearances in 2009 included San Francisco Symphony, Athens, Dublin, Kenwood, Grassington, Rochester and Lichfield. 2009 Opera performances as Rodolfo in Sir Jonathan Miller’s new production of La Boheme at ENO and just completed, his return to WNO as Alfredo in David McVicar’s production of La Traviata. 2010 Concerts include; The Halle, Northern Sinfonia, CBSO, The Royal Philharmonic, The Welsh Proms, Cheltenham Festival, Ribchester Festival. Operas are The Pearl Fishers and Katya Kabanova for ENO. Alfie won a Tony Award for his performances on Broadway as part of Baz Luhrman’s controversial La Boheme production for which he also won the John McCormack Young Voice award and Lyric Tenor of the World Audience award.
He will join the cast of Les Miserables in London on 23 June alongside comedian Matt Lucas.
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MATT LUCAS in Les Miserables
April 27, 2011
Little Britain’s Matt Lucas stars in Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London.
Comedian, screenwriter and actor Matt Lucas, along with comedy partner David Walliams, is most famous for writing and performing in LITTLE BRITAIN, originally a BBC Radio 4 show which became an internationally acclaimed TV series, receiving a number of awards and nominations including 3 BAFTA’s and an Emmy. LITTLE BRITAIN LIVE became one of the world’s largest comedy tours ever, running for over 2 years in the UK and Australia and followed on to LITTLE BRITAIN USA for HBO in the U.S. and BBC1 in the UK.
Their current BBC series, Come Fly With Me, has been recommissioned for a second series.
Matt first joined forces with David when working on ROCK PROFILE IN 1999, shortly before writing for DA ALI G SHOW and as an accomplished actor has performed in SHAUN OF THE DEAD (2004), GAVIN AND STACY (2007), WIND IN THE WILLOWS (2006), KING ARTHUR’S DISASTERS (2006) and FRENCH AND SAUNDERS (2004) along with a multitude of other theatre, radio, film and television shows. Last year, Matt starred as Tweedledee and Tweedledum in Tim Burton’s blockbusting movie, ALICE IN WONDERLAND, and has voiced animated film GNOMEO AND JULIET and forthcoming Christmas film ARTHUR CHRISTMAS.
Matt appeared in the 25th anniversary concert of Les Miserables at the O2 Arena in London in 2010 and has now joined the cast of Les Miserables in London alongside opera tenor Alfie Boe.
Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London
VIDEO: Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre
November 2, 2010
The world’s longest-running musical celebrates its 25th anniversary this year at the Queen’s Theatre in London having played in 42 countries to over 55 million people worldwide.
Book tickets to Les Miserables
More information about the show
More information about the Queen’s Theatre
VIDEO
Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre
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GARETH GATES in Les Miserables
November 1, 2010
Gareth Gates stars in the original West End production of Les Miserables
It’s been a spectacular journey for Gareth Gates, from Pop Idol runner-up to currently playing Marius in Les Misérables in the West End.
He is no stranger to the role having recently played Marius in the new, UK touring production of the show directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley.
That production finished its UK run in September at the Barbican Theatre, and now he’s having a go at the original London production of Les Miserables, directed 25 years ago by Trevor Nunn and John Caird.
Gareth Gates came to fame by entering the first ever Pop Idol TV talent show, making it to the final. He went on to have four number one singles and to sell 3.5 million records in the UK alone, and has appeared on ITV1’s Dancing on Ice and starred as Joseph in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Cameron Mackintosh’s legendary production of Boublil and Schonberg’s Les Misérables is the world’s longest-running musical, having been seen by over 57 million people worldwide in 291 cities.
NOTE: Gareth will play Marius at the Queen’s Theatre until 20 November 2010, and then from 31 January to 18 June 2011.
Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London
Gareth Gates to join London Les Mis
October 14, 2010
Actor to join the London cast of Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre
Gareth Gates in Les Miserables
Gareth Gates is to reprise his role as Marius in the original London production of Les Miserables. He will join the cast at the Queen’s Theatre from 18 October to 20 November 2010, and from 31 January to 18 June 2011.
The singer and actor has recently been playing Marius in the new, UK touring production of Les Misérables directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell and designed by Matt Kinley. Earlier this month he also joined the casts of Les Mis past and present at a spectacular O2 Arena concert to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show.
Gates told fans on his Twitter page that he was “excited to have a crack at the Original production” and is getting to grips with Trevor Nunn and John Caird’s production and set, as opposed to the slimmed-down UK tour: “the revolve is quite something, and the Barricade too huge”, he said.
Gareth Gates came to fame by entering the first ever Pop Idol TV talent show, making it to the final. He went on to have four number one singles and to sell 3.5 million records in the UK alone, and has appeared on ITV1’s Dancing on Ice and starred as Joseph in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
Cameron Mackintosh’s legendary production of Boublil and Schonberg’s Les Misérables is the world’s longest-running musical, having been seen by over 57 million people worldwide in 291 cities.
The show currently stars Simon Bowman, Norm Lewis and Samantha Barks.
Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London
Les Mis celebrates 25th birthday
October 4, 2010
A spectacular concert performance of Les Miserables was held at the O2 Arena in London last night, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the musical.
Sir Cameron Mackintosh at the finale of the Les Mis concert
A number of cast members from the original 1985 production of the show, including Colm Wilkinson and Michael Ball, came together with the casts of the current West End production at the Queen’s Theatre in London and the UK touring production to celebrate the record-breaking musical.
The producer of Les Miserables, Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who has become a multi-millionaire through the 42 worldwide productions of the show, said that the event had been one of the “most astonishing” nights of his life. “Seeing everybody love this material so much and love their fellow performers is something I have never encountered in the theatre and I never will for the rest of my life”, he said.
A chorus of over 150 singers joined a number of internationally renowned performers at the event including Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean, Nick Jonas as Marius, Norm Lewis as Javert, Matt Lucas as Thénardier, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Jenny Galloway as Madame Thénardier, Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras, Samantha Barks as Eponine and Katie Hall as Cosette.
Students who have performed school productions of the show also took to the stage for the finale. At the event Mackintosh also revealed that work had begun on a screenplay of the musical, to be made into a major film.
Les Miserables is the world’s longest running musical and has been seen by over 55 million people worldwide.
Book tickets to Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre in London.
