Just Announced -- John Owen Jones to Broadway Les Miserables!

[kec]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:18pm

I have been listening to Bryn Terfel's Faenol Festival on BBC Wales, and it was just announced that John Owen Jones, currently playing Valjean in Les Mis in the West End will be taking over the role in New York. No date was given, but John's last performance in the West End is October 6, so I suspect it will be sometime in late October or November.

Today's performance was an evening of musical theatre music. Performers were John, Michael Ball, Ruthie Henshall, and Connie Fisher. Bryn Terfel joined in the second half singing "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Stars."

For those unfamiliar with John, please check out his website.

*edited to fix the link.



John Owen Jones Website Updated On: 8/26/07 at 05:18 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:39pm

That's kinda crazy. Are they trading him for...I dunno. John Lloyd Young?

[WickedForever2]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 8:51pm

If this is true, I'm really excited and glad Cameron Mackintosh is bringing some serious talent back into this show. Jones, Salonga and Hunt in the three leading roles? There is a theatre god!

[Lori]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 9:21pm

It is true. The announcement was made with John in attendance.

Broadway is in for a treat. John's JVJ is absolutely fabulous...the best I've ever seen. His vocals are haunting and his acting flawless.

I'm so excited to have him on our side of the pond. John we are thrilled for you!!!!!!!!!!!

[Tsao5]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 9:57pm

Drew is going to London...............

[ElFantasma14]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:21pm

Omg, this would totally be a reason to go see Les Miz again if I happen to be in New York. I love me some JOJ!

[kec]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:23pm

As I said, Wicked Forever, it was announced at Bryn Terfel's Faenol Festival in North Wales, where John was performing along with Michael Ball, Connie Fisher, Ruthie Henshall and Mr. Terfel.

Lori, I agree with you -- each time I've seen Les Mis, John's performance has been outstanding. His "Bring Him Home" is outstanding.

Tsao5 -- it's been speculated on the West End boards that Alexander Gemignani would be going to London. Are you sure it's Drew?

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:41pm

Okay, um....

[censored]

I can't get over myself right now...this is fantastic!

(Lizzie, you're probably right...West End Jersey Boys is affiliated with CamMac, so.....)

[Tsao5]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 10:45pm

Yup. Drew goes there in October for 6 months.............

[WickedForever2]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 3:13am

*rejoices* Now, I just need a way to get to NYC... So 6 months, that would be October to April, hmmmmm.

[CHGriffiths]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 3:30am

Oh you Americans are SOOOOOOOO lucky he is absolutely amazing, I will definatley have to see Les Miserables again over in England before he leaves us!

[Janki]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 3:33am

J.O.J is by far the best Valjean I've ever seen and he was a great Phantom as well, maybe he'll stay in NY after Les Miz and go into P.O.T.O....

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 8:59am

Along with the new lighting and new orchestrations (regarding Phantom).

[lifeisacabaret]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 9:05am

Wheres the info regarding phantom's new lighting and orchestrations? I havent heard this anywhere else.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 10:28am

The rumor is that London is getting the new (craptastic) Broadway orchestrations.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 10:31am

They implemented the new lighting and orchestrations sevceral years ago in London. I do not believe there was ever an announcement, but phans of the show have seen it many times and KNOW that things are different. The lighting is sharper and uses more contrasts, and they reorchestrated several songs, including the title song...it sounds less 80s now.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 10:32am

Wait...I was going to say, Les Miz has a title song? Then I realized we were talking about different shows.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 10:35am

Haha, sorry about that!

Oh, by the way, I LOVE Owen-Jone's disclaimer on his video page.

Basically an Internet highlight for me this week.

(Link available in thread's first post)

Updated On: 8/27/07 at 10:35 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 10:40am

icWales story (not much): https://tinyurl.com/2r85me

That disclaimer on JOJ's site is hysterical.

[AvenueQResident]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 11:03am

He used to go to the Llanelli Youth Theatre, which I'm about 20 minutes away from! Shame, when I saw Les Mis this month, I had an understudy for Valjean, though he was really good.

[sanda]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 1:57pm

Man, I have to see Les Miz again. Gee, that show costs me big bucks by keeping bringing names.

[winston89]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:05pm

If it is eiather Drew or Alex going over to London. Do you think that they are goingg to send eiather one of them over there for zix moths to fill out the requierd equity trade off?

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:09pm

If it is eiather Drew or Alex going over to London. Do you think that they are goingg to send eiather one of them over there for zix moths to fill out the requierd equity trade off?

Geez man, spell check. Please.

Yes I have heard that they will be bringing Drew to the London production.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:33pm

JOJ is a "name"?

Moreover, Drew Sarich is also a name?

Huh.

[sanda]

Posted: 8/28/07 at 2:51pm

To me, JOJ is a name enough for me to see. It's all personal.

And to me, Drew is never a name. Sorry, Drew fans.