Les Miserables Closing Performance- Page 2

[Malice]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 9:44pm

Shucks, I wanted to see the revival one more time, I was kind of hoping that it was going to be extended at least once. This is still my favorite darn show of all time. How long before we have to wait for the next Broadway revival I wonder?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 9:47pm

What's with all you people who waited so long? It ran for over a year.

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:03pm

It was my first closing ever so it was pretty sad for me especially since it was my favorite show. And yea, it ran for a while (over a year). And it was extended twice.

[kec]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:03pm

Malice, it was extended! It was originally supposed to be a six month run, but it was extended through the summer then extended again -- I believe the second extension had an unknown end date. When John Owen Jones came over to play Valjean in NY in October, it was announced that he would play the role for six months, which would have brought it up to April. But, just days after John made his Broadway debut, the closing was announced. I seem to recall several people voicing the opinion that the announcement of the closing date was just a ploy, and that it would stay open beyond January 6.

MbMusic, I got the impression that John, while returning to London, wasn't necessarily going back into Les Mis.

[Revolutionary]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:04pm

Yep Kec, I was one of those people. I really thought they would've extended the closing date too, especially since it's been almost selling out in the past month and a half. Oh well. But the original 6 month run totally was a marketing ploy for gullible people so they could go crazy and buy tickets. And I stand by that. :p

As much as I heart Les Miz, I do not want to see it back on broadway for a very very long time. I can imagine what the next 'revival' would be like and really, it's not a pretty picture in my head...I mean, a revival should be just that, it should be revived and made new, and this production was so far from that. Don't get me wrong, I still totally loved it and I saw it more times than what would be considered healthy, but even I couldn't pretend that the show wasn't tired and slightly subpar.


Updated On: 1/7/08 at 10:04 PM

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:10pm

Well for me, this revival was the best thing ever because I wasn't into Les Mis when it was originally on Broadway so I never saw the original production. But it became my favorite show after it closed when I saw school edition productions. When this revival was announced, it was almost a dream come true. This is why this production meant so much to me.

Anyway, I hope JOJ comes to Phantom here in New York on Broadway sometime. I would love to see John again. He is just fantastic.

[kec]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:27pm

In all honesty, Revolutionary, I was kind of hoping you guys were right. It just didn't make sense to me that they would offer John a six-month contract to go to NY and play Valjean, and then announce a January closing date just days after he made his Broadway debut. John is my favorite Valjean, and I was very much looking forward to seeing him more than the one time (my original first visit was a victim of the strike).

MbMusic, I share your hope that John will return to Broadway. I had hoped he could go into Phantom for the remainder of his time in the U.S., but I think McGillian just renewed his contract, so that wouldn't have worked.

BTW, I just read on John's official website that his CD "Hallelujah" is available at Colony Music in New York.

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:35pm

By the way, didn't John shave his beard after yesterday's performance? I could have sworn it was his real beard.

[kec]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:40pm

Yes, he did shave his beard. It was quite a surprise to see him come out the door clean shaven!

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 10:46pm

Do you guys think the show is all loaded out already?

[Marianne]

Posted: 1/7/08 at 11:14pm

He and Jeff Kready and Ben Crawford all shaved their beards before they left the theater. I can post pictures if you like, heh. They all look very different.

[Salene]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 4:56am

I'd love to see those pictures, Marianne.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 8:59am

I was at the original closing night and wish I had been able to be there for this one. It is my all time #1 favorite show. Broadway is not the same without it.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:58am

"Yep Kec, I was one of those people. I really thought they would've extended the closing date too, especially since it's been almost selling out in the past month and a half."

The closing date was dependant on the Cat on a Hot Tin Roof revival. When the date was confirmed Les Miz was told to get out.

[bwaymaniac]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 11:50am

I, too, would love to see those pics, Marianne.

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 2:26pm

I would have liked to see this revival run like any other show (indefinitely). But then again, I'm glad that I and everyone else has gotten the closing over with. I had already seen it 5 times and the show itself becomes less and less magical after each time I see it. I would have been bound to see it many times more than I did if it ran longer. I'm a little sad that it's over but I'll get over it soon. There's always regional and school edition productions to get involved with!

And yea, I'd love to see any pics people want to share!

[p.s.]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 3:14pm

Norm Lewis did the same shaving thing last April.


p.s. Drew took his beard to London.

pps: But I found this: After years of wearing the Jean Valjean beard, between the last performance of Les Misérables and the closing cast party, Randal shaved the beard. He was a stranger that night at stage door.
Apparently, Randal Keith shaved immediately each time he closed a season.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 4:14pm

David Michael Felty did that in Salt Lake City, too, but during the show. He suddenly appeared during the wedding reception cleanshaven. :)

Randal didn't shave every time. Not after the tour closed in Salt Lake.

[p.s.]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 4:32pm

Randal didn't shave every time. Not after the tour closed in Salt Lake.


Randal was asked at the stage door (July 23, 2006): Shaving the beard tonight?

He replied: Well, I'm doing new head shots first, then the beard's going.


p.s. I saw a short video of that somewhere.

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:00pm

"Randal was asked at the stage door (July 23, 2006): Shaving the beard tonight?
He replied: Well, I'm doing new head shots first, then the beard's going.
p.s. I saw a short video of that somewhere."

Yea, I've seen that video. It was after the last national tour ended. I guess most actors who play Valjean hate the long beard.

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 9:20pm

Oh, p.s.- does anyone know if all of the set is loaded out yet?

[kec]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:12pm

Per some requests, here are a couple of photos I took of John
Updated On: 1/8/08 at 10:12 PM

[kec]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:14pm

[Mbmusic]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:21pm

Thanks for the pics! He seemed like a really nice guy. I hope he comes to New York to do Phantom.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 1/8/08 at 10:23pm

Becca Ayers will be in the ensemble of South Pacific when it opens.