Will Swenson To Take A Hiatus From Les Miserables

[HighFlyingAdored97]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 2:17pm

Will Adam Monley take over as Javert? I enjoyed his performance last month when Swenson was out.
Link

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 3:02pm

That was quick.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 4:11pm

When I talked to him last summer at Murder Ballad, he said he loves doing new works so this isn't surprising, although the timing is a bit crazy.

[jnb9872]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 4:33pm

I actually think he might make a great Crash. Knowing nothing about the Musical adaptation, Crash is a great character and I hope this show does the story justice, since the film is already a perfect little gem.

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 4:49pm

its the end of the summer, might the producers try to bring in a "star" during this hiatus?

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 6:06pm

Doubt it. The show is the star.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 6:16pm

July isn't really the end of summer...

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 7:40pm

If they were smart, they'd get Andrew Varela to come in, whose performance on the tour was nothing short of revelatory.

[CukorLover]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 9:53pm

I'm sure Swenson will be great, but the whole project just seems strange. Though I've heard some of Werner's sweet music, i find her an odd choice given her contemporary /folk music genre. The director is Kip Fagan. What other musicals has he done? Bergasse? Well, i guess they liked his baseball number in SMASH.

Probably smart to test in a summer musical venue for sure.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 10:58pm

I hope Russell Crowe fills in!!!1!!

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/27/14 at 11:04pm

"If they were smart, they'd get Andrew Varela to come in, whose performance on the tour was nothing short of revelatory."

THIS. Varela's Javert and Betsy Morgan's Fantine were breathtaking. I have no doubt both of them would have received nominations this Tony season.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 12:16am

Agree. Andrew was awesome.

The Alliance has a pretty bad track record with new musicals. Updated On: 5/28/14 at 12:16 AM

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 12:52am

What has Varela been up to since the tour?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 6:06am

I'm going to guess that Swenson knew this was in the pipeline and had it already written into his contract. As much as I like Swenson, it's not like his name is selling tickets.

I, too, think he's perfect for the part -- not so sure about turning it into a musical -- but can't wait to hear about it.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 6:17am

I wonder how long it will be before Ramin Karimloo leaves or takes a break. He isnt the biggest fan of long runs so leaving early wouldnt surprise me

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 7:58am

"I wonder how long it will be before Ramin Karimloo leaves or takes a break. He isnt the biggest fan of long runs so leaving early wouldnt surprise me"

If he ends up leaving so soon, maybe he could be The King of Siam...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 9:28am

HAHA NO.

And back to the original topic, I wouldn't be surprised about Varela either.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 2:06pm

I found it really strange that Varella wasn't given Javert on Broadway. He's probably sick of the role, but I'm sure it's better than being unemployed! Hopefully Mackintosh will make things right and let him be Swenson's sub.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/28/14 at 3:16pm

Karimloo would make a great King of Siam, but it's quite a stretch. Iran is in the Middle East which is in the Asian Continent, but Iranians are usually semetic or European.

[StephieElise]

Posted: 5/31/14 at 7:26am

You think it's too much of a stretch for an Iranian to play the King of Siam? Check out the King for the Sydney and Brisbane seasons! http://thekingandimusical.com.au/cast/ I don't think casting a Caucasian as the King of Siam is quite what they meant by blind casting...

Fortunately Jason Scott Lee will be playing the role when I see it in Melbourne :)

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/31/14 at 8:37am

I miss when this thread was about Javert.

So, back to that, I doubt they'd rotate the understudies for such a long period (which would necessitate rotating swings too).

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/31/14 at 10:35am

Since his absence is so long, arent' they REQUIRED to hire someone officially? (Regardless if its an understudy or someone new.)

I thought there was some union ruling about that.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 5/31/14 at 11:35am

I found it really strange that Varella wasn't given Javert on Broadway. He's probably sick of the role, but I'm sure it's better than being unemployed! Hopefully Mackintosh will make things right and let him be Swenson's sub.

Based on a tweet he sent out when the revival was casting, he actually was very much interested in the role on Broadway and quite disappointed it wasn't offered to him.

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 5/31/14 at 12:11pm

In what is actually quite an interesting and original interview with Imogen Lloyd Webber from a few months ago Cameron makes it clear that he'd cast Will Swenson as Javert in his own mind quite a while before the US tour even - so it seems like his assuming the role when the show finally made it back to Broadway was almost inevitable.

(Talking Javert from 3'00)

Imogen Lloyd Webber interviews Cameron Mackintosh Updated On: 5/31/14 at 12:11 PM

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 5/31/14 at 12:34pm

Karimloo originally wanted to play Javert in this production, barring a tony win perhaps he'd swap roles.