Broadway hit 'Les Misérables' to run Jan. 27-Feb. 1 at Ohio Theatre
When "Les Misérables" opened in London in 1985, critical response was lukewarm, with one reviewer calling the show "The Glums." Literary scholars denounced the adaptation of a classic into a musical.
However, the public disagreed. The three-month engagement was a sellout, and the genesis of what would become a global phenomenon.
Seen by more than 130 million people in 53 countries, 438 cities and 22 languages, "Les Misérables" will come to the Ohio Theatre, 39 E. State St., for eight shows.
Recommended for ages 10 and older, performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27-31; 2 p.m. Jan. 31; 1 and 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1.
Known colloquially as "Les Mis," the story follows Jean Valjean, who seeks redemption after 19 years in prison for stealing bread, as he evades persistent police inspector Javert and gets caught up in the June Rebellion of 1832.
The production swept the 1987 Tony Awards with eight wins out of 12 nominations, including Best Musical and Best Original Score for memorable songs by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg such as “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own” and “Bring Him Home.”
"Les Misérables," the sixth longest-running Broadway production of all time, will be performed during eight shows Jan. 27-Feb. 1 at the Ohio Theatre.
In addition to being the longest-running musical on London's West End, "Les Mis" continues to break records across North America, as well as in Australia, Japan, South Korea, Netherlands, Belgium, and Spain.
The 2012 screen adaptation of the play features a star-studded ensemble including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne, Amanda Seyfried, Helena Bonham Carter, and Sacha Baron Cohen.
A worldwide success, the film won three Academy Awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Hathaway, and was nominated in five other categories.
