The musical comedy “Les Misérables” is making its grand return to France in a new production at the Châtelet, for 52 performances, until January 2, 2025. A return to the roots for this show which saw the light of day in 1980, in Paris before conquer the world, with impressive numbers.
More than 130 million spectators
It is the most performed musical comedy in the world, since its creation in 1980, based on the work of Victor Hugo adapted by Alain Boublil, and set to music by Claude-Michel Schönberg. With more than 130 million spectators, “Les Miserables” is one of those shows that have become cult internationally, like “The Phantom of the Opera” (more than 100 million) “The Lion King” (more than 110 million) or even “Cats” (more than 73 million).
Played in 53 countries
Since its debut in Paris at the Palais des Sports under the direction of Robert Hossein, the show “Les Misérables” has been performed in 53 countries and translated into 22 languages. It is also internationally, in London then in New York, that “Les Mis”, as the British call it, became a cult show thanks in particular to the English version produced from 1985 by Cameron Mackintosh , in collaboration with Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg.
Eight Tony Awards
Over the course of its long international career, “Les Misérables” has won eight Tony Awards, the equivalent in the United States of the Molières in France, including that of Best Musical. In France, the show won the Molière for best musical in 1992 and a Victoire de la Musique the same year.
1500 pages in 2 hours 50 minutes
Adapted from Victor Hugo's masterpiece released in 1862, the musical brings to stage the 1,500 pages of the novel written over twenty years in 2 hours 50 minutes of performance. To do this, it was necessary to make choices and focus on “a common thread – Javert’s pursuit of Jean Valjean” – notes Claude-Michel Schönberg about the show, which according to him would have lasted 6 hours otherwise.
Nearly 40 years of operation in London
If “Les Misérables” is making its comeback in Paris, the musical has never left the poster of London's West End for almost 40 years. The show has been performed there since 1985, without interruption, a record.
About three times on display in Paris in nearly 45 years of existence
“Les Misérables” has been performed for 39 years in London and remained on Broadway for 16 years. However, in France, the show has only rarely been programmed, despite the success of the performances in France. Thus in 1980, when it was created, the show brought together half a million spectators in sixteen weeks.
But it would take ten years for it to return to Mogador in 1991, bringing together 250,000 spectators in seven months, then 18 years for it to be performed again, this time at the Théâtre du Châtelet in 2009, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary. English version born in 1985.
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