The iconic musical Les Miserables has been running almost continuously on Broadway since 1987. In that time, it has seen numerous acclaimed revivals and adaptations. Tracking down all of the producers behind this phenomenally successful show provides insight into the business side of Broadway and just what it takes to mount a production on the Great White Way.
The Original 1987 Broadway Production
The original Broadway production of Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987 after starting previews on February 27. It was produced by Cameron Mackintosh and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
Cameron Mackintosh was one of the most successful theatrical producers in history. Some of his other hit shows included Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and Miss Saigon. The British producer was knighted in 1996 for his services to musical theatre. Mackintosh passionately believed in the potential of Les Miserables to connect with audiences, even though the show was considered a risk due to its highly operatic score by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil and its dark, tragic plot based on Victor Hugo’s famous 1862 novel.
The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) is one of the oldest and most prestigious theatre companies in the UK. Leadership chose to co-produce Les Miserables because they recognized the power and ambition of the source material and score. Although the company is known for Shakespeare productions and new plays, the RSC had previously co-produced wildly successful musicals like Nicholas Nickleby and The Comedy of Errors. The RSC provided invaluable resources and theatrical expertise in helping to mount the epic Les Miserables on Broadway.
The 1990 Broadway Revival
After three years of nearly continuous performances, Les Miserables closed on May 18, 1990 for a few months before reopening that November. The show underwent some minor cosmetic changes, but not major overhauls. The main change was new producer management.
The 1990 revival was produced by Mackintosh and the Really Useful Company. Mackintosh decided to take over sole production responsibilities, feeling that the show was now established enough to not need the RSC’s backing. The Real Useful Company was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatrical production company, responsible for Cats and The Phantom of the Opera among other hits.
Mackintosh leveraged his influence and clout on Broadway to reassemble the original creative team and cast members for the well-received revival. Audiences validated his judgment by returning in strong numbers, resulting in another lengthy run.
The 2006 Broadway Revival
In 2006, Mackintosh spearheaded another revival of Les Miserables on Broadway. Having produced other revivals of the show in London and on tour, he understood how to keep the musical fresh and relevant while retaining the elements that made it powerful and timeless.
New orchestrations and scenery changed the look and sound of the show, while the epic story, beloved score, and memorable characters remained. With digital projections and a more cinematic style, the 2006 revival had a grittier, more modern feeling compared to prior beautiful but more theatrical incarnations.
The revival was a hit, running for another two years until 2008. This production also toured extensively in North America to great acclaim. Mackintosh’s passion for the show was clearly undimmed after nearly twenty years.
The 2014 Broadway Revival
Producer extraordinaire Cameron Mackintosh again presented Les Miserables in a new revival on Broadway in 2014. Following the success of the 2006 version and Tom Hooper’s 2012 hit film adaptation, Mackintosh felt the time was right to bring back a fresh take on the beloved musical.
This production featured new orchestrations and reimagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo. A top notch cast led by Ramin Karimloo and Will Swenson introduced the show to new audiences and delighted longtime fans.
The 2014 revival ran for just over two years until September 2016, demonstrating that Les Miserables continued to have staying power and the ability to feel relevant into the 21st century under Mackintosh’s masterful guidance.
The Current 2018 Broadway Revival
Producer Cameron Mackintosh has mounted yet another revival of Les Miserables in 2018, once again showing his seemingly boundless dedication to keeping the show alive on Broadway.
This latest version incorporates new staging and re-orchestrations to provide a fresh experience. But the heart of Hugo’s story and the musical’s beloved anthemic score remain to continue thrilling audiences.
Mackintosh co-produced this ongoing revival with Sonia Friedman and Playing Bridge Productions. Friedman herself is an acclaimed producer who enjoyed recent Tony wins for Best Play with The Ferryman and Best Musical for Dear Evan Hansen. Her credits also include The Book of Mormon and West Side Story among other hits.
Early positive reviews and strong ticket sales suggest this new revival will delight audiences into the 2020s and likely beyond. Mackintosh has proven that he knows exactly how to keep Les Mis vibrant on Broadway time and time again.
Rare Performances Not Produced by Cameron Mackintosh
Due to an exclusivity clause with Cameron Mackintosh, productions of Les Miserables are almost always directly controlled and managed by his company. However, there have been a couple rare authorized instances of the show being produced by other entities in North America.
In 2010, a production of Les Mis played a limited run at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. It was produced by Mark S. Hoebee for the non-profit regional theatre. Hoebee had previously mounted a production of Mackintosh’s Martin Guerre at the Paper Mill Playhouse to great success.
An authorized production of Les Miserables also ran for one summer in 2018 at the Toronto Civic Light Opera Company, produced by Aubrey Dan and Christopher Wilson. This was part of the organization’s inaugural season. Dan and Wilson had a vision of producing theatre on a large scale for the Toronto area during the summer months when stages went dark.
These two productions were exceptions to the norm of Mackintosh controlling every major mounting of Les Mis. Cameron recognized that allowing a couple niche productions provided good publicity and enhanced the musical’s reputation and brand. But beyond these two limited runs, Mackintosh otherwise retains exclusive producer rights in North America.
What Explains Cameron Mackintosh’s Enduring Passion for Les Miserables?
What makes successful producer Cameron Mackintosh so uniquely passionate about Les Miserables? Why has he devoted over 30 years to constantly reviving this one musical in particular? There are several important factors that explain his enduring affinity for Les Mis:
- He recognizes the timeless power of the musical’s story about redemption, sacrifice, and the human spirit. The themes revolving around social justice activism also appeal to Mackintosh’s values.
- Mackintosh feels a personal connection to the struggles depicted in Les Mis, as his own family overcame poverty when he was a child.
- He is incredibly proud of the groundbreaking symphonic pop score. Mackintosh believes the unique music makes the show distinctive from any other musical.
- The technical theatrical innovations required to bring the epic world to life on stage intrigues and inspires Mackintosh.
- The show provides amazing opportunities for performers because of the demanding vocal roles. Mackintosh takes satisfaction in helping launch careers.
- Revivals allow him to keep improving the show and finessing the vision. Mackintosh is always seeking to enhance the audience experience.
For all of these sentimental and creative reasons, Cameron Mackintosh has demonstrated endless passion for producing new versions of Les Miserables for over 30 years. Audiences around the world have benefitted enormously as a result.
Conclusion
Cameron Mackintosh will forever be known as the producer who recognized Les Miserables’ potential and shaped it into one of Broadway’s most iconic and enduring hits. He approached the show not just as a business opportunity but as a creative endeavor driven by passion. Mackintosh proved that with enough vision and persistence, a risky, boundary-pushing work of art could become a timeless global sensation and demonstrate the unique power of musical theatre.