Broadway actor Kyle Jean-Baptiste dies aged 21

Broadway.com has announced that Kyle Jean-Baptiste, who was appearing in Les Miserables on Broadway, has died after accidentally falling from a fire escape. He was making his Broadway debut in the production at the age of 21. 

Broadway.com wrote: "Baptiste made history this summer when he became the youngest person ever on Broadway to play the role of Jean Valjean, as well as being the first African-American to do so; he last performed the part on the evening of August 27, headliner Ramin Karimloo's scheduled night off. Along with understudying Valjean, Baptiste normally played the roles of Constable and Courfeyrac. A recent graduate of Baldwin Wallace, his regional theater credits included Enjolras in Les Miserables and Tom in Murder Ballad."

Alfie Boe takes over from Ramin Karimloo in Les Miserables on Broadway

It has been announced that Alfie Boe is reprising his performance as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables.

The actor will take over from Ramin Karimloo in the musical's Broadway revival at the the Imperial Theatre on 1st September 2015. Karimloo plays his final performance on 30th August.

Boe made his Broadway debut as Rodolfo in Baz Luhrmann's La Bohème. He has previously played Jean Valjean in the West End and for the show's 25th Anniversary Concert at the O2 Arena.

Broadway Review: Les Misérables - "I doubt I'll ever see a stronger cast perform Boublil & Schönberg′s masterpiece"

Ramin Karimloo

Les Misérables

Imperial Theatre

Reviewed on Wednesday 2nd April 2014

Caissie Levy

Les Misérables is a show which needs no introduction. Just when it looked like Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil's musical couldn't get any bigger, Tom Hooper's 2012 film adaptation proved a huge global hit and now, following a run in Toronto, Les Mis has returned to Broadway with a bang.

Whilst the original production continues in London's West End, a new interpretation (first seen for the 25th Anniversary UK Tour) has been staged in New York. Although the set, costumes and direction are different, nobody can take away the original magic of Les Mis. The musical’s success is fascinating - who would have thought a musical about the French revolution would become a global phenomenon? 

As if Les Mis returning to Broadway wasn't exciting enough, Cameron Mackintosh has found the most incredible cast imaginable. Ramin Karimloo has been a huge theatre star for years. He made his West End debut in Les Mis, understudying Marius and Enjolras, and has now once again reprised his performance as Jean Valjean. 

This new production is grittier which Karimloo really highlights during the prologue. His vocal control is unbelievable - he is superhuman. Karimloo takes the audience on every step of Jean Valjean's tremendous journey. He clearly knows the role inside out and has truly mastered how to grow and develop throughout the piece. The audience response to Karimloo's rendition of 'Bring Him Home' was quite something; you could feel the amazement beaming from the crowd.

Andy Mientus and Charlotte Maltby join Ramin Karimloo and Caissie Levy in Broadway revival of Les Miserables

It has been announced that Smash star Andy Mientus and newcomer Charlotte Maltby  have been cast in the Broadway revival of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Tony Award-winning musical Les Misérables.

Andy Mientus (Broadway debut, Spring Awakening national tour, Off-Broadway's Carrie) and Charlotte Maltby (Broadway debut, Les Mis at the St. Louis Muny, current musical theatre student at the University of Michigan) will play Marius and Cosette in the production, which will begin performances on 1st March 2014 at the Imperial Theatre. 

Ramin Karimloo and Caissie Levy to star in new Broadway production of Les Miserables!

Cameron Mackintosh has announced some casting for his new Broadway production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Miserables. 

The Broadway revival will open at the Imperial Theatre on 23rd March (previews from 1st March) starring Ramin Karimloo, who previously starred  in the West End production and is currently starring in the Toronto production of Les Miserables, as Jean Valjean.

Will Swenson (Tony Award-nominated star of Broadway's Hair and Priscilla Queen of the Desert) will play Javert, Caissie Levy (West End and Broadway star of Ghost and Hair and Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway, pictured right) will play Fantine and Nikki M. James (Tony Award winner for The Book of Mormon) will play Eponine. 

Additional casting, including the roles of Marius, Cosette, Enjolras and the Thenardiers, will be announced in the coming weeks.

Cameron Mackintosh said: "The success of Les Miserables across America and around the world has been beyond my dreams, so I am thrilled to bring the show back to Broadway 27 years after the original production with some of the finest contemporary talents in the American theatre today."