This weekend Broadway comes to Westport with the Staples Players' production of Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Herbert Kretzmer's musical Les Miserables based on the classic by Victor Hugo. This school edition which is in conjunction with Westport Continuing Education's Summer School will be playing at Staples High School on August 7, 8, 9 at 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday the 10th at 5:00 p.m. Although it is under the rubric of Staples High School, teenagers living throughout Fairfield County are part of the cast and crew.
Les Miserables opened at the Barbican Theatre in London on October 8, 1985 with the American version appearing almost eighteen months later on March 12, 1987. It has been performed in 38 countries and 223 cities, has been translated into 21 different languages and has been seen by more than 51 million people. Numerous accolades have been bestowed upon it such as eight Tony awards including Best Musical in 1987, New York Drama Critics award of Best Musical in 1987, five Drama Desk awards including Best Musical in 1987, Grammy awards for the 1988 Broadway cast album and 1991 symphonic recording, and a Triple Platinum disc for the London cast album. On January 25, 2002, the New York production became the second longest running show in Broadway history; that record was broken by the Phantom of the Opera on February 4, 2004.
If your schedule precludes you from hearing the cynical Master of the House or the inspiring Do You Hear the People Sing?, feel free to come to the Library to check out the book, compact disc, or vocal score.