Les Miserables is the third longest-running show in Broadway history and will, on October 9, 2006, pass the 21 year old record of Cats in London to become the longest-running musical ever on the West End or Broadway with 8,372 performances; a run nearly three years longer than Broadway’s record-holder The Phantom of the Opera.
Les Miserables has been seen by over 53 million people in 38 countries and 21 languages since its first London performance in October 1985. The original Broadway production opened on March 12, 1987, at the Broadway Theatre, winning seven Tony Awards that season, including Best Musical. The show went on to play a total of 6,680 performances.
Produced by Cameron Mackintosh, Les Miserables is by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo. It features music by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer, with original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel and additional material by James Fenton.
Performances of the revival begin October 22, 2006 at the Broadhurst Theatre toward a November 9th opening. A limited six-month engagement has been announced.