CAMERON MACKINTOSH'S PRODUCTION OF MISÉRABLES CELEBRATES ITS 2,000th PERFORMANCE ON BROADWAY THURSDAY, MARCH 5 AND ITS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY

February 12, 1992- Cameron Mackintosh's production of the Alain Boublil/Claude-Michel Schonberg musical, Les Misérables, will celebrate its 2,000th performance on Broadway Thursday, March 5 at the Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). A week later, on Thursday, March 12, the Tony Award-winning musical will mark its Fifth Anniversary and begin its sixth year on Broadway.

Les Misérables originally opened at the Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987, following its U.S. premiere engagement at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington D.C. The show moved to the Imperial Theatre in October, 1990 to make way for the Cameron Mackintosh production of Miss Saigon.

On Broadway, Les Misérables has been seen by over 3.2 million people for a total gross exceeding $135 million. In the United States, Les Misérables has been seen by over 11 million people for a total gross of over $400 million. Worldwide, Les Misérables has been seen by over 22 million people, for a total worldwide gross of over $750 million, the second highest figure of all time (Cats, which opened in 1981, is currently the highest of all time).

Internationally, there have been 25 productions of Les Misérables, in 12 different languages, in 16 countries: The United Kingdom, The United States, Japan, Israel, Hungary, Australia, Iceland, Norway, Austria, Canada, Poland, Sweden, Holland, Denmark, New Zealand, and France. Les Misérables has been performed in 105 cities across the world.

There have been 24 recordings of Les Misérables, including the Grammy Award-winning original Broadway cast album, which recently went Platinum (over 1 million albums), the London cast recording which has sold 1.3 million albums, and the Grammy Award-winning Complete Symphonic Recording.

Les Misérables has won 31 major awards internationally, including the 1987 Tony Award for Best Musical, and Best Musical honors from the New York Drama Critics Circle, The Drama Desk and The Outer Critics Circle.

The film version of Les Misérables will be produced by Tri-Star Pictures and Cameron Mackintosh and will be directed by Bruce Beresford ("Driving Miss Daisy," "Breaker Morant"). Production is scheduled to begin in early 1993.

Les Misérables was written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg. Adapted from the original French text by Herbert Kretzmer, with additional material by James Fenton, Les Misérables was adapted and directed by Trevor Nunn and John Caird, the team responsible for the triumphant Royal Shakespeare Company production of "The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby."

Les Misérables was designed by John Napier (sets), Andreane Neofitou (costumes) David Hersey (lighting), and Andrew Bruce (sound), the team collectively responsible for such musical successes as Cats, Nicholas Nickleby, Starlight Express and Miss Saigon.

Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel, Les Misérables is an epic saga that sweeps through three turbulent decades of 19th century French history. The show is also the story of one man, the fugitive Jean Valjean, who is pitted against the cruel and self-righteous Inspector Javert, in a lifelong struggle to evade capture.

Originally presented as a double LP pop opera recording, Les Misérables sold 250,000 copies in France alone, while one single from the album went on to sell 500,000 records. Les Misérables was subsequently staged as an arena attraction at Paris' Palais des Sports in the fall of 1980, where it was a critical and popular success.

The English language premiere of Les Misérables was presented by Cameron Mackintosh and The Royal Shakespeare Company at The Barbican Theatre in October of 1985. Following a record-breaking engagement at The Barbican, Les Misérables transferred to the West End's Palace Theatre, where it continues strongly today.

The Broadway production of Les Misérables currently features Mark McKerracher as Jean Valjean, Richard Kinsey as Javert, Susan Dawn Carson as Fantine, John Leone as Marius, Melissa Anne Davis as Cosette, Ed Dixon as Thenardier, Evalyn Baron as Madame Thenardier, Joseph Kolinski as Enjolras, and international recording star Debbie Gibson as Eponine. Ms. Gibson will perform in the Broadway company of Les Misérables through March 29. After that, she will appear in the London production of the musical for a limited engagement.

On Sunday, March 15, the cast and crew of Les Misérables will celebrate the 2,000th performance milestone and the Fifth Anniversary by skating in a sixth year with a party at the Rockefeller Center skating rink and the adjoining American Festival Cafe.