Les Misérables, the inspiring and an unforgettable musical comes to the Eccles Theater in Salt Lake City. The show is an adaptation of the 1862 novel by Victor Hugo, by the same name, and is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, having been jailed and served his time for stealing a meager loaf of bread, is now seeking redemption. Released from prison in 1815 after nineteen years in jail, the story tells of his compassion for a single mother and her daughter trying to make ends meet in hostile revolutionary Paris. The story continues and draws in characters and scenes of love and hate, of injustice and the need for vengeful justice, and ends in death and in love. This multi-award winning musical will have you glued to your seat all the way to the end, whether you have read the book or even seen the musical before!
“One of the greatest musicals ever created.” – Chicago Tribune
“A REBORN DREAM OF A PRODUCTION” – Daily Telegraph
“Les Mis for the 21st Century.” – The Huffington Post
Jean Valjean decides to break his parole and start a new life, after a bishop inspires him with a tremendous act of mercy, but a police inspector, Javert, for most of the play, refuses to let him escape justice and pursues him. Eight years later, Jean Valjean has assumed a new identity as Monsieur Madeleine, a wealthy factory owner and mayor of Montreuil-sur-Mer. Fantine is a single mother, working in his factory, trying to support her daughter Cosette. The factory foreman lusts after Fantine, and when she rejects his advances, he takes it out on the other workers. There is an incident in the factory, and the foreman and other workers use the incident to fire Fantine. Soon afterwards, Valjean is seen, by Javert, lifting and rescuing a man pinned down by a runaway cart. He becomes suspicious, remembering the incredible strength Valjean displayed in the work camp. Fantine is ill and is hospitalized, and when Valjean visits her, promises to find Cosette and protect her. Javert and Valjean meet when Javert accuses Valjean of being a wanted convict. In the struggle, Valjean overpowers Javert and escapes.
Nine years later, Paris is in upheaval on the eve of the 1832 Paris Uprising, Valjean prepares to go into exile. At a small café, a disillusioned student, Enjolras, exhorts a group of likeminded idealistic students to prepare for revolution. The students build a barricade to serve as their rally point. The students plan to spark a general uprising, and with their act of defiance, hope that all the people of Paris will side with them. But the army intervenes, and gives them a final warning to disperse, but the rebels fight to the last man. Everyone at the barricade is killed except Valjean, and a gravely wounded Marius. Both men escape into the sewers, and when Valjean carrying Marius reaches the sewer’s exit, he finds Javert waiting for him. Finding himself torn between his beliefs about God and his desire to adhere to the law, Javert commits suicide.
Days later, Marius wonders who saved his own life, Cosette confronts him, and they reaffirm their blossoming romance. Valjean realizes that Cosette will not need him as a caretaker once she is married and gives them his blessing. Valjean confesses to Marius that he is an escaped convict and must go away because his presence endangers Cosette. He makes Marius promise never to tell Cosette. A few months later, Marius and Cosette marry. At a convent, Valjean, now an old man, awaits his death, having nothing left to live for. Cosette and Marius arrive to find Valjean near death. Valjean thanks God for letting him live long enough to see Cosette again, and Marius thanks him for saving his life. Valjean gives Cosette a letter confessing his troubled past and the truth about her mother.
The original French musical premiered in Paris in 1980. This English-language adaptation by producer Cameron Mackintosh has been running in London since October 1985, making it the longest-running musical in the West End and the second longest-running musical in the world after the original Off-Broadway run of The Fantasticks. Critical reviews for Les Misérables were initially negative, with the opening of the London production, The Sunday Telegraph’s Francis King described the musical as “a lurid Victorian melodrama.” But public opinion differed, and the box office received record orders. The original London production ran from October 1985 to July 2019, playing over 13,000 performances. The Broadway production opened 12 March 1987 and ran until 18 May 2003, closing after 6,680 performances. The Broadway production was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, of which it won eight, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
