In celebration of the new production, starring West End actor Ramin Karimloo as Jean Valjean, Andy Mientus as Marius, Samantha Hill as Cosette, Tony Award nominee Will Swenson as Javert, West End and Broadway actress Caissie Levy as Fantine, Tony Award winner Nikki M. James as Eponine, Kyle Scatliffe as Enjolras, Canadian actor Cliff Saunders as Thenardier and Tony Award nominee Keala Settle as Madame Thenardier, Playbill.com will look back at a selection of Les Miz leading players who came before.
This week we look at Les Misérables' Thénardier and Madame Thénardier.
Click through for a tour of actors and actresses who previously stood behind the barricades.
Alun Armstrong and Susan Jane Tanner originated the roles of the Thénardiers in the London production of
Les Misérables. Armstrong, who has been seen on Broadway in
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, received a 1985 Olivier Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical for
Les Misérables and reprised his performance at the Royal Albert Hall in October 1995. He also appeared in the 25th anniversary concert, though Matt Lucas performed the role of Thénardier. He is an Olivier Award winner for playing the title role in
Sweeney Todd. Tanner, who has been seen on Broadway in
All's Well That Ends Well, has also played Jellylorum in the original London version of
Cats and reprised that role in the 1998 video version.
Leo Burmester and
Jennifer Butt originated the roles of Thénardier and Madame Thénardier in the show's 1987 Broadway bow. Burmester has also been seen on Broadway in
Lone Star & Pvt. Wars, Big River, Raggedy Ann, Buried Child, The Civil War, Thou Shalt Not, Urban Cowboy and
Ah, Wilderness! Butt has also been seen on Broadway in
The Women.
Gary Beach and
Jenny Galloway played the roles of Thénardier and Madame Thénardier in the 2006 Broadway revival of
Les Misérables. Beach previously played the role of Thénardier in the Los Angeles production, and he also performed in the chorus for the 1989 "
Les Misérables: Complete Symphonic Recording." Galloway previously played Madame Thénardier alongside original London star Alun Armstrong in the 10th anniversary concert at the Royal Albert Hall. She reprised her performance in the 25th anniversary concert of
Les Misérables at the O2 arena in October 2010. Beach is a Tony winner for his performance in
The Producers and has been Tony-nominated for
La Cage aux Folles and
Beauty and the Beast. Galloway has also been seen on Broadway in
Mary Poppins.
Helena Bonham Carter and Sacha Baron Cohen played the Thénardiers in the star-studded film adaptation of
Les Misérables. Carter is a two-time Oscar nominee for her performances in "The King's Speech" and "The Wings of the Dove." She also played Mrs. Lovett in the film adaptation of
Sweeney Todd and is known for her performances in "Fight Club," "Alice in Wonderland" and the "Harry Potter" series. Cohen is an Oscar nominee for the Best Writing of "Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," in which he also starred. He is also known for his performances as Pirelli in the film adaptation of
Sweeney Todd, as well as
"Brüno," "The Dictator" and "Hugo."
Matt Lucas played Thénardier opposite Jenny Galloway in the 25th anniversary concert of
Les Misérables at the O2 Arena in London. A year later, he reprised the role at The Queen's Theatre in the West End. He is best known for his work with David Walliams in the television show "Little Britain" and for playing Tweedledee and Tweedledum in the 2010 film "Alice in Wonderland." His other credits include "Bridesmaids" and "Shaun of the Dead," among others.
Nick Wyman was a replacement for the role of Thénardier in the original Broadway production. He has also been seen on Broadway in
Grease, The Magic Show, Very Good Eddie, On the Twentieth Century, Whoopee!, My Fair Lady, Doubles, The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, The Phantom of the Opera, Sly Fox, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, A Tale of Two Cities and
Catch Me If You Can. Wyman is also the president of
Actors' Equity Association.
Chip Zien was a replacement for the role of Thénardier in the 2006 Broadway revival of
Les Miz. The actor is a two-time Drama Desk Award nominee for his performances in
Isn't It Romantic and
A New Brain. His other Broadway credits include
Ride the Winds, All Over Town, The Suicide, Into the Woods, Grand Hotel, Falsettos, The Boys from Syracuse, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Country Girl, The People in the Picture and
The Big Knife.
Ann Harada, who currently stars as Charlotte in Broadway's
Cinderella, was a replacement for the role of Madame Thénardier in the 2006 revival of
Les Miz. She has also been seen on Broadway in
M. Butterfly, Seussical, Avenue Q and
9 to 5. Harada also played Linda the stage manager on the NBC musical drama "Smash."
Betsy Joslyn was a replacement for the role of Madame Thénardier in the original Broadway production of
Les Misérables. Her other Broadway credits include
Sweeney Todd, A Doll's House, Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods, A Few Good Men, The Goodbye Girl and
High Society.
Fuschia Walker played the role of Madame Thénardier in the original Broadway production from March 1997-July 2000. Walker has also been seen on Broadway in
Dreamgirls, Once on This Island and
Juan Darien.
