‘Les Miserables’ back in LV for fourth time

Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2004 | 8:04 a.m.

It has been there more times than most Las Vegans.

The musical came to the Cashman in 1993 and '96 and will make its third journey to the venue north of downtown tonight for a six-day engagement that will include eight performances.

You might want to take a nap before coming to the theater -- the performances are three hours long.

This marks the fourth time that the road show has been in Vegas. In 2001 its engagements were at the Aladdin. A repeat performance on the Strip was not possible because of scheduling conflicts.

Based upon Victor Hugo's 19th century novel of the same name, "Les Miserables" is a saga that spans some 30 years of French history as we follow the travails of chief protagonist and one-time petty thief Jean Valjean, who is pursued for decades by self-righteous Inspector Javert.

The basic theme of the story is one of transformation. Individuals change, nations change and societies change.

"Les Miserables" is a familiar story.

Valjean, who spends 19 years on a chain gang for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his family, is paroled. He violates his parole, changes his name and over a period of years becomes a respectable citizen, only to be tracked down and hounded by Javert.

The musical has been performed before audiences totaling more than 51 million since its premiere in Paris in 1980. "Les Miserables" has won more than 50 major theatre awards worldwide.

The Broadway production, which debuted in 1987, won the Tony Award for Best Musical, and Best Musical honors from the New York Drama Critics Circle, the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle.

It is the longest-running musical both at the Palace Theatre and in the west end of London.

In 2002 the New York production overtook "A Chorus Line" to become the second-longest-running show in Broadway history. That record was eclipsed in February of this year by "Phantom of the Opera."

The Broadway production ended its 16-year run on May 18, 2003.

The musical at Cashman is part of the Las Vegas Broadway Series, which in the past had been held at the 7,000-seat Aladdin Theatre for Performing Arts.

The first production of the season, "Peter Pan," ended Oct. 24. Following "Les Miserables" will be "Contact" (Dec. 30-Jan. 1), "Jekyll & Hyde" (Feb. 8-13) and "The Graduate" (April 19-24).