In a surprise move, John Caird, the co-director of "Les Miserables," informed the musical's cast that it would be replaced in late January by a new company. The sweeping change, unheard-of for a Broadway production, was announced by Caird to the 37 actors after Sunday's matinee. The new cast will give its first performance on March 12, the 10th anniversary of the musical's opening night on Broadway.
Caird said that he and Trevor Nunn, his co-director, together with Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of "Les Miserables," had decided to assemble a new cast as a way to mark the show's 10th anniversary and to freshen up a production that they regarded as tired. A press release issued Monday by Mackintosh celebrated the creation of a 10th anniversary production without referring to any dismissals."It's a tricky problem," said Caird, speaking by telephone from Toronto, where he is overseeing rehearsals for the musical version of "Jane Eyre." "Long-run-itis is a relatively new thing, these shows that run forever and ever. It's important that they do not turn into Madame Tussaud's."
Alan Eisenberg, the executive secretary of Actors Equity, called the move "unprecedented and very distressing." He said that Actors Equity officials were looking at the specifics of the plan for replacing actors and would consult with the organization's lawyers to see if the proposed changes are in violation of Actors Equity contracts.
Cast members were given two letters, one signed by Caird and the other by Mackintosh, after Caird's announcement. The letters thanked them for their work and explained where they fit in, if at all, into the refreshed version of the show. Twelve members were told that they would not be invited back, nine were asked to return, and another nine were invited to audition for parts. The names of actors in each category were not made public. The five children in the musical are not affected by any changes, and two parts are currently open. Only one performer in a prominent role was invited back, but neither Caird nor Eisenberg would identify the performer.
Only three roles in the musical, those of Jean Valjean, Inspector Javert and Fantine, merit what is known as a principal contract. The rest of the actors are performing under chorus contracts, because they play multiple parts. "Under a chorus contract you cannot be terminated except for just cause, otherwise there is a payment pen-al-ty," Eisenberg said. "One surmises that they are simply going to pay. There is no right to return to the job."
Under the Equity chorus contract, a performer dismissed without cause is entitled to a payment of up to 15 weeks' salary, depending on length of service, with the maximum weekly salary capped at $1,150. The maximum penalty therefore is $17,250. A spokesman for the musical said that dismissed performers were being offered the maximum plus 50 percent.
Principal contracts are renewed, or not, as they expire and therefore are not at issue in the current situation. All three principal roles in "Les Miz" will soon be up for renewal. Currently, Jean Valjean is played by Ivan Rutherford, Javert by Christopher Innvar and Fantine by Florence Lacey.
In the 10 years since it opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theater, "Les Miserables" has established itself as a money machine and a powerful magnet for tourists. It has been seen by nearly 6 million people and taken in more than $250 million at the box office. Actors in the three principal roles have come and gone, but the musical carries on, a juggernaut with no need of box-office names to draw audiences.
On Jan. 26, the current company will give its final performance. Two days later, the musical's national touring company will take over until March 1. Auditions for the new "Les Miz" will take place in the next several weeks, with casting changes to be announced later in the fall.
"I think this sort of thing is going to become increasingly necessary," said Caird. "It is in no way a comment on the skills and passions of those involved. Without exception, they are people I would like to work with on other shows."