The stage isn't the only thing that revolves in the national touring production of "Les Miserables." There's a revolving door, too . . . for frequent changes in the ensemble.
Young Salt Laker Jenell Brook Slack, who's been playing both Young Cossette and Young Eponine in the blockbuster hit, has been asked to join the long-running Broadway company from Dec. 16 through Jan. 12 . . . permitting Broadway's current Young Cossette, Alexis Kalehoff, to perform for her "hometown" audiences during the touring company's gig in Philadelphia.Also, little Kalehoff will be joined on the turntable stage by her famous mother, Andrea McArdle, who shot to fame in the title role of "Annie" when that show premiered in 1977. McArdle will be playing the older Eponine, a role she has also played previously in the Broadway "Les Miz" company. And joining them will be yet another prominent Philadelphia-born actress, Laurie Beechman, who not only made her Broadway debut in "Annie," but also went on to perform in "Cats" and "Les Miz," among others. Beechman will be playing Fantine.
Meanwhile, the national touring company of "Les Miserables," also featuring such Utah talent as Kurk Davidson and Holly Jo Crane, just returned from a four-week engagement in Honolulu (the show's huge array of props and costumes were flown directly from Salt Lake City to Hawaii on a chartered DC-747). Another Utahn, Robyn Thompson Scribner, has left the company to resume studying at Brigham Young University.
The December-January dates mark the fifth time "Les Miz" has played Philadelphia. Publicist Janine Fawcett said there's no word on when it will return to Salt Lake.
- WINNERS: The Saltines Show Chorus garnered a first place award at the Rocky Mountain District Convention of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America in Greeley, Colo., Sept. 27-28.
They weren't the only Utah warblers to bring home the gold from this convention that will send representatives to the international convention's chorus competition next summer in Indianapolis. One of Utah's chapter quartet's, SpellBound!, won the district quartet championship. Also winning for the chapter in the seniors quartet competition was Bamberger Express, a quartet composed of Robert Bergener, Arlin Kuhni, Richard Barker and Richard Daily.
John Sasine, who conducted the Saltaires Show Chorus to its first place win, is lead in Nightlife, this year's international champion quartet.
- CHANGES AT TUACAHN: In order to pursue personal interests and take more time to work on creating new projects, Doug Stewart, founder and executive director of the Heritage Arts Foundation and the Tuacahn Center for the Arts in Ivins, west of St. George, has resigned from his management positions.
Stewart told the Deseret News that he wants to get away from the administrative end of things and move into a more creative role.
"I will continue to work at Tuacahn and help to fulfill its mission," he said.
Stewart is working to establish a separate entity for creating and mounting musicals (including "Utah!") and is finalizing negotiations on a lease agreement for the amphitheater facility.
Stewart's resignation was announced by Richard H. Headlee, chief executive officer for the foundation and the arts complex.
- REMEMBER the fellow who played the title role in the 16-week engagement of "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Capitol Theatre?
Timohy James O'Leary is leaving the national touring company for Broadway, where he'll take over for Davis Gaines on Saturday. Gaines is leaving the Broadway cast to star in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical, "Whisper Down the Wind."
O'Leary, in his program "bio" notes for "Phantom," dedicated his performance to a longtime close friend, the late Nephi Jay Wimmer of Utah County, who had performed with him in the original cast of "Miss Saigon" on Brodway.