A couple of misconceptions need to be cleared up concerning Pioneer Theatre Company's historic production of Alain Bolublil and Claude-Michel Shonberg's "Les Miserables."
First of all, this is not a touring production. PTC is the first regional company in the United States to be officially licensed by London-based producer Cameron Mackintosh to stage its own production.
One recent caller also wondered if, because ticket prices are lower during the week than on weekends, maybe there is a less-experienced cast on weekdays. The same cast will be performing every night — except for the possibility of an occasional understudy. (It's common practice for theaters to hike the prices a bit on weekends.)
PTC Artistic Director Charles Morey is directing the epic musical, with guest artist Karen Azenberg providing the "musical staging" (directing the choreographed segments).
This all-new local production has been setting records for the Salt Lake City-based company. Even before this week's opening night, the production was already extended by six additional weeks. "It's not as if we're just extending on hope," said Morey. "We don't extend the show until the previous week is 90 percent sold out.
"Four other regional companies obtained the rights to produce 'Les Miserables' over the next year and the producers have been very selective on who they let do the project. It's a great honor and privilege to be the first (in the United States)."
Morey said he's been getting calls from colleagues across the country. "'How did you get the rights?' 'Can you help us get the rights?' 'Do you have any pull?' And, of course, I have no 'pull' whatsoever."
Many of the leading performers for this production have experience in Broadway and touring productions of the show, which means that "in addition to being probably the most expensive production Pioneer Theatre Company has ever done, we have more Equity contracts than we've ever had before, and more out-of-town contracts."
William Solo, who is playing Jean Valjean, was understudy to Colm Wilkinson in 1987, then starred in the role himself from 1989-91. He also performed in all three national touring companies of the show and has also been featured in the touring editions of "Phantom of the Opera," "Sunset Boulevard" and "Camelot."
Valjean's relentless foe, Inspector Javert, will be played by Merwin Foard, who had the same role on Broadway and was also seen in the recent Broadway revival of "Sweeney Todd."
Kirsten Wyatt, last seen at PTC in the title role of "Peter Pan," will play Eponine. Her boisterous parents, innkeepers Monsieur and Madame Thenardier, will be played by local favorite Max Robinson and guest artist Adinah Alexander.
New York actress Trista Moldovan has the role of Cosette, with Gregg Goodbrod — who performed the Beast in both of PTC's productions of "The Beauty and the Beast" — as the heroic Marius.
"This is going to be a terrific show," said Morey. "We have a really fabulous company right on down the line. We've spared no expense. It will probably cost about $125,000 a week to run it and that adds up to a lot of money. The total cost of the show, including the running costs, is approaching $1.7 million."
Technically, PTC's production will not be a replica of the Broadway and touring productions. There will be a revolving platform, which is the concept the original show was built around, and it's an effective way of moving scenes — but Morey said the setting here is in many ways quite different. "We had to submit the resumes of our entire design team and the scenery and costume renderings to Cameron Mackintosh for his approval.
"Some of the theaters that acquired rights to the production did not have their directors approved. But this has been an exciting — and exhausting — process. We added an extra week to the normal rehearsal time."
Morey explained that most musicals break down into "book scenes" and "musical scenes," but his work with Karen Azenberg has been "a much more collaborative effort. She's been staging the traditional musical numbers like 'Lovely Ladies' and 'Master of the House,' and I've been concentrating on the big battle scenes. But sometimes we trade off and she'll take a two- or three-person scene that I've already worked on, while I focus on something else."
George Maxwell, PTC's longtime resident scenery designer, says technology has now caught up with "Les Miserables."
"This was a production that was originally built in the 1980s and there are a few newer things we can do now. We just didn't want to copy the New York production, and we haven't.
"We started talking about this last summer, after which I went away and did a lot of research. I looked at what had been done (with 'Les Miserables') in the past and where we could go from there. We have a really strong team with some of the best technicians in the West working here already, and we've augmented that."
Maxwell said he and his designers have "built, bought and found" props and materials for the production's expansive array of scenery. "We have a huge stockpile, and we've pulled tons of stuff out of our warehouse, plus we've found some items in junk piles."
He said that when the rights were first being offered to Pioneer Theatre Company, "they asked us if we wanted the show for six months or a year."
PTC's closing musical each season traditionally is scheduled for two and one-half weeks, but for "Les Miserables," the company allowed itself a safety net of being able to extend the show as long as possible into the summer.
Over the past few months, both Morey and PTC Managing Director Chris Lino have commented on the company's amazing, record-breaking 2006-07 season, which has also generated considerable talk among other regional companies across the nation.
PTC opened its season with "Chicago" — another major Broadway hit that was a major coup for Pioneer. With both "Chicago" and "Les Miserables" on the line-up, the company saw subscription ticket sales double over the previous season — a feat unheard of anywhere in the country.
Because of the huge influx in season tickets, other productions during the season were also close to being sold out.
E-mail: ivan@desnews.com