Les Misérables Coming to the Tennessee Theatre Stage

By Jeaneane Payne

The third longest running show in Broadway history is taking the stage at the Tennessee Theatre. Les Misérables will fulfill the Tennessee Theatre board's vision of bringing high-quality entertainment and large productions to the Knoxville area with its state-of-the-art performing arts center. On January 11, 2012, the musical will make the board's vision a reality.

Les Misérables will run from January 11-15 in Knoxville.

There are approximately 101 cast and crew directly involved in every performance, not including front of house staff, and the huge back-up services including ticket sales, wardrobe, staff, set contractors, maintenance, office staff, advertising and publicity.

It will take 16 hours to unload nine semi-trailers carrying more than 55,000 pounds of scenery, 5,000 costume pieces, 5,000 props and 350 stage lights. The production will employ more than 80 local stage hands to help with the loading and unloading. The 25th anniversary touring production of Les Misérables is by far the largest production to come to the Tennessee Theatre. An adaption of the world's longest-running musical, the new production features expanded new staging and spectacularly re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo.

"As we began to plan the entertainment this season, we decided that we wanted to present a production that would create wide interest over its eight-day run and showcase what the theatre is now capable of," Mark Mamantov, chairman of the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation board, said. "Before the reopening in 2005, we could not have dreamed of hosting a large-scale production like Les Misérables. This musical will demonstrate to those who generously supported the restoration and those who see it what the theatre can now present."

Based on the Victor Hugo novel set in 1800s France, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. The magnificent score of Les Misérables includes the classic songs "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Stars," "Bring Him Home," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "One Day More," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Master Of The House," and many more.

Les Misérables has been translated into 21 different languages. Productions have played in 41 countries and 291 cities. The production has played over 43,000 professional performances worldwide giving a total audience figure of more than 55 million people.

Tickets are available online for the Jan. 11-15 run at tennesseetheatre.com or call the Tennessee Theatre box office at (865) 684-1200.

Published December 23, 2011