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CNN Live Sunday
'Les Miserables' Ends Its Broadway Run
Aired May 18, 2003 - 18:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The longest running play on Broadway ends tonight, and Jamie Colby is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With all the glitz and glamour of opening night, "Le Miz" is actually say au revoir.
RANDALL KEITH, "JEAN VALJEAN": A lot of people have been doing this for years and it's really a part of all our lives and we're a family and it's now just kind of dispersing, so it will be an adjustment.
COLBY: The show based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name premiered in Paris, moved to Broadway, and has stood the test of time, 16 years and some $400 million in ticket sales. It's the second longest running production in Broadway history.
CHRISTOPHER MARK PETERSON, "ENJOLRAS": I'm happy that I have one of the most famous songs, you know the people song. I get to start the anthem of the show, you know, "Do you hear the people sing" you know. That's going to be pretty exciting.
COLBY: When the final curtain goes down for Diana Kaarina who plays Eponine, another will rise. She's already booked to join the national tour of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."
DIANE KAARINA, EPONINE: I'm so thrilled that I was part of this and to be the last Eponine, it's kind of, kind of again overwhelming to me to think that years down the road I'll be the answer to a trivia question.
COLBY: The performance's unprecedented success in a business where one bad review can close a show almost immediately has launched many careers, kept other actors steadily employed, and greatly improved Christopher Mark Peterson's personal life.
PETERSON: I met my wife doing "Les Miserables." I paid off many, many credit card bills doing "Les Miserables." I moved to New York with "Les Miserables."
COLBY: And on its 6,680th performance, being called its mega finale, 300 alumni cast members and the show's legendary producer, Cameron MacKintosh joins the final goodbye recognizing their roles in theatrical history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLBY: And it's been seen by 50 million people and it's not the end of "Les Miz." Although it will close on Broadway, it will continue to tour. It's been seen in 38 countries in 21 different languages and if you need a fix you can always rent the movie version. In 1998, Liam Neeson, Claire Daines, and Uma Thurman brought "Les Miz" to life -- Heidi.
COLLINS: I actually have it. You know, Jamie, I think I'm a little obsessed with this whole production. But I am curious, what do you think it is that keeps people coming back? What are they saying there?
COLBY: Well, certainly the performances, the actors, because a lot of them came tonight and they're still loved by the fans who came to see them, the actors from prior performances. But also, even Rosie O'Donnell who is here who we know is a huge Broadway fan. She said it's the writing. It's a beautiful story very well told -- Heidi.
COLLINS: That's for sure and you got to see it all. Jamie Colby thanks so much, live from Broadway tonight.
COLBY: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired May 18, 2003 - 18:51 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The longest running play on Broadway ends tonight, and Jamie Colby is there.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): With all the glitz and glamour of opening night, "Le Miz" is actually say au revoir.
RANDALL KEITH, "JEAN VALJEAN": A lot of people have been doing this for years and it's really a part of all our lives and we're a family and it's now just kind of dispersing, so it will be an adjustment.
COLBY: The show based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same name premiered in Paris, moved to Broadway, and has stood the test of time, 16 years and some $400 million in ticket sales. It's the second longest running production in Broadway history.
CHRISTOPHER MARK PETERSON, "ENJOLRAS": I'm happy that I have one of the most famous songs, you know the people song. I get to start the anthem of the show, you know, "Do you hear the people sing" you know. That's going to be pretty exciting.
COLBY: When the final curtain goes down for Diana Kaarina who plays Eponine, another will rise. She's already booked to join the national tour of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."
DIANE KAARINA, EPONINE: I'm so thrilled that I was part of this and to be the last Eponine, it's kind of, kind of again overwhelming to me to think that years down the road I'll be the answer to a trivia question.
COLBY: The performance's unprecedented success in a business where one bad review can close a show almost immediately has launched many careers, kept other actors steadily employed, and greatly improved Christopher Mark Peterson's personal life.
PETERSON: I met my wife doing "Les Miserables." I paid off many, many credit card bills doing "Les Miserables." I moved to New York with "Les Miserables."
COLBY: And on its 6,680th performance, being called its mega finale, 300 alumni cast members and the show's legendary producer, Cameron MacKintosh joins the final goodbye recognizing their roles in theatrical history.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COLBY: And it's been seen by 50 million people and it's not the end of "Les Miz." Although it will close on Broadway, it will continue to tour. It's been seen in 38 countries in 21 different languages and if you need a fix you can always rent the movie version. In 1998, Liam Neeson, Claire Daines, and Uma Thurman brought "Les Miz" to life -- Heidi.
COLLINS: I actually have it. You know, Jamie, I think I'm a little obsessed with this whole production. But I am curious, what do you think it is that keeps people coming back? What are they saying there?
COLBY: Well, certainly the performances, the actors, because a lot of them came tonight and they're still loved by the fans who came to see them, the actors from prior performances. But also, even Rosie O'Donnell who is here who we know is a huge Broadway fan. She said it's the writing. It's a beautiful story very well told -- Heidi.
COLLINS: That's for sure and you got to see it all. Jamie Colby thanks so much, live from Broadway tonight.
COLBY: Sure.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
