Les Miserables at Kennedy Center Opera House

Ever since its pre-Broadway run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in 1986, Les Misérables has transformed the world of musical theater. Now, Cameron Mackintosh’s esteemed show of Boublil & Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning spectacle is returning to the Opera House after its sold-out season in 2023. Set against the backdrop of nineteenth century France, the musical tells the thrilling story of broken dreams, unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption. At its core, Les Misérables is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Seen and loved by more than 130 million spectators around the world in a whopping 53 countries, 438 cities, and 22 languages, Les Misérables is undoubtedly one of the world’s most popular musicals. And now, you get the chance to watch it live, up close and personal. Book your tickets today!

Les Miserables Tickets

“The show remains a thrilling triumph” – London Theatre

Kennedy Center Opera House

Kennedy Center Opera House is the ultimate live performance venue to experience the enduring spirit of Les Misérables. Much like this world renowned musical, the Opera House sees thousands of spectators every season. Adored across the continent as Washington’s top venue, Kennedy Center Opera House provides the perfect setting for critically revered musicals like Les Misérables. Equipped with all the sparkling effects that you would expect from Broadway’s greatest spectacles, the venue is a match made in heaven for a production as stunning as Matt Kinley’s Les Misérables set design. Running from 11 June – 13 July 2025, the show is expected to be the showstopper for Washington’s summer entertainment season.

Synopsis

Everyone’s favorite Tony Award-winning musical that first ran on Broadway for 16 incredible years is back with a fresh, young cast moving patrons to tears all over again! The story begins in 1815 as Jean Valjean, a man sentenced to 19 years of hard labor for stealing a loaf of bread to feed his loved ones, is met with only hatred and suspicion when he is set free on parole. Meeting a man who believes him, Jean Valjean breaks his parole to start a new life. The tale truly starts as Jean Valjean crosses the landscape of early nineteenth century France, constantly pursued by the upstanding police inspector Javert. From his adoption and love of the orphan Cosette right through to the darkly funny plots of the thieving Thenardiers, and from the soaring revolutionary fire of the student rebels who battle on the barricade in the streets of Paris right through to the final fight between Jean Valjean and Javert, the epic tale of Les Misérables is one of love, courage and redemption. The smash hit musical features the classic songs “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “Do You Hear The People Sing?,” “One Day More,” “Master of the House,” and more!

Creative Team

Nick Cartell will assume the role of fugitive Jean Valjean, a character he has played and perfected more than a whopping 1,200 times on tour. From October 1, Nick Cartell will be joined by Nick Rehberger (from Patriots) as Inspector Javert, Lindsay Heather Pearce as Fantine, Matt Crowle as Thénardier, Victoria Huston-Elem as Madame Thénardier, Christian Mark Gibbs as Enjolras, Mya Rena Hunter as Éponine, Jake David Smith as Marius, and Delaney Guyer as Cosette. Emerson Mae Chan and Greta Schaefer alternate in the part of Little Cosette/Young Éponine, while Jackson Parker Gill and Jack Jewkes alternate in the part of Gavroche.

The talented ensemble includes Kyle Adams, Ashley Alexandra, Jeremiah Alsop, David Andino, Daniel Gerard Bittner, Jenna Burns, Ben Cherington, Steve Czarnecki, Arianne DiCerbo, Emily Fink, Nicole Fragala, Audrey Hoffman, Randy Jeter, Danny Martin, Mikako Martin, Eden Mau, Andrew Marks Maughan, Paige McNamara, Ashley Dawn Mortensen, Tim Quartier, Juliette Redden, Matt Rosell, Christopher Robin Sapp, Kaitlyn Sumner, Kyle Timson, David T. Walker, J.T. Wood, and Jonathan Young.

The show contains music by Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer and original French text by Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel, additional material by James Fenton and adaptation by Trevor Nunn and John Caird. Orchestrations are conducted by Stephen Metcalfe, Christopher Jahnke and Stephen Brooker, with original orchestrations by John Cameron.

The production is helmed by director James Powell and Laurence Connor, designed by Matt Kinley with costumes by Andreane Neofitou. It boasts additional costume designs by Christine Rowland and Paul Wills, lighting by Paule Constable, sound by Mick Potter, projections realized by Finn Ross, Jonathon Lyle and Fifty-Nine Productions, musical staging by Geoffrey Garratt, music supervision by Stephen Brooker and James Moore, as well as casting by Tara Rubin Casting. The associate director is Corey Agnew, musical staging associate is Jesse Robb, resident director is Brendan Stackhouse and music direction is by Will Curry.

“Matt Kinley’s set packs in more scenery than the French Alps” – Daily Mail

History and Awards

Les Misérables is an incredibly popular musical with a number of awards. The smash hit musical has won eight Tony Awards, five Drama Desk Awards, and a Grammy for the documentary Stage by Stage. It even clinched Tony Awards for Best Musical and Best Original Score. The Broadway production ran for 6,680 incredible performances from 1987 until 2003, making it the third longest-running musical in the history of Broadway. Along the way, two Broadway revivals hit the stage, one from 2006 to 2008 and another from 2014 to 2016.

“‘Les Misérables’ offers stellar displays and impassioned vocals” – Daily Brun

Reviews

“If I had to summarize my experience as Les Miserables and my thoughts of the show, it would be with a simple word, which is phenomenal. From the talent, to the stage, to the costumes and songs, everything was picture perfect and it made for a completely mesmerizing experience.” – The Caldron 

“Matt Kinley’s nimble set transforms from bustling life to aching loneliness in an instant and features looming projections, based on paintings by Victor Hugo (whose epic novel inspired the show). They’re beautiful and haunting vistas, which offer the impression of 19th-century Paris but also might be anytime, anywhere. Paule Constable’s lighting dances elegantly about the set, creating a series of prison walls that entrap the characters and, just occasionally, offer up a fleeting glimpse of warmth and hope.” – The Guardian

“With a cast that never misses a note, the West End’s longest-running musical proves a haunting and thrilling inspiration” – The Guardian

“Carries that unmistakable epic quality which offers very real opportunities for total escapism” – Always Time For Theatre