Les Miserables to open tonight

Since setting attendance records in 1989, the IU Auditorium's most requested show will return with revolutionary glory Tuesday night for eight shows.\n"Les Miserables" has been seen by more than 40 million people worldwide and continues to set records and win awards 15 years after its debut in London. It is the longest running show in Broadway history. \nAdapted from a novel by Victor Hugo, "Les Miserables" is about the fugitive Jean Valjean, whose tale spans decades. Valjean battles to escape the vengeance of Inspector Javert, who holds a grudge against his former prisoner.\nPossessed with the spirit of the French Revolution, the writers weave a tale of the life of neglected Cosette when Valjean buys her from the cruel family with whom she boards.\n"It really is an emotional saga," said Auditorium assistant general manager Doug Booher, who was partly responsible for bringing "Les Miserables" to IU. "Few people can leave being untouched."\nThis is part of the reason the Auditorium spent $575,000 to bring the Broadway tour to town. Ticket sales have already made "Les Miserables" the second-largest grossing show in Auditorium history, with tickets selling for $25-$55. This show ranks below only the 1989 production. And only 2,000 of the 3,200 seats are filled for opening night, with tickets also available for all other shows.\nUnion and University stagehands were brought in to help the 28 traveling crew members of "Les Miserables." From lights to the 10,000 pound turntable, set construction takes 15 hours and began Monday afternoon.\nAuditorium staff is concerned only with "Les Miserables" this week, said Auditorium general manager Bryan Rives.\nProduction stage manager Andre Barette will direct the IU performances.\n"Les Miserables" is on the road 52 weeks of the year, Barette said, and most say that requires stamina and love to stay with it. Cast members regularly flow in and out of the production, with the average member staying about two years.\nActress Thursday Farra joins the "Les Miserables" team tonight, making her debut as Fantine, the destitute mother of Cosette. With theater, film and television experience behind her, Farra is by no means an amateur. She completed a full dress rehearsal with the rest of the cast last week in Ohio, where the cast received a standing ovation every night.\n"The ability to get to see our new Fantine is very exciting," Barrette said. "What I look forward to is the audience not knowing that anything unusual is going on."\nAlong with the debut of Farra, audience members will be seeing the Broadway-style "Les Miserables" set in its entirety -- something producer Cameron Mackintosh requires at every stop along the tour. This includes 1,000 costume pieces, 6 tons of barricades and 422 lighting instruments.\nBarette said one of the unique aspects of traveling with a Broadway production is the opportunity to have the energy of an opening night almost every week. Tonight will be that night.\nTickets for all showings of "Les Miserables" are still available from the Auditorium Box Office and TicketMaster. Prices range from $25 to $55, not including an available $10 student discount.