Les Miserables

Hey Guys!!! Im new to this site (& directing musicals for that matter!!) Recently at work we had a Kareoke/Talent night and i was quite surprised at the amount of talent Also one of my colleagues has been doing Grease around town & after an interesting discussion one night we decided it would be exciting to do an amateur performance for the company (We have 750 employees on site) I LOVE LES MISERABLES, so i put it forward and it will be considered as an option...... Now i need some help to find music (No Lyrics) and script(s) This is where you guys come in..... Any ideas???? Cheers!! And remember.... nathens23@hotmail.com To love another person is to see the face of God.

You have to obtain performing rights. They are available to amateurs at the moment I believe but I'm not sure who holds them. They will be expensive. The publisher will provide you with scores and scripts (librettos). I gather you wish to use backing tracks. You will need to find out if the publisher will allow that in a public performance. Some will not. Congratulations on your idea and I hope it works out for you. Life's too short to stuff a mushroom www.tonymoore.id.au

I had heard that amateur rights have been withdrawn in Oz for Les Mis. I could be wrong... Maybe because it was done so much last year (over exposure) for the 20th anniversary, maybe because there's a touring show about to get up soon? who knows. However, the advice above is correct. You will have to get performing rights for this one (not cheap). I think Hal Leonard has the Australasian rights. anyone got their address?! it is also a (really) big production- needs a large cast, crew and band to pull it off properly, and is expensive. that said, if you can get the rights, and can afford to do it properly, then it is a show that seems to sell itself. I was involved in a perth production last year that sold more than 11000 tix, and made over $100,000 for the MS Society who put it on. Good luck Nev It's the simple things stupid...

Performing rights for the show are held in Australia by Hal Leonard. There is no indication on the sute that the show is not available but that doesn't mean anything. Hal Leonard is http://halleonard.com.au Life's too short to stuff a mushroom www.tonymoore.id.au

Thanks a heap for this info guys, Seems i have a few hurdles to overcome but i think it will be worth it..... I work for the Hilton Hotel, so if i can convince our marketing dept. to get involved (Advertise the shows to guests and clients/charge a nominal fee) I think the free and unique advertising that will bring may make the cost worth it (Plus Hilton gets behind staff projects and the such all the time.......just not this big!!) The other thing is that it doesn't have to be Les Mis, I just really love it. If we decide on another, i may just pick your brains for performing right info! again, Cheers! To love another person is to see the face of God.

I know of at least three companies in Victoria which did Les Miz in the past couple of years and did not cover their expenses- got carried away and failed to market well and to know where to draw the line. Some of these losses were huge. I seriously suggest that noone considers doing this one as their first! It is a huge undertaking and I would want to know I could swim ok before I was thrown in the middle of the ocean of producing great musical theatre... especailly if you love the show so much (and who doesn't) -you want to do the best you can, surely. I am involved in a company that has produced the production three times in the past 10 years- 1995, 2000 & 2005, and covered it's costs (and lots of costs) with full houses- but it was huge and called on a lot of expertise and prior knowledge. BTW Hal Leonard are great and very supportive certianly easier to deal with than Tams in New York where they have no email and you pay up front for it all- in US dollars... Cheers Dez