John Owen-Jones as Jean Valjean
in Les Miserables
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The Broadway and London companies of
Les Miserables will swap Jean Valjeans this fall. John Owen-Jones, currently playing Valjean at the Queens Theatre in the West End, will make his Broadway debut in the role beginning 23 October at the Broadhurst Theatre. Drew Sarich, currently playing Valjean on Broadway, will make his West End debut in the London production on 22 October.
Owen-Jones, originally from South Wales, became the youngest actor, at 26, ever to play Valjean at the Palace Theatre. He recently returned to the London production for its record-breaking 21st anniversary year, also performing the role for a special concert version of the show for BBC Radio. Owen-Jones also ranks as the West End's longest running Phantom in
The Phantom of the Opera, having played the role for four years. His first solo CD,
Hallelujah, was recently released.
Sarich performed the role of Grantaire in the original cast of the current production, assuming the role of Valjean in July. Last season, he played Armand in the Broadway production of Lestat and co-starred off-Broadway in Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, In Berlin, Sarich created the role of Quasimodo in Disney's stage version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Other European credits include Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Hair, Jekyll & Hyde and Jesus Christ Superstar. His new band, International Victim, has just finished its debut album, I.V.