Les Misérables 1987 Tony Awards

Les Misérables 1987 Tony Awards

[@artteachernc9119]

Saw this cast that summer in '87, cried like a baby, bought the album, went to grad school the next fall, met a boy who loved the music and sang along with me, fell in love with the boy, we got married a year later, had 3 boys, and took them (as young men now) to see the production right before the pandemic. Still crying! Edit: just celebrated our 32nd anniversary!

[@sean_lucas_]

@DeathToMason's Uhhh, there is, and was 6 months ago.

[@andijs2000]

What a fab story! I didn't get to see LM until 19 years into its UK run (long story!), Suffice to say I've been seven times since over last 17 years. Would go see it every week if I could.

[@caleb1413]

I’m jealous!

[@jossrobbie3]

This just brought a tear to my eye

[@nsloane5384]

Your experience was/is wonderful🙂🙂. I saw this show 4 times over ten years or so. First time, I SOBBED as I watched the show. Saw it 2 more times on the road. Took my 17 yr old son to see it on Broadway. Yes, I'm a fanatic about this show. I know every word of the songs. I listened to it on cassette tapes; now on Spotify!

[@miuzikku]

I still think it's hilarious that Michael Maguire played Enjolras, won a Tony for it, and then just peaced out from theater and is now a lawyer

[@Ayyeliki]

Whaaaaat?! Lawyer? 🥴🥴🥴

[@OregonRailfan83]

Yep! He was touring for a few years, but gave it up and got his law degree and is practicing family law in LA. Good man!

[@rebeccashapiro7924]

Amazing

[@somerandomguy84]

@@OregonRailfan83 Reminds me of NFL ref Ed Hochuli haha

[@Nel-gr8cv]

That’s actually very in-character of him

[@mariposa8430]

I love how they brought back Colm Wilkinson to play the bishop when they made the Les Mis movie. I thought that was a perfect way to reference the productions that came before the movie.

[@dkblack3461]

Oh, I just loved that too! And when he comes back at the end to bring Valjean to heaven - I just about lost it. What a wonderful way to honor Colm.

[@sonoandrea]

Frances Rufelle, the original Eponine (seen in this video), also played one of the prostitutes. You couldn't miss her voice.

[@lovetosing2841]

sonoandrea I recognised her voice as soon as she began to sing.

[@schattenvolkofficial1121]

😍 Watching it in cinema, for some reason it took me until the ending scene to realize this was Colm Wilkinson portraying the bishop and it got me right in the feels! I was tearing up like "Oh my god, he is literally singing to his own parade roll / legacy"! 💕 Half the audience was crying anyway half of that movie ... 😄🤗

[@ninarances9074]

I love that reference too! A Valjean helping another Valjean.

[@MissyPirata]

Ah, yes. The infamous Les Mis Box Step.

[@cacvpc]

MissyPirata haha, at first, I was like... why are they all limping? They haven't even fought, yet! =P

[@MaskedMan66]

It isn't a box step.

[@jerrycaddie838]

🤣

[@keithmontgomery9664]

I had the Tony Awards on TV in the background while I was doing my ironing one night in Seattle in 1987. After this segment ended, I found myself standing frozen with my jaw dropped and a hot iron held up in mid-air. Within a week, I had booked my first trip to New York along with tickets to my first Broadway show. The original cast was a combination whose magic exceeded the sum of its parts.

[@stockwellsantley6606]

that is amazing! Thank you for telling us. xx

[@aperson2730]

Awesome

[@Sophie-nz9fz]

DUDE. COLM WILKINSON. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.

[@Lausanne28]

And yet he never won an Olivier or Tony Award. Michael Maguire is the only male actor from Les Miz to ever win the Tony or any other award.

[@jamesswift467]

Lausanne28 actually Phillip Quast won the Sydney Critics award for actor of the year in 1988 as well as the MO award for male musical performer in the same year. Also this Broadway cast won a Tony award for best musical so that is a full cast award. And the film won multiple Oscars, Baftas and golden globes so, it did win a lot

[@dkblack3461]

Yes, he is absolutely astounding. I have been under the spell of his voice for more than 30 years now and have never had the chance to hear him sing live. No other Jean Valjean has ever come close.

[@artteachernc9119]

Sophie I thank God, and my mother, I saw this cast.

[@_sashitheedreamangel24_]

Yassss

[@aaronford2184]

I wonder if they knew now that thy we're making history. And that almost thirty years later the legacy of their work would still be changing lives across the world.

[@thatperformer3879]

Aaron Ford The men who gave their lives at the barricades for the June Rebellion in real life didn't know they were making history as well, they inspired rebellions for the next 16 years and eventually France was finally liberated in the final rebellion of 1848.

[@chrispalin4043]

Thatperformer387 Liberated....you mean when the dictator Napoleon took control 😂

[@brodyjeanotte7961]

Cj M ummm... no that was 38 years before this, and Napoleon was a hero

[@tessanetting]

I die from the perfection

[@sophiacampos1012]

Tessa Netting we actually did this show at my high school. If you want to watch the video search up River Dell Les Miserables! -❤️ Sophia Campos #lumos

[@iluvfirenze89]

This original Broadway production of Les Miserables just dominated the Tony Awards, winning 8 categories, including best musical. However, Michael Maguire is the only male actor from Les Miz to ever win a Tony Award. He portrayed Enjoiras. Also Frances Ruffelle is the only actress from Les Miz to ever win a Tony. She played Eponine.

[@trevorhyatt3889]

Lausanne28 please calm down

[@parisofthedark7979]

@@Lausanne28 please don't use the word retarded. it's offensive to neurodivergent people and people with mental disorders such as myself.

[@yellohcards]

Michael Maguire will always be my favorite Enjorlas, just wonderful.

[@robzap19nintendosteampictures]

His is Going to be 57 Next Year

[@GB-qc6hi]

@@robzap19nintendosteampictures qui

[@kellyb4]

I love Frances as Eponine. She has such a memorable voice. Maybe it’s because I grew up on the original London cast recording.

[@bookemdano7567]

Me too! But, also, this was a time when singers were unique. Nowadays they all sound the same and generic, no distinction.

[@stockwellsantley6606]

She is incredible.

[@aheartlikethesea]

She is my QUEEN!!!!!!!!!!

[@NhatHanPham]

I saw Lea’s On My Own version first, but the moment I saw Frances in this clip, I knew she was Éponine. Her eyes’ expression, her facial, her voice made me thing that. Lea’s On My Own is still great but I think Frances is closer as Éponine to me.

[@lindaelston2671]

This production is very good, but my favorite was the original 1985 London Cast (the musical) and the 2006 10th anniversary concert featuring the dream cast. It was spectacular. YT has the 4k version which was amazing.

[@dblwhopper]

Rarely has an actor been as perfectly matched to a role (nor as deserving of his Tony) as Michael Maguire. No Enjoras i’ve seen has even come close. I wish he still performed. Would also say that Colm and Frances are the gold standards in their roles, but i don’t (always) find seeing other actors in their roles quite as jarring. In general, this production was pure magic

[@thomasheyes5747]

It is very sad that both Thenardiers in this video died so young.

[@somegalfromcan]

Colm Wilkinson will forever be the standard for Jean Valjean

[@tomgallowitz]

When the applause starts before they finished singing, it’s a sure fire hit

[@ChrisandKnight]

does anybody else think that the guy leading the students looks like a young gaston from beauty and the beast?????

[@TheLesMiserablesCats24601]

Yes i do think so.

[@yippedoodah]

Well Beauty and the Beast is around the same time period also in France lol

[@cijmo]

Vocally, he's my favourite Enjolras. Many others look more like him and their voices are amazing but Michael's voice is perfect. I don't know why they decided for awhile that Enjolras was supposed to have had Elvis' hair.

[@maanbobbejaan7150]

Also Eric from The Little Mermaid.

[@devonanderson1338]

Also wtf is Eponine doing to Marius?

[@Sandra-bf5dx]

hmm might be over acting !!!

[@billny33]

She's literally clinging to him. She's generally a bit clingy if you haven't noticed. 🤣

[@billny33]

@ugly dog I think during that time unrequited love was more accepted and even celebrated in our society than it is today. That means you could be more over the top about it especially in works of fiction without it being questioned. Nowadays ppl just get on you to "work on yourself, love yourself" and dismiss the whole notion of unrequited love as odd and creepy, but it seems that wasn't the thinking for like hundreds of years of poetry and theater and music and stuff. Almost as if they realized that "work on yourself, love yourself" is not just an automatic cure-all for everyone with this problem.

[@audramcdonaldapologist3676]

@ugly dog that’s how she is in the novel

[@mrshader-rj2uz]

My god, I love Terrence Mann.

[@laurenbronson6640]

Me too and for such a long time!

[@minarik01]

oldest students ever.

[@Zarastro54]

they got held back...

[@Elizabethleaf]

bh5496 I almost scream laughed at this comment. XD I'm trying to keep calm. My parents are asleep.

[@Jojoseahorse]

Michael Minarik Oh no, really, I think they're just as young as the ones on "Head Of The Class", "Grease" and "Beverly Hills 90210) ;)

[@ekaterinaegorova492]

You haven't watched the last season of "универ: новая общага". That students are really old

[@the_piano_diva]

Lol

[@fl41l]

The one and only Michael Maguire

[@Samarastube]

i got more emotional about this one clip than the entire movie combined

[@hechanova07]

Eponine's voice was nothing I've ever heard before. Effortless.

[@Euroviking86]

Frances Ruffelle is a legend.

[@aheartlikethesea]

sHE IS THE BEST.

[@flyboy712]

Spent a year of my life in the national tour of Les Miz and still love that show!

[@ascotberks2018]

Like many this was a life changing show for me. I saw it within two months of opening in NYC. Friend had seen it and told me it was downer and not good. About poverty in France. I had read the book in both French and English so I new the story. I lost it. Colm Wilkinson was incredible, the voice of God. The morality of the story. I’ve seen it at least 30 times in London, Munich, Paris (in French), Sydney. Auckland, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Vancouver, Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago and Buenos Aries. Some shows better than others, none as good as the first night.

[@Ayyeliki]

A downer?! Lol , real life ! 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[@leedscab123]

The One True Valjean is Colm Wilkinson, however my favourites are John Owen Jones and Peter Lockyer who is the current Valjean in London, they are both amazing.

[@Melisboring]

Michael Maguire slays

[@joeburinskas8672]

Saw this in London in 1992...still playing.

[@artteachernc9119]

This is the cast I saw so many years ago. I still get chills and cry like a baby.

[@chiedu90069]

I love the entire performance, but I keep coming back for Frances. Just stunning, unforgettable and the closeup is fabulous!

[@jayparry1139]

The first musical I ever saw. It was the original Canadian cast with Micael Burgess as Jean Val-Jean. RIP Michael Burgess, you have forever made a place in my heart and mind for the love of musicals, especially Les Miserables...

[@cmw611]

I have seen Les Miserables four times, I will never forget getting to see the original Broadway production!

[@stevefreedman470]

How fortunate I was to see the original production years ago and I was mesmerized. What did I just watch? It was Heaven on Earth and I was so moved....who knew many years later that I would have the extreme honor and privilege to perform this AMAZING production with a professional group here in Texas. It was a "love in" every night and cried all the time because of its beauty, heart and soul❤❤❤❤

[@RemyLebeauIAm]

I'm so lucky to have a mom that introduced me to this when I was barely in elementary school. It's always held a special place in my heart and always will.

[@user-je6uf1vc2i]

cool

[@dougfoo]

Frances is so great ... the best Eponine ever, though I do like Samantha Barks as well!

[@ianfuerte3254]

should watch lea salonga

[@davidbarrantes1424]

I personally liked Eponine here

[@ellewalker7735]

Frances is just utter perfection.

[@rhemyella]

oooh Frances Ruffelle!

[@Melisboring]

Colm kills me every time

[@Engelke2007]

These are four minutes that made me fall in love with musical theater all those years ago!

[@strcompany3104]

That little boy slayed the ending is chilling

[@Kimothy80]

That’s Braden Danner.

[@tuesdaymae]

Michael Maguire is still the best Enjolras..EVER!

[@hoshiuno7530]

Right

[@dkblack3461]

Michael Maguire played Enjolras with such power and a magnetism that is missing from many other actors who have played the role. I found this particularly true in the film version. You can understand why Marius and the other students would follow THIS Enjolras into battle!

[@AsiaMs]

Also, the guy was like 6'5". He looked like a giant on stage. And when they spun that barricade and he was draped across it hanging upside down dead, Wow!! Bring back the turntable and the giant barricade.

[@34thstreetman]

Kyle Scatliffe.

[@oliverdelica2289]

@@34thstreetman and Ramin Karimloo

[@jdizzle3627]

This performance gives me chills every single time no matter how many times I have seen it over the years.

[@isobelramsey9767]

I love this Eponine. Her name escapes me but she's my favorite of all of them.

[@jaysalvoro9834]

Isobel Ramsey Her name is Frances Ruffelles ☺

[@alematosmusic7498]

The Best Éponine is Samantha Barks

[@asburystantheeighth2786]

Look you wankers - don't start the best/worst argument. It is a matter of opinion who is your favourite etc. Having said that Frances Rufelle, not Ruffelles, wass instrumental in the the success of Les Mis. Without her, and Colm Wilkinson, Les Mis would not have been the phenomena it is (- and I can explain why.)

[@tianajoiner7852]

Asbury Stan the Eighth Lol it’s Ruffelle not Rufelle

[@jeanettesmith765]

@@alematosmusic7498 I definitely agree that Samantha Banks is the best Eponine. She is heartbreaking and real in the film.

[@thecook238]

Michael Maguire = absolute perfection

[@ClairetteRRRRR]

Hooo Javert is the rock star in Critters, i like him!!!

[@Yourdudechris]

Everyone talks about Colm and Micheal who don’t get me wrong are AMAZING but Terrence as Javert has to be one of the most underrated performances ever imo because almost all videos of him have been lost to time and because of a lack of his videos Phillip Quast often gets the credit who imo Terrence should get

[@aheartlikethesea]

FRANCES IS MY QUEEN! Thanks to her I leaned how to sing out and thankfully I've had luck with my voice ever since :)

[@kathypierre3095]

That's how it's done people!

[@susandevitte2137]

I worked as a dresser on it twice. In Las Vegas. Rags upon rags.

[@JamesHenryII]

CHILLS! No matter how many times I listen, I get chills!

[@aheartlikethesea]

Oh, how I love Frances!

[@ntjhnssntn95]

One Day More. A song that will always bring chills and tears to you. Anytime, anywhere.

[@Siegfried1917]

this gavroche is more dedicated than any of the students i love it

[@hiddenmesa]

Cal No doubt. When he twists back before his final position, he really whips it around. And give credit to the strapping and hot Marcus Lovett who provided a solid set of shoulders for the kid. The unison between him and Enjolras at the very end is impressive too.

[@stellajennings2265]

Still makes my day brilliant performance.👏👏👏

[@feralbluee]

beautiful songs and singers. such a beautiful song. . . it’s the chorus and i can understand every damn word!!!!

[@MaskedMan66]

Frankie Ruffelle is an absolute MARVEL! Her voice soars above all the others in the ensemble singing.

[@bookemdano7567]

Frances is amazing! People that complain she can’t sing don’t know Frances Ruffelle. They don’t know her theatre shows and they don’t know her solo recordings. Half the time they don’t even know who the hell she is in the video clips. Oh, but, they’re “huge Les Mis fans” 🙄

[@MaskedMan66]

@@bookemdano7567 I wasn't aware of that; how sad! I would love to hear her sing "Over the Rainbow"; I know that she played Dorothy Gale in one of the first runs of the Royal Shakespeare Company version of the MGM "Wizard of Oz."

[@bookemdano7567]

MaskedMan66.... She’s awesome as Dinah in Starlight Express and I love her in Children Of Eden! One of my favorite Stephen Schwartz musicals! Stranger to The Rain, from that show is one of my favorite musical songs, both the “show” version and the “pop” version. I wish they had done a recording for Piaf with her. And check out the Christmas song... I Watch You Sleeping....amazing!!

[@richchung]

Frances Ruffelle - the best Éponine ever!

[@sierrasrecordsandfixations]

Lea Salonga for me

[@jonathancatunao3646]

matindi umakting ung Eponine na ito. Lalim. Yung mata nya kita mo pagiging obssessed kay Marius and the desperation

[@devonanderson1338]

Colm is so young here omg

[@anitaokelly9537]

One of my favorite musicals . Saw it three times ❤

[@lesliemarks5625]

Simply perfection!

[@leedscab123]

Another breath taking Valjean is Jeong Seong Hwa who played Valjean in Korea in 2013.

[@HaydnG266]

The marching is very awkward. I'm glad it's usually cut from most productions.

[@HaydnG266]

@Nunya Biz I've seen several versions and the awkward marching they do is usually cut, because it looks stupid.

[@HaydnG266]

@Nunya Biz I am not new. I know what a revolving stage is, my god. I'm telling you that the marching sequence looks awkward. Now go away lol

[@Pango5697]

Michael Maguire- Go Enjolras! 😂

[@cannawitch]

Enjorlas... Perpetually underrated.

[@Budcat101]

totally agree Brian I always tear up!

[@asburystan]

As a very naive 25 year old teacher knowing little of musical theatre I went to see Les Mis in 1986 with about 20 colleagues. On the way home all we could talk about was ' the dark haired girl' who blew all of us away. She was simply sensational; you could not take your eyes away from her, a true ' you had to be there' moment. So all you posters comparing all the different Eponines really annoys me; if you haven't see the whole performance you really are in no place to comment. If you don't like her performance, fine but don't start saying ' the best' stick with saying 'my favourite.'

[@MadameCorgi]

Amazing

[@lindsayhengehold5341]

So want to see this on Broadway sometime!

[@christopherrichardbass-bar5727]

Classic! Can't beat it.

[@jonathanscannell9646]

Les Miserables this is great song

[@emilyannn]

omg so beautiful

[@PetitPrince90]

Oh God! That's wonderful! Shivers, shivers...

[@Sosodeffinatlyhangsta]

I am so grateful for this video thank you thank you. This is by far the only cast of le mis I connected with

[@renatebraun7392]

Als ich es am Broadway zum ersten Mal sah, weinte ich den ganzen Weg zum Hotel. Ich habe les Miz noch oft gesehen und es bleibt eines meiner schönsten Theatererlebnisse!!

[@Sosodeffinatlyhangsta]

When I was in college I would drive from upstate NY to Buffalo and the London cast of le mis was what I would listen to driving through Amsterdam to the 90. This musical changed my life. And I only hear y'all's performances

[@sophersaucer7666]

They're such an epic cast

[@grandexporter]

I saw this 26 or so years ago in melbourne... Changed my life... Forever i have appreciated beautiful things starting with Les Miserables

[@losmoneyful]

Only problem with this version is that Michael Ball isn't in it.

[@susandrn]

I saw the touring company in Cleveland. This is by far my favorite musical! I'm wearing my Les Mis tshirt. I have magnets on my fridge, posters, etc. My friend from grade school, Craig Wells, was in the cast! The show does make me cry, but sometimes I need to have a good cry.

[@Richie8614]

One of the best shows of all time

[@paulzenco6182]

Incredible

[@Friendlyandcute]

omg the girl with the hat is just wow

[@Mu_cubed]

Eponine

[@Friendlyandcute]

i know the character but sadly not the singer ^^

[@piperjillian5396]

+Friendlyandcute Frances Ruffelle 😊

[@Friendlyandcute]

Piper Jillian Ty :)

[@sregors]

amazing

[@angelgolds]

The mics aren't picking up everyone singing haha. I enjoyed it though

[@JC11378]

This one is better than the most recent Tony performance.

[@ProfessorStuDDS]

Lol can't tell if they're clapping for Colm's note or aterrence Mann! Personally, I'd clap for both!!

[@oscarphile]

Both nominated for Best Actor in a Musical. Both lost. I got to see Terry's return to Les Mis sixteen years later, just before this production closed on Broadway (the show itself didn't stay away for long), and he hadn't missed a beat! If anything, he'd only gotten better. Heck of a nice guy, too.

[@brollybasher]

Michael Maguire tho

[@sophieboatman1447]

brollybasher yes wow!

[@Pastadudde]

1:35 lmao that (unintentional) side eye from Cosette @ Valjean : "Shit, daddy's singing to himself again"

[@antirealist]

The best of the best

[@bambibloggerfantage]

SHEER PERFECTION.

[@silentsmurf]

People love to drag Frances, but she killed it here

[@maryanncarlson9347]

So true😢.Thank you, Mark Lindsay !

[@Sydride98]

I always wanted to see a performance with the original cast of this show :-)

[@michaelhollander5411]

I first saw LesMiz with the Oreginal Broadway Cast in '87 on Broadway At The Imperial Theater.since then I've seen it 6 times..10 Stars... Colm Wilkinson was very Good.....

[@HollywoodF1]

One Day More was not part of the original French production. When the show was translated, I think they understood that the expectation of West End and Broadway audiences was for a big summary number at the end of the first act. I’m sure the French consider One Day More to be excessive; but I think we English-speaking audiences agree that this number is the very prototype of what such act-ending numbers ought to be.

[@alematosmusic7498]

I thought Marius was 22 years old, not 44. And Cosette 17 not 37

[@audra5942]

Alejandro David Martinez Matos they typically cast older actors. No idea why

[@alematosmusic7498]

I know, but there is something called make up or if it´s not enough just cast someone with a good voice and who can pass for this age, for example Andy Mientus he is older but he looks like 22 or 24 years old. But the ones here are amazing, I can´t think about this Marius with an age under 40 and maybe he is younger.

[@jennschiller7131]

Because young, undertrained voices can't hold up to the rigorous schedule of a show like this. It's not a high school or college production that gets 5 performances and then they are done. It's 7-10 shows a week for MONTHS, maybe even years. And especially this musical, which is pretty much an opera and requires the vocal stamina of an opera performance, requires mature voices.

[@sunny70299]

@ugly dog You make a good point Michael Ball, the actor who created Marius in London in 1985, was only about 22 when he was cast and completely untrained. He was phenomenal and considered the definitive Marius by most but he had to leave the role early because of voice problems, anxiety and stress. I get the feeling the success of the show overwhelmed him.

[@poulllorca]

Gavroche’s actor is great!

[@chimayai]

god..was my first time seeing this really 31 years ago?? Still in awe of this show, even after having had the privilege of conducting/musical directing it.

[@stockwellsantley6606]

Great!

[@beautyandthebeast102]

TERRENCE MANN!!!!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

[@jaredrehberg8454]

goosebumps