Changes Coming to

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"Claude-Michel Schönberg, co-composer of Les Misérables, has revealed that the song "Suddenly", which was written especially for the film version of the hit show, could one day be incorporated into the theatrical production.

Schönberg was speaking during a special BAFTA Masterclass on the sound design of the film held at London's BFI Southbank last Friday (18 January). In answer to a question from the audience about whether the Oscar-nominated song would ever be used on stage, Schönberg said, "It's possible. It is something we are looking at, although changing stage musicals is like causing earthquakes. So while I’m not saying no, it is a work in progress."

The composer added that he and lyricist Alain Boublil might also move the song "I Dreamed a Dream" to a different place in the show, as has been done for the film.

Joining Schönberg on stage were the film's director Tom Hooper, production sound mixer Simon Hayes (who has received Oscar and Bafta nominations for his work on the film) and orchestrator and score producer Anne Dudley. During the evening all three paid tribute to Boublil and Schönberg's flexibility and openess during the process of moving Les Misérables from stage to screen".


Read the original Whats On Stage article here:

http://www.whatsonstage.com/gossip/theatre/london/E8831358851636/Could+Oscar-nominated+song+%27Suddenly%27+be+added+to+Les+Mis+on+stage%3F.html

Read the report by Broadwayworld here:

http://broadwayworld.com/article/Oscar-Nominated-Suddenly-May-be-Added-to-LES-MIS-on-Stage-20130122


While I quite like the idea of moving "I Dreamed A Dream" on stage to a later placement as in the film, adding "Suddenly" would not work at all. It adds nothing to the film than what is already blatantly obvious and causes an obtrusive halt in the dramatic action. I think it would work even worse on stage.

The well known saying springs to mind - "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

[ClapYo'Hands]

Everyone keeps on about I Dreamed a Dream being moved. I don't think people realise that it's not as simple as moving a song, you can't just put it after Lovely Ladies, it doesn't work musically.

[Princeton Returns]

although it does make far more sense from a storytelling point of view. anne hathaway is the definative fantine now, ive seen many and none have acted that song like she does, first fantine ive ever cared about.

[CATSNYrevival]

I would be a little bummed if they moved "I Dreamed a Dream" in the stage version. I think it's fine where it is.

I also don't think they should add the new song to the original production. It's bad enough that they keep making little changes, and substituted the new orchestrations for the original ones. Let the original production stay as is as a reminder of what made the show the phenomenon that it is today.

Think about adding the new song for the revival. That is, if the original ever closes.