Theater News

Cameron Mackintosh to Bring Les Miserables to China

Cameron Mackintosh 
(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)
Cameron Mackintosh
(© Joseph Marzullo/Retna)

Sir Cameron Mackintosh is joining forces with the China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG), to bring Western musicals to China. The partnership’s inaugural production will be the musical Les Misérables to open at the new National Grand Theater in Bejing in November 2008. It will be followed in 2009 by Mamma Mia!

In addition to producing the London and Broadway productions of Les Miz, Mackintosh is best known as the producer of Broadway’s two longest-running shows, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. He is currently represented on Broadway by Mary Poppins.

“This is a hugely exciting project that we are undertaking with China’s finest performing arts agency, and we deeply appreciate the support of the Chinese Ministry of Culture,” said Mackintosh in a statement. “Since my first trip to China in 1990s, I’ve been fascinated by the country and its people. I’m proud to be able to introduce the very best Western musicals to a country with its own rich musical traditions.”