The Roma Music Theater in Warsaw Sept. 20, 21 and 22 held the first round of auditions for the main roles in Les Miserables, one of the world's most famous musicals, written by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg and based on the Victor Hugo novel of the same title. Over 500 people, both professional actors and amateurs came to audition for the roles of Javert, Valjean, Marius, Cosette, Fantine and Eponine. The auditions saw the first Polish-language renditions of such Les Miserables hits as "I Dreamed a Dream," Who Am I?," "Master of the House," "One Day More," "A Heart Full of Love," "Stars," "Bring Him Home" and On My Own. The next round of auditions will take place in late November.

The new Roma Theater production is scheduled to premiere in September next year. It is the latest non-replica production directed by Wojciech Kępczyński, the theater director of the Roma. The libretto was translated by Daniel Wyszogrodzki, the literary director of the Roma. The music director is Maciej Pawłowski, who has worked on all Roma productions to date. The show will be choreographed by Paulina Andrzejewska.

On Oct. 8, 2006, 21 years after its premiere, Les Miserables became the longest-running musical in the history of West End in London.

M.R.