If there is one thing that no one disputes about Sir Cameron Mackintosh, it is his style. Of cats (1981) to Maria Poppins (2004), through Tea Phantom of the Opera (1986) or Miss Saigon (1989), which New York Times already designated in 1990 as the “the most powerful and influential producer in the world” has put into orbit the most emblematic musicals of the last forty years. This 77-year-old Briton has established himself as the leader of the English school of musical : His shows were first performed in the West End, London’s theater district, before becoming “ATMs” on Broadway and then in the rest of the world. A licensing system that made him one of the richest men in England, with a fortune estimated in 2024 at 1.25 billion pounds (1.5 billion euros) by the Sunday schedule.
Cameron Mackintosh meets in his London offices on Shaftesbury Avenue, a building next to the Sondheim Theatre, which he owns, like seven other theaters in the city. The façade of the building is covered by a huge sign that represents the character of Cosette Arrebatadora, a reproduction of a 19th century engraving.my Century signed by the French painter Emile-Antoine Bayard. This is where they play every night, to a sold-out crowd, Les Misérables, English version of this show created in 1980 by the French Alain Boublil (lyrics) and Claude-Michel Schönberg (music).
This epic painting of Paris from the first third of the 19th centurymy century inspired by Victor Hugo’s masterpiece has been on display in London for almost forty years, an absolute record of longevity for a musical. “This show has had an incredible life, no show in the world has done that.” insists Cameron Mackintosh, sitting amid somewhat kitschy décor, all mirrors and gilding. His big, joking boy face lights up when he talks about his ” baby “ and its hits: performed in fifty-three countries and twenty-two languages, seen by more than one hundred and thirty million people around the world, “The Miz”, Nickname given to the show, they have won a hundred awards, including eight Tony Awards (theatrical awards for works performed on Broadway), and their film adaptation, in 2012, was crowned with three Oscar awards and a global box office success.
As has been said, Sir Cameron Mackintosh is rarely wrong about public tastes. However, his intuition has never helped him prevail. HE Miserable In France. Following the success of Robert Hossein’s first production in 1980, the musical, which returns in French to the Théâtre du Châtelet, from November 20 to January 2, 2025, was rejected by its country of birth. A surprising paradox for a work that embodies French culture everywhere, as demonstrated by the choice of director Thomas Jolly to perform an excerpt from it. At the will of the people, during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in July. “France is a wonderful country, but its way of operating is strange.” sighs Cameron Mackintosh, staring into space, as if overcome by a sudden melancholy. “In a way, it’s a bit sad: Alain and Claude-Michel are famous all over the world for having written one of the best musicals of all time, but they remain unknown in their own country. »
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