Cast: Nick Jonas Joins Les Mis, Quinn Gets Dirty
Nick Jonas, a member of American boy band the Jonas Brothers, will play Marius in the West End production of Les Miserables at the Queen’s Theatre for three weeks from 21 June.
The 17-year-old broke off a concert tour with his brothers in order to negotiate the deal, having apparently first been spotted by Les Mis producer Cameron Mackintosh while playing the part of Gavroche in the show’s 2003 run on Broadway.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mackintosh said: “I went up to him at the closing night party in New York and told him he was terrific and hoped that one day he would return to play Marius. We’ve been in touch a lot and, of course, since then he has become this world-famous star. He, his father and I agreed that it would be great if he came and played Marius here in London.”
Les Miserables is now in its 25th year, and to mark the occasion a special anniversary production is currently touring, there’ll be a run at the Barbican (its original home) later this year, as well as a still-to-be-confirmed concert at the O2 Arena – which Jonas is believed to be involved in.
Another pop star treading the West End boards this summer is Ray Quinn, who will join the cast of Dirty Dancing at the Aldwych Theatre for a limited season from 26 July to 27 November 2010.
The X Factor star, who recently appeared as Danny in Grease, will play Billy Kostecki (Johnny Castle’s cousin) in the screen-to-stage musical.
The role involves performing numbers from the show as “Do You Love Me?” and the classic “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life”. Quinn will perform alongside Canadian Johnny Wright, direct from the Toronto production, as Johnny Castle, and Hannah Vassallo as Baby.
