Broadway's original Cosette Judy Kuhn will join the current production of Les Miserables as Fantine Cosette's mother beginning October 23 at the Broadhurst Theatre. The three-time Tony Award nominee will succeed Lea Salonga, whose final performance as Fantine will be October 21.
In a statement, Kuhn said of Les Miserables, "The original production was such an exciting and momentous part of the beginning of my career and now to go back to play the mother of the character I played originally, especially now that I am a mother myself, will be great fun."
Kuhn received Tony nominations for her performance as Cosette and for her leading roles in Chess and She Loves Me. Other Broadway credits include Two Shakespearean Actors, Rags, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and the concert version of Disney's King David. Off-Broadway credits include Eli's Comin', As Thousands Cheer, Dream True and the Encores! production of Strike Up the Band. Most recently she appeared in Craig Lucas' new adaptation of Chekhov's Three Sisters at the Intiman Theatre and co-starred in the world premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's The Highest Yellow at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA. Kuhn played Fosca in Passion at the Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration, and created the role of Betty Schaefer in the U.S. premiere of Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles. In London's West End she received an Olivier Award nomination for Metropolis. Kuhn has apppeared around the world as a concert artist, and her new CD Serious Playground: The Songs of Laura Nyro will be released by Ghostlight Records on October 2.
Les Miserables currently features Drew Sarich as Jean Valjean to be succeeded by John Owen-Jones on October 23, Robert Hunt as Javert, Lea Salonga as Fantine, Gary Beach as Thenardier, Ann Harada as Madame Thenardier, Megan McGinnis as Eponine, Adam Jacobs as Marius, Ali Ewoldt as Cosette and Max von Essen as Enjolras.
