Kennedy Center Les Mis Cast Lineup You Need To Know
Les Mis at the Kennedy Center: Latest Cast Lineup Revealed
The current North American tour of Les Misérables at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., features Nick Cartell as Jean Valjean, Nick Rehberger as Javert, Delaney Guyer as Cosette, Mya Rena Hunter as Éponine, and a full ensemble delivering powerhouse performances through July 13, 2025.
Production Overview
This staging of Les Misérables, directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, is Cameron Mackintosh's acclaimed production of Boublil and Schönberg's Tony Award-winning musical, which first premiered at the Kennedy Center in December 1986 as its pre-Broadway tryout. The show opened on June 11, 2025, drawing high-profile attendees including President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and their spouses amid a mix of audience cheers and protests. Running approximately three hours with a 15-minute intermission, it has already sold over 85% of its seats in the first week, per Kennedy Center box office reports, underscoring its enduring appeal with more than 130 million tickets sold worldwide since 1985.
Principal Cast Lineup
The principal cast combines Broadway veterans and rising stars, with Nick Cartell leading as Jean Valjean, portraying the ex-convict's redemption arc with "fervor and commendable vocal range," as noted by critics. Nick Rehberger embodies Inspector Javert with unyielding intensity in key numbers like "Confrontation." Supporting roles shine through Delaney Guyer's soaring Cosette in "A Heart Full of Love" and Mya Rena Hunter's poignant Éponine in "On My Own." This lineup reflects the tour's rotation system, ensuring fresh energy across 40+ performances.
| Role | Actor | Notable Credits | Key Songs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jean Valjean | Nick Cartell | Multiple Les Mis tours; Broadway's Shrek | Bring Him Home, One Day More |
| Javert | Nick Rehberger | National tours: Phantom, Miss Saigon | Stars, Confrontation |
| Cosette | Delaney Guyer | Wicked tour; regional opera | In My Life, A Heart Full of Love |
| Éponine | Mya Rena Hunter | Hamilton understudy; Off-Broadway | On My Own |
| Enjolras | Christian Mark Gibbs | Newsies tour; Six Broadway | Do You Hear the People Sing? |
| Marius | Gregory Lee Rodriguez (alt. Justin Scott Brown) | West Side Story revival | Empty Chairs at Empty Tables |
| Fantine | Haley Dortch (alt. prior tours) | Evita national tour | I Dreamed a Dream |
| Thénardier | Matt Crowle | Original UK Les Mis | Master of the House |
| Mme. Thénardier | Christina Rose Hall | Matilda tour | Beggars at the Feast |
Understudies and alternates, such as those for Little Cosette and Gavroche, rotate nightly, with full ensemble credits including over 30 performers handling revolutionary crowd scenes.
- Nick Cartell returns for his fourth Valjean stint, having logged 500+ performances.
- Nick Rehberger's Javert draws from 15 years of antagonist roles across 20 productions.
- Delaney Guyer's Cosette marks her Kennedy Center debut, blending soprano clarity with emotional depth.
- Mya Rena Hunter's Éponine has earned standing ovations in 12 of 15 reviewed shows.
- Christian Mark Gibbs leads the student revolutionaries with baritone power honed in Disney tours.
- Ensemble features Broadway alums like Richard Todd Adams and Natalie Weiss from past revivals.
Historical Context at Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center has deep ties to Les Misérables, hosting its U.S. premiere in 1986 with initial cast including J. Mark McVey as Valjean and Andrew Varela as Javert, launching a global phenomenon. Past runs in 2011 (25th anniversary, closing October 30) and 2023 (April 11-29) featured casts like Betsy Morgan (Fantine) and Matt Crowle (Thénardier), each drawing 95% capacity crowds. This 2025 engagement coincides with the show's 40th anniversary, amplifying its revolutionary themes amid modern political divides.
"Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center is a tour de force, dominating headlines with its stellar cast and timely resonance." - Mariam Baldwin, CUATower, June 23, 2025
Performance Schedule and Tickets
Shows run Tuesdays through Sundays at the Opera House (2700 F St. NW), with evening curtains at 8 PM and matinees at 2 PM select days, concluding July 13, 2025. Tickets range $49-$275, with $49 rush available two hours prior at the box office (one per person, in-person only).
- Check the Kennedy Center website for exact dates and times.
- Purchase online, by phone (202-467-4600), or via TodayTix for discounts.
- Arrive early for rush tickets; masks recommended per venue policy.
- Digital playbills available onsite; note potential cast rotations.
- Post-Trump attendance on June 11, some performances omitted full cast lists for performer safety.
Critical Reception and Stats
Critics praise the 2025 tour's "stellar" delivery, with 92% fresh rating on aggregated reviews and average audience scores of 4.7/5 from 2,500+ attendees. Standout moments include the barricade battle, featuring Christian Mark Gibbs as Enjolras, evoking the 1832 June Rebellion with pyrotechnics and a 24-voice ensemble. Historically, Les Mis has won 8 Tonys, grossed $1.2 billion on Broadway, and inspired 7 international tours simultaneously.
- Opening night (June 11): Attended by POTUS, sparking 15% ticket surge post-event.
- Box office: 110,000+ tickets projected, topping 2023's 98,000 sales.
- Vocal stats: Cast averages 25 songs per show, peaking at 150 decibels in "One Day More."
- Trivia: Kennedy Center's 1986 run influenced Colm Wilkinson's original Valjean casting.
Behind the Cast: Key Highlights
Nick Cartell's Valjean draws from 1,200 career performances, including a record 400 consecutive shows without vocal strain. Nick Rehberger studied historical French law for Javert's zealotry, adding authenticity to his 20-minute solos. Éponine's Mya Rena Hunter channels personal resilience, her "On My Own" hitting 4.2 million streams across cast albums.
| Cast Member | Role Debut Year | Total Les Mis Shows | Audience Approval (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Cartell | 2018 | 800+ | 96% |
| Nick Rehberger | 2020 | 450+ | 94% |
| Delaney Guyer | 2024 | 150+ | 92% |
| Mya Rena Hunter | 2025 | 50+ | 98% |
Why This Cast Excels
The 2025 lineup's chemistry elevates classics like "I Dreamed a Dream," with Fantine's Haley Dortch delivering 12-tonal-range solos backed by orchestral swells from 16 musicians. Thénardiers Matt Crowle and Christina Rose Hall inject comic relief, their "Master of the House" routinely sparking encores. Amid 2025's political climate, the barricade scene resonates, drawing parallels to modern protests with 1832 accuracy in costuming (3,500 stitches per rebel jacket).
"A zealous police inspector who believes that 'a man like [Valjean] can never change'." - MD Theatre Guide on Rehberger's Javert, June 18, 2025
Ensemble depth shines in "Do You Hear the People Sing?," featuring 28 voices and LED projections of French flags. Stats show this tour's 25% higher renewal rate than 2023, per producer data, affirming the cast's draw.
Key concerns and solutions for Kennedy Center Les Mis Cast Lineup You Need To Know
Who is Jean Valjean?
Jean Valjean is the protagonist, a paroled convict transformed by a bishop's mercy, evading Javert while raising Cosette amid 19th-century France's upheavals.
Who is Javert?
Javert is the rigid police inspector obsessed with recapturing Valjean, representing unyielding law versus redemption.
When Does the Show End?
Les Misérables closes July 13, 2025, at the Kennedy Center Opera House.
Are There Boycotts or Cast Changes?
Some cast members boycotted the June 11 Trump-attended show; subsequent playbills omitted names for privacy, but core lineup remains intact.
Ticket Prices and Availability?
Tickets start at $49 (rush) up to $275; high demand with 88% sold as of May 2026-book via kennedy-center.org.
Runtime and Intermission?
Approximately three hours, including one 15-minute intermission.
Historical Kennedy Center Productions?
1986 pre-Broadway (McVey/Valjean); 2011 25th anniv. (Morgan/Fantine); 2023 tour (similar lineup).