Diamond Head Theatre ecstatic over ‘Les Miserables’ production

"The ink wasn't even dry on the paper," is how John Rampage, Diamond Head Theatre artistic director, recalled the speed with which DHT seized the opportunity to open its 2008-09 season with the hit musical "Les Miserables."

DHT Executive Director Deena Dray announced the coup Tuesday, saying in part, "we are the first nonprofessional theater to secure the rights, so John and I am very pleased!"

Rampage said, "We came very close at one point to getting it, and then they mounted the most recent Broadway revival and the whole deal was shelved."

Clarifying an important point about the rights, Rampage explained that Cameron Mackintosh has licensed a shorter "student edition" of Les Miz for performances by amateurs 18 and younger, and that several regional "union house" productions that require another set of rights opened this year.

"Regional rights have been out for a while, but this is the first or one of the first community theater contracts made available for an adult company," said Rampage. He's open to bringing in a guest performer or director with ties to the Broadway show to share knowledge of the production, but said that "at least 90 percent of the show will be cast locally."

"We're going to put everything we've got into making it the best production we possibly could do," Rampage said. --