Who was in the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert cast? The 1995 “Dream Cast” starred Colm Wilkinson as Valjean, Philip Quast as Javert, Ruthie Henshall as Fantine, Michael Ball as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Lea Salonga as Éponine, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, and Alun Armstrong and Jenny Galloway as the Thénardiers. It was performed at London’s Royal Albert Hall on October 8, 1995, and most Americans first saw it on PBS a few months later. Below is the full principal cast, where each star came from, and how to watch it today.
By the Musicals On Line team · October 2026
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Who played who in the 10th Anniversary Concert?
Here is the principal cast, as listed by the Royal Albert Hall archive, the cast-recording database CastAlbums.org and Wikipedia:
| Role | Performer |
|---|---|
| Jean Valjean | Colm Wilkinson |
| Javert | Philip Quast |
| Fantine | Ruthie Henshall |
| Marius | Michael Ball |
| Cosette | Judy Kuhn |
| Éponine | Lea Salonga |
| Enjolras | Michael Maguire |
| Thénardier | Alun Armstrong |
| Madame Thénardier | Jenny Galloway |
| Grantaire | Anthony Crivello |
| Gavroche | Adam Searles |
| Young Cosette | Hannah Chick |
| The Bishop of Digne | Paul Monaghan |
The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra played the score under the American conductor David Charles Abell, backed by a large chorus. If you want a refresher on who these people are in the story, our Les Misérables characters guide walks through every role.
Why is it called the Dream Cast?
Because Cameron Mackintosh pulled his favorite performers from productions around the world instead of using a single company. According to the producer’s own production page and Wikipedia, the lineup mixed three sources:
- The original 1985 London company: Colm Wilkinson (Valjean), Michael Ball (Marius) and Alun Armstrong (Thénardier).
- Broadway: Judy Kuhn (Cosette), Lea Salonga (Éponine) and Michael Maguire (Enjolras).
- Later London and Australian casts: Ruthie Henshall (Fantine) came from a later London company, and Philip Quast (Javert) from the Australian production.
That is why fans still argue it is the best-sung Les Mis on record: every lead had already lived in the part on stage. For many fans, Quast’s Javert is still the benchmark. For the songs they sang, see our Les Misérables songs explained guide.
Which Broadway stars were in the 10th Anniversary Concert?
More than you might think. Les Misérables opened on Broadway at the Broadway Theatre on March 12, 1987, and ran until May 18, 2003, according to Playbill’s vault and the Internet Broadway Database. Four of the concert’s principals were in that original Broadway company, per Playbill’s look back at the opening cast and IBDB:
- Colm Wilkinson brought his London Valjean to Broadway in 1987.
- Michael Maguire played Enjolras on Broadway and won the 1987 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for it (IBDB, UPI).
- Judy Kuhn was Broadway’s first Cosette.
- Anthony Crivello was Broadway’s first Grantaire and later took over as Javert (Wikipedia, IBDB).
Lea Salonga joined the Broadway company as Éponine in 1993, two years before the concert, as Playbill and BroadwayWorld both note. Valjean’s story starts with the prisoner number everyone knows; our clip post on Javert releasing Prisoner 24601 shows that opening scene.
What were the 17 Valjeans in the encore?
The concert ends with a famous encore. Seventeen actors who had played Jean Valjean in productions around the world walked out and each sang a line of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” in his own language, before the whole company finished together. Both Cameron Mackintosh and Wikipedia describe it, and Filmed Live Musicals lists the performers. The United States was represented by Craig Schulman.
Was the 10th Anniversary Concert fully staged?
No. It is a concert performance: the principals sing in costume at microphone stands, with the orchestra and chorus on risers behind them, and there is some movement but no full set. At a few big moments, such as the barricade battle, the film cuts to footage of the stage production, as Wikipedia and the producer’s page explain. The trade-off is that the singing gets the spotlight, which is exactly why the recording became so popular. If you are new to the story, our complete Les Misérables fan guide covers the plot and the show’s history.
How did Americans see the 10th Anniversary Concert?
Mostly on public television. PBS aired it on Great Performances as “Les Misérables in Concert” on March 1, 1996, according to the Great Performances episode list and Filmed Live Musicals. The concert is also catalogued on IMDb.
Home video followed. Columbia TriStar released it in North America in 1998, a two-disc BBC edition came out in February 2008, and a remastered special edition arrived in November 2012, per Wikipedia and Filmed Live Musicals.
Where can you watch the 10th Anniversary Concert today?
The easiest legal way is the DVD. The US-format BBC edition is the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert DVD (affiliate link). Check the listing for region and format before ordering, since several UK Region 2 editions are also sold. Streaming availability changes often, so search your services for “Les Misérables in Concert” before you pay for a rental.
Loved this cast? Our list of musicals like Les Misérables is a good next stop, and you can revisit Fantine’s big moment in our page on I Dreamed a Dream.
Frequently asked questions
Who played Javert in the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert?
Philip Quast, who had played the role in the Australian production, sang Javert at the 1995 Royal Albert Hall concert.
Who played Éponine in the 10th Anniversary Concert?
Lea Salonga. She had joined the Broadway company as Éponine in 1993.
When and where was the Les Misérables 10th Anniversary Concert?
It took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Sunday, October 8, 1995, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by David Charles Abell.
Was the 10th Anniversary Concert shown on PBS?
Yes. PBS broadcast it on Great Performances as “Les Misérables in Concert” on March 1, 1996.
Who sang in the Valjean encore?
Seventeen actors who had played Jean Valjean around the world each sang a line of “Do You Hear the People Sing?” in their own language. Craig Schulman represented the United States.
Sources: Royal Albert Hall performance archive; CastAlbums.org; Wikipedia: Les Misérables: The Dream Cast in Concert; Cameron Mackintosh; Filmed Live Musicals; List of Great Performances episodes; Playbill Vault; IBDB (archived); UPI, 1987 Tony Awards.
