Paris is the City of Light (or “Lights,” depending on your translation of choice), so James Corden decided to have a little fun at the red ones. On Wednesday’s “Late Late Show,” Corden imported his “Crosswalk to Musical” to the French capital, where he and his street performers put on one of Paris’ greatest exports, “Les Misérables.”
First, a producer had to inform Corden that the title doesn’t mean “Sad Lesbians.”
Corden prepared his troop for the real thing by throwing croissants and baguettes at their faces during a rooftop rehearsal. The used of breads and pastries would weirdly come in handy during the real performances of the play’s battle scenes.
As per usual, Corden kept all of the best roles for himself — including that of Fantine, the French prostitute.
That’s the Arc de Triomphe in the background — prime real estate for the popular segment to occupy abroad.
Written by Victor Hugo in 1862, “Les Mis” begins in 1815 and culminates with the 1832 June Rebellion in Paris. The historical novel follows the lives and interactions of several characters, focusing on the struggles of ex-con Jean Valjean and his experience of redemption.
Tony Awards' Biggest Snubs: 10 Classics That Lost Best Musical, From 'West Side Story' to 'Wicked' (Photos)
"West Side Story" (1957)
The classic Leonard Bernstein musical, with a book by Arthur Laurents and lyrics by a young Stephen Sondheim, lost out at the 12th Tony Awards -- to Meredith Willson's "The Music Man."
"Gypsy" (1959)
Two years later, another Laurents-Sondheim collaboration (this time with composer Jule Styne) lost out to two rivals that tied for the award: the mostly forgotten "Fiorello!" and the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic "The Sound of Music." But while "Gypsy" has seen four revivals in the years since, "Sound of Music" has returned to Broadway only once -- and "Fiorello!" not at all.
"Hair" (1968)
Galt MacDermot's seminal rock musical was an influential hit, but it lost the top prize to the more buttoned-up historical pageant "1776."
"Grease" (1972)
Tony voters rewarded MacDermott three years later for the now forgotten "Two Gentlemen of Verona" -- and snubbed not just the popular '50s-set "Grease," but also Sondheim's "Follies."
"Chicago" (1975)
John Kander and Fred Ebb's caustic look at fame was overshadowed by "A Chorus Line" -- but the 1996 revival is still running after two decades and led to the Oscar-winning 2002 big-screen adaptation.
"Dreamgirls" (1981)
I am telling you, guess who's not going to the Tony stage despite becoming a much-loved hit. The R&B show that made Jennifer Holliday a major star lost to Maury Yeston's more esoteric "Nine," based on Federico Fellini's movie "8 1/2."
"Into the Woods" (1987)
Stephen Sondheim's much-loved fairy tale mash-up has become a fan favorite, but it lost the Best Musical race to a genuine behemoth: Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera."
"Miss Saigon" (1991)
Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg Vietnam-set update of "Miss Saigon" (complete with onstage helicopter) amazingly lost to the lightweight "The Will Rogers Follies."
"Mamma Mia!" (2001)
The ABBA jukebox musical was a hit that spawned two movies, but it lost to Jeanine Tesori's adaptation of the 1967 Julie Andrews film "Thoroughly Modern Millie."
"Wicked" (2003)
In one of the biggest upsets in Tony history, Stephen Schwartz's anthem-filled prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" lost the Best Musical prize to the R-rated puppets of "Avenue Q."
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“West Side Story,” “Wicked” and eight other shows that shockingly never won the top Tony Award
