Photo Flash: Prior to Asia Tour, Rachelle Ann Go Plays Fantine in London

Sir Cameron Mackintosh, the legendary producer of "Les Miserables" ("Les Mis"), recently announced the Australian company of the completely reimagined edition of "Les Mis"--similar to the production that's currently running on Broadway--will tour across Asia, starting with Manila, Philippines.

West End's Rachelle Ann Go ("Miss Saigon" "Les Mis") will play Fantine; Australia's Simon Gleeson ("Love Never Dies," "Les Mis") will play Jean Valjean; and Broadway's Earl Carpenter ("The Witches of Eastwick," "Les Mis") will play Inspector Javert when the widely popular musical, which has been seen by over 70 million people in 42 countries, opens in Manila at The Theatre at Solaire Resorts and Casino on March 11, 2016.

Rachelle Ann, a double-platinum recording artist from the Philippines, made her West End debut in the current 25th anniversary production of "Miss Saigon" playing the role of Gigi van Tranh, a longtime bar girl at Dreamland.

In June of this year, following her one-year stint in "Miss Saigon," Rachelle Ann joined the company of the 30th anniversary production of West End's "Les Mis" playing the role of Fantine, a doomed young mother who gets to sing the heart-wrenching ballad "I Dreamed a Dream."

"After its Sydney and Brisbane run, I'm delighted to be bringing this new version to Manila in March, with a wonderful cast that include the current London star playing Fantine, acclaimed Philippine actress Rachelle Ann Go--who received enormous acclaim when I took her to London to appear as 'Gigi' in my hugely successful new production of 'Miss Saigon'," said Mackintosh, who jointly made the announcement with Bambi Rivera-Verzo, president of Concertus Manila, a promotions company.

Based on Victor Hugo's classic novel of the same name, "Les Mis" is an epic and uplifting story about the survival of the human spirit. Its magnificent songs, written by Claude-Michel Schönberg, Alain Boublil (French lyrics), Jean-Marc Natel (French lyrics) and Herbert Kretzmer (English libretto), include "I Dreamed a Dream," "On My Own," "Stars," "Bring Him Home," "Do You Hear the People Sing?," "One Day More," "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," "Master Of The House," and many more.

Below, Swedish photographer Johan Persson takes photos of Rachelle Ann in action, playing Fantine, together with current West End cast members Peter Lockyer (Jean Valjean), Adam Bayjou (factory foreman), Adam Pearce (Bamatabois), and the female ensemble.

For tickets (P1750-P7000) to the Asia tour kick-off in Manila, visit LesMis.com.ph.

Photos: Johan Persson