Bradley Jaden, Fresh Off Les Misérables Arena Tour, Will Make His Broadway Debut in 'Wanted'
Bradley Jaden will make his Broadway debut this fall in Wanted, a new musical set in 1893 Texas, Variety reported on August 19. Jaden joins a company that already includes Solea Pfeiffer, Liisi LaFontaine, Luke James, and Grammy winner Ledisi.
Jaden comes to Broadway straight from Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular, a world tour that wrapped at Radio City Music Hall. He played Inspector Javert — the relentless police officer who pursues Valjean through Victor Hugo's story — a role he also recorded for the Les Misérables 40th anniversary all-star cast album. Vulture critic Fran Hoepfner singled out his performance, calling his take on Javert a discovery and noting that his rendition of "Javert's Suicide" drew the loudest applause of the night. The 40th anniversary cast recording features Killian Donnelly as Valjean, Katie Hall as Fantine, Shan Ako as Eponine, and Adam Gillen as Thénardier, with Jaden as Javert; a CD signing event with several of those performers was held in late July, Playbill reported.
Before Les Misérables, Jaden's credits span London and West End productions of Sondheim's Old Friends, Wicked, Shrek, and Camelot — but never a Broadway stage. Wanted changes that.
The musical, formerly titled Gun & Powder, Deadline reported in May, follows twin sisters Mary and Martha Clarke on the run in Texas in 1893. It has been described as "soulful and dangerous." Pfeiffer and LaFontaine play Mary and Martha, while Ledisi and Jaden play characters named Tallulah and Jesse.
The book and lyrics are by Angelica Chéri, who is a descendant of the Sisters Clarke — the real historical figures at the center of the story. The music is by Ross Baum. Stevie Walker-Webb directs, with choreography by Chelsey Arce.
Ledisi, who joined the cast in May, is a Grammy-winning singer-songwriter, actress, author, and producer, TheaterMania reported. Luke James was previously announced in the company as well.
Previews — the early performances before a show officially opens, when the creative team is still making changes — begin October 15 at the James Earl Jones Theatre. Opening night is November 8. Both the preview and opening dates were confirmed in the initial May casting announcements and hold in the August reporting.
For Jaden, it is the end of one road and the start of another. The Les Misérables arena tour played its final performance at Radio City; now he crosses the street, essentially, from the concert stage to a book musical, making his first appearance on a Broadway stage in a show whose creators include a direct descendant of the characters driving the plot.
