i’m making a post to talk about this with all the main information i feel is needed, so what’s happening to start? At the end of the month a new Les Misérables album is releasing, this recording is of the 40th Anniversary Cast from the WEST END. The cast listed are all entirely from the west end. Except for Jordan Shaw.
Instead Jordan has been replaced with a white actor, James Gish, now while i don’t want to place this blame onto Gish nor say anything against his performance, it’s INCREDIBLY disappointing and honestly ridiculous he’s the enjolras listed. James was NEVER at any of the 40th shows in the west end, the entire time it was Jordan Shaw playing in the role of Enjolras and he never missed a single day throughout the whole run. Jordan would’ve been there for whenever they decided to record, as even Killian Donnelly (Jean Valjean) said this was recorded live! They have INTENTIONALLY removed and replaced him.
[Cast List, Jordan Shaw’s name is nowhere listed despite the rest of the 40th Anniversary company being here]
Cameron Mackintosh (The Producer of the musical) did an interview with WhatsOnStage where he’s said he’s decided to splice the two 40th anniversary shows (the west end and the arena tour) but the ONLY songs that have actually been switched are only songs where Jordan would be singing as enjolras. Doesn’t sound like a coincidence right?
This is clear discrimination against Jordan Shaw. The fact they have chosen to remove one of their black principals KNOWING fully well how much this role has meant to Jordan and many other people who take inspiration from him, as well as the fact Jordan has helped to pave the way for us to get more POC enjolras actors! And not to even mention the fact Shaw won an award! An award in the role of Enjolras! He won “Best Supporting Male Actor” ! And it is so incredibly rare for this role to even be recognised especially in this way! Ap surely this would be something they want to promote right? But no, they have chosen not to and instead replaced him. I can’t even begin to imagine how disappointing this must be for Jordan - to see everyone else you worked so hard with get to be apart of this album and seeing that you’ve been the only person cut.
The fact they believed that no one in the fandom would even notice jordan’s removal is incredibly disrespectful and disappointing to me, the fact they thought we would simply turn a blind eye is disgusting. So please, talk about this. Jordan deserves his talent to be recognised.
Good question! Sadly there isn’t loads, but i don’t think that should stop or discourage us.
Leave comments on every official les mis post you see - and constantly! they have been consistently deleting comments with any mention of Jordan’s name as well as even turning off the comments which shows they know exactly what they’re doing.
Send emails! Talk about how disappointed you are in seeing Jordan being removed without any explanation as to why! You can email directly to cammack: [email protected] or you can email the distributors themselves: https://www.warnerclassics.com/contact
And if you’re feeling kind, maybe send Jordan a little message over on instagram! i’m sure he’d appreciate knowing we as a fandom support him and love his Enjolras (if you haven’t seen it, i’d recommend watching this performance from west end live!)
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