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"'Randal is one of the very best Valjeans,' says associate director Jason Moore, who is overseeing the current tour. 'He has a great voice and plays the role with a lot of heart.'" Ed Bradley, Flint Journal..
"Anchoring the piece is the great Randal Keith as Valjean, who was larger than
life in the 2006 national tour at the Buell Theatre. In this environ, he strikes
the more real figure of an ordinary, introspective man on a morally complex and
spiritual journey to reclaim his humanity. And, yes, the dude has the vocal
range of a barbershop quartet." John Moore, Denver Post,
September 28, 2008
"Randal
Keith, with superb vocal range, makes a powerful Valjean, complemented by Robert
Hunt's deep voice of authority as Javert...."
Judith Newmark, St. Louis Post Dispatch, July 20, 2006
The phenomenal Randal Keith as hero-on-the-run Jean Valjean is reason enough to reserve a good seat. His Act 2 'Bring Him Home' is such a powerful, prayerful study in tenor tenderness that I applaud not only him, but the woman in the front row who gave him a solo standing ovation immediately following the song. I assume everyone else was hunting for tissues like I was." Christopher Blank, Memphis Commercial Appeal,,,,, July 7, 2006
"Keith is a powerhouse with a beautifully nuanced delivery; he stops the show with the poignant 'Bring Him Home'..... Kelly Huffman, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, May 27, 2006
"There are moments in the show that are holy, such as when former thief Valjean sits down and sings - prays - To God to protect Marius....There's a reverence and a beautiful, deep spirituality to the song, especially the way Randal Keith sings it. His Valjean is strong and tender and honest, and Keith has a voice that makes you want to hold your breath and listen very, very carefully - you don't want to miss a note, a word." Kathleen Allen, Arizona Daily Star, May 11, 2006
"Randal Keith was the last performer to play Valjean on Broadway. He's a rock, both physically and dramatically. No slim and slender leading man here. He's short and stocky and tough as nails. You believe this guy really did nearly two decades of hard labor. Though quite capable of bombastic vocals, he is at his strongest and most memorable when he sings the prayer-like 'Bring Him Home.' Soft, almost whispering, it's a riveting performance." David Lyman, The Enquirer, April 26, 2006
"Randal Keith, the last Jean Valjean on Broadway, stands compact but muscular, has a burning urgency to his bearing and sings like an absolute angel on 'Bring Him Home.'" Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer, April 21, 2006
"Keith is both magnificently fierce and tender as hero Valjean, a man who does right but believes he's unworthy of others' forgiveness and love. His Prayer Bring Him Home, which couldn't have been more exquisite, drew nearly as much applause as the final curtain call opening night." Kerry Clawson, Beacon Journal, April 20, 2006
"Randal Keith's Valjean is superb, both power and tender." Toby Zinman, Philadelphia Inquirer, March 3, 2006
"Keith had played the final Valjean on Broadway and showed a consistent mastery of the role that was most noticeable in the soaring second act's heart-rending ballad 'Bring Him Home,' which he sang with as much passion as Colm Wilkinson, the original London Valjean." Elizabeth Zakszewski, The Tech, Boston, February 24, 2006
"But the greatest gem mined from this cast is a light and luxurious rendition of 'Bring Him Home' from Randal Keith. There is a globe of music spinning inside this Valjean, and Keith tempers his huge voice with a lovely falsetto that floats from his lips like magic. It's difficult to strike a realistic balance between the hardcore melodrama of the plot and its operatic overtures, but Keith masterfully weaves Valjean into a whole character, bleeding with tender emotion and life." Jolene Munch, Metro Weekly, December 115, 2005
"This operatic musical is always a superb show, but with Randal Keith playing the lead, Jean Valjean, it becomes paradisial. His pianissimo vocal touches and startling falsetto that fell into earthy low vibrato was riveting. And his stage presence has the strength and vulnerability of a Richard Burton in his prime. Bob Anthony, All Arts Review 4 U, December 10 2005
"Chief among the gems is Randal Keith as Jean Valjean,.... Keith opens the show truly appearing the world-weary convict enraged by his lot in life....and every character transition he makes, from proud but compassionate civic leader to haunted old man, is both striking and convincing. When he sings 'Bring Him Home', the tearful ballad which demands an almost impossible range from its singer, the song showcases Keith's emotional range as well. DCist, December 9, 2005
"Randal Keith is a moving Jean Valjean throughout, with a voice that can swoop or soar as needed and an innate sense of goodness that keeps the character from being cloying. His Rendition of 'Bring Him Home' is more openly impassioned than others have been and it gives the song a renewed power." Richard Ouzounian, Toronto Star, September 24, 2005
"This touring production....is firmly anchored by Randal Keith's excellent turn as Valjean. Keith is a dynamic stage presence throughout and offers a particularly moving rendition of the difficult 'Bring Him Home.'" Alison Broverman, Toronto Eye Weekly, September 29, 2005.
"....it's Keith's performance of Valjean that successfully mixes the brooding, dark side of his character with a resilient, impassioned humanity. His rendition of Bring Him Home, the character's signature song, was a beautiful thing." Kamal Al-Solaylee, Globeandmail.com, September 26, 2005
"This operatic musical is always a superb show but with Randal Keith playing the lead, Jean Valjean, it becomes paradisial. His pianissimo vocal touches and startling falsetto that fell into earthy low vibrato was riveting. And his stage presence has the strength and vulnerability of a Richard Burton in his prime." Bob Anthony, All Arts Review4U,Washington, D.C. December 10, 2005
"Chief among its gems is Randal Keith as Jean Valjean, the central character.... Keith opens the show truly appearing the world-weary convict enraged by his lot in life....and every character transition he makes, from proud but compassionate civic leader to haunted old man, is both striking and convincing. When he sings 'Bring Him Home', the tearful ballad which demands an almost impossible range from its singer, the song showcases Keith's emotional range as well." Missy Frederick, DCIst, Washington, D.C. December 9, 2005
"You will not hear a more fervent, bell-clear rendering of the role of Jean Valjean than the one given by Randal Keith, the actor who, not incidentally, was chosen by Mackintosh to close the Roadway run of the show on may 18, 2003, and to perform the role in Shanghai, China. Keith's rendering of the work's definitive aria, 'Bring Him Home' was crystalline and direct, and his acting of the role was unaffected but strong. Hedy Weiss, Chicago Sun-Times, March 19, 2005
"Of course, the key to this musical is Jean Valjean and Randal Keith leads the pack-he is fantastic! His vocal range is unbelievable! To hear him sing 'Bring Him Home' is worth the price of a ticket..." Al Bresioff, SalsaChicago.com, Chicago, March, 2005
"The company currently on stage at the Fox through February 13 features the best Jean Valjean I have ever seen, Randal Keith. Keith was the last performer to play the role of Jean Valjean when the original Broadway company closed on May 18, 2003, after 6,680 performances. His number 'Bring Him Home' in Act II is a showstopper and will melt the hardest heart" Harry Hamm, KMOX, St. Louis, MO, February 2005
"With the superb voice of Randal Keith almost sufficient to light the stage...."Les Misérables" returned to the Fox Theatre...As Jean Valjean, a tragic hero for several centuries, Keith displayed immense vocal range and the necessary power." Joe Pollack, KWMU, St. Louis, February 2005.
"Keith, who played the role (Jean Valjean) on Broadway, knows its nuances so well it's impossible to trip him up. His voice was incredible, filed with subtlety throughout." Bruce R. Miller, Sioux City Journal, January 26, 2005
"As Jean Valjean, Randal Keith, who appeared in the role in the final Broadway performance of the show and has played the lead in 'Phantom of the Opera,' is amazing. His voice has such power, such passion, that it grabs the audience and holds them in awe like fruit suspended in Jell-O." Eric Larose, Marinette, WI, Eagle Herald, January 22, 2005
"Randal Keith....continues to fully inhabit the role of beleaguered Valjean. Keith shows no sign of neglecting the commitment to character, though he has performed the role many times....His vocal performance is exemplary, rich and most glorious to hear. The roar of appreciation the audience provided for him at curtain call was genuine and well deserved" Ann Miner, Pittsburgh, TalkingBroadway.com, January 2005
"Randal Keith holds his own with the best Jean Valjean's, including Colm Wilkinson who originated the role on Broadway. Keith's vocal pipes are impressively strong and sweet, as his music requires." Damien Jaques, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, January 5, 2005
"Keith is a tremendously talented leading man who portrays each of the phases of his complex character with grace and ease. His voice is a prayer and when he sings 'Bring Him Home' there is a magic in the air that hangs in the open spaces of the historic Pantages Theatre as though angels had come to sit in the balcony to listen." Steven Sabel, Redlands Daily Facts, December 9, 2004
"Randal Keith's portrayal of Jean Valjean is magnificent. His powerful voice is capable of shaking the rafters of the Pantages Theatre--which takes some doing--and yet his finest moment comes in 'Bring Him Home,' where his pure single high note ending the song hangs, perfect in the air, exquisite, leading the audience to respond with the most enthusiastic and sustained mid-play applause I've ever heard." Terry Morgan, Backstage.com Show Guide, December 15, 2004
"Randal Keith leads this production as Valjean, the part he played when the Broadway run ended last year. It's a very demanding, role, physically and vocally, and Keith proves himself up to it with a robust baritone in the first-act soliloquy and a sweet, heady tenor in the prayerful 'Bring Him Home.' And he brings out the flawed but saintly nature of his character very honestly." Valerie Kukleaski, U-Daily News, December 6, 2004
"Randal Keith makes a fine protagonist, Jean Valjean--his compact frame and prizefighter swagger contrast nicely with an elastic singing voice that can boom low and float to an angel's falsetto in the span of a phrase or two." LA Weekly
"Keith is a born Valjean, with a voice that can growl in the lower registers and still go impossibly high in the song-prayer 'Bring Him Home.' He's built like a pugnacious wrestler and is totally convincing as an immovable force. No wonder producer Cameron Mackintosh chose Keith to be Valjean in the Broadway grand finale last year." Jim Kershner, Spokane Journal, November 18, 2004
"Although personally not one for theatrical musical performances, I was rendered speechless at the pure sound of Randal Keith's voice. He provides a passionate performance with a flexible voice that can thunder with indignation while being capable of embracing fragility and tenderness-as in the beautiful prayer'Bring Him Home' in which Keith reaches falsetto notes with unimaginable ease. " Glen Chau, Culture writer, The Ubyssey Magazine, November 19, 2004
"Keith's entrancing tenor in 'Bring Him Home' was meet with rousing applause. It was truly the most heartfelt and talented performance of the night." Amy Dalness, Daily Lobo, October 21,2004
"Keith has a solid grasp of the blend of operatic histrionics and more down-to-earth emotion necessary to play the role effectively. And he's a vocalist of might, easily traversing one of the show's trickiest and best-known songs: His interpretation of 'Bring Him Home' rumbles through its power-ballad passages and lends a haunting quality to its falsetto sections." Dominic P. Papatola, Pioneer Press, June 18, 2004
"There are simply not enough superlatives to describe this production or its Jean Valjean. To start, Randal Keith, who was Broadway's last Valjean, sings like an angel, and brings passion, strength and a sense of total believability to the role. His 'Bring Him Home' is gorgeous." Bob Rendell, TalkinBroadway.com, June, 2004
"Keith has a remarkable, falsetto-tinged voice that is shown at its best in the gloriously haunting 'Bring Him Home.' He is wonderfully passionate in 'Who Am I?,' where he re-assesses his life, and empathetic in 'Come to Me' where he takes pity on one of his townspeople." Peter Filichia, Star-Ledger, June 11, 2004
"As he did two springs ago here and last year in Dallas, Randal Keith gives the role of Jean Valjean his own smoldering brand. With towering voice and range, he brings both authority and nuance to 'Who Am I?' In exquisite contrast, he glides into high pianissimo on 'Bring Him Home,' which came close to stopping the show at Tuesday night's performance." Perry Stewart, Star Telegram, Dallas-Fort Worth, June, 2004
"When listening to the kind of voice Randal Keith as Valjean brings to the stage, one must be grateful for big, broad musical scores. It takes that particular ilk to showcase that special sound of rich, soaring baritone that tops the scale with a crystal tenor gliding into dazzling falsetto. His show-stopping renditions of 'Who Am I?' and 'Bring Him Home' vocally and lyrically tug at the soul of his persona. Phyllis Green, Theater columnist, South Florida entertainment News & Views. May 21, 2004
"Heading the sizable cast of 32 is Randal Keith as a heart-felt Valjean, a barrel-chested bear of a man with a stunning vocal range from a deep, rich baritone to a controlled, sweet upper register." Hap Erstein, Palm Beach Post, May 13, 2004
"Randal Keith, who portrayed protagonist Jean Valjean, is not only a believable actor, he exhibited an amazing voice throughout the demanding show. His performance of 'Bring Him Home' was possibly the highlight of the evening." Howard Miller, The Huntsville Times, April 28, 2004
"Keith may have grown more comfortable as Valjean, but he hasn't lost an iota of intensity. Seemingly without strain, he can still modulate his voice from a powerful gale force to an intoxicatingly cool spring breeze." Molly, New Haven Review
"The central role of Jean Valjean is paramount, and Randal Keith is more than up to the task, believably transforming from angry prisoner to upstanding citizen in just three scenes. In an impassioned and energetic performance, he anchors the show beautifully. This is a difficult vocal score that often bounces from head-voice pianissimos to full-bore Broadway belting in the same song, and Keith's rich, resonant voice suits it perfectly. His 'Bring Him Home' stopped the show." Kathleen Stanley Rizzo Young, The Buffalo News, April 1, 2004
"As Jean Valjean, Randal Keith combines a powerful stage presence with a well-schooled voice that can handle the role's remarkably wide range. When Keith is even in view, one senses a certain stability, an ineffable poise in the proceedings." Lawrence B. Johnson, The Detroit News
"By far, the most enjoyable performance is that of Valjean, played by Randal Keith. When he first appears on stage, he is short, stout and doesn't look the part of the hero. But when he opens his mouth, he seems 10 feet tall. His rich voice gives goose bumps ("Who Am I?") or brings tears ("Bring Him Home"). It is little wonder why Keith was selected to play Valjean in the final Broadway cast of "Les Mis." Emily Sickelka, Iowa Daily
"Randal Keith (Jean Valjean) was chosen by legendary producer Cameron Mackintosh to be the final Valjean on Broadway when Les Mis ended its 16-year run in May 2003. If his performance in Dayton was any indication, Mackintosh certainly made the right call. Keith was fantastic in what many consider to be one of the most challenging roles in the musical theater canon for a male actor. Keith wonderfully held the entire show in his hands. He brought down the house in Act Two with 'Bring Him Home.' As soon as he hit the infamous first three notes, the number became a signature moment filled with heartfelt pleading." Russell Florence, Jr., Dayton City Paper
"This cast delivers, especially Randal Keith, whose physical size and powerful voice make him memorable as prisoner #24601." Alan w. Petrucelli, Barnstable Patriot
"...Keith dominates the stage with the strongest voice and presence in the show." Andrea McPhee, Berkeley Review
"....every minute from curtain up to curtain down is as captivating as the original. A large part of the credit goes to Randal Keith, who transforms Jean Valjean from a bitter, defiant parolee to a man of wisdom. courage and nobility. Some actors do it mainly with body language. Keith has the added advantage of an exceptional vocal range to express all the complexities of his character, from despair to supplication. His eloquent 'Bring Him Home' was a showstopper." Maxine Ginsberg, Naples Daily News
"At the heart of the show is the cat-and-mouse chase between Jean Valjean and Javert, the police officer who relentlessly pursues him. In these roles are two solid performers: Randal Keith is superb as Valjean, bringing a rock-star charisma to the role, especially with his moving 'Bring Him Home.' And as Javert, the ably voiced James Clow matches him every step of the way, most notably with his powerful 'Stars.'" Robert Nesti, Boston Herald
"Randal Keith throws himself into the large role of Jean Valjean completely. His high tenor easily meets the challenging vocal demand of Valjean, and his performance is reminiscent of Colm Wilkinson, who originated the role in London and New York." Scott Cain, Cincinnati
"....most important, the talent is absolutely top-drawer, with seasoned veterans in the leading roles and relative newcomers we shall certainly near more of in the future in supporting parts.
"Among the former, solid Randal Keith, the last Valjean to sing in New York, comes on like a biker Jesus in the Prologue, evolving elegantly over the decades into the shriven sinner facing his maker. An intense tenor, he sings like a big old angel." Tony Brown, The Plain Dealer, Cleveland
"Randal Keith.... is the prototypical wide-bodied Valjean, capable of booming resonance in low notes and a delicate near-falsetto. He put both to use in Act 2's Bring Him Home, the single most excellent solo on a night blessed with them.
Keith is a marvelous and experienced Valjean who anchors this production, but also sets a high standard." Terry Morris, Dayton Daily News
"A deeply sympathetic Randal Keith turns the central character, the persecuted fugitive Jean Valjean, into a font of self-sacrifice. Keith renders Valjean's "Soliloquy" as a stunned realization that the parolee who logged 19 years on a chain gang for stealing bread to feed his family indeed possesses a soul. Keith holds an internal argument in the introspective "Who Am I?," in which Valjean wrestles with protecting his cover as a factory owner and town mayor or admitting his past to prevent an innocent man from going to jail for him. A penitent Keith pleads with God in "Bring Him Home," urging the Almighty to protect the lover of his ward, Cosette. A mountain of a man, Valjean possesses extraordinary strength; Keith's coup de theatre is having it accrue from within." Peter Szatmary, Indy Star
"Les Mis veteran Randal Keith is sensational as Jean Valjean, the man on the run. Keith's got incredible range--from warm burnished baritone to sweet floating falsetto--and he knows how to shape a tune so that it holds listeners in its spell." Channing Gray, Journal Arts
"The national touring company features a Broadway-caliber cast led by the magnificent Randal Keith as Jean Valjean. His elegant voice conveys both tenderness and strength of spirit throughout, culminating in the beautiful ballad Bring Him Home....leading to an extended ovation by a full and appreciative audience." Rob Hopper, San Diego Playbill
"I've seen the show six or eight time, and I don't think I've ever seen someone play Jean Valjean as well as he (Randal Keith) did. His stocky frame fits the part, and his voice is remarkably clear, strong and drenched in emotion. It was an unexpected thrill." D. Nicholson, Daily Press
"Randal Keith (Valjean) is one of the best singers I have ever heard tackle this difficult score. Keith's range from low notes into falsetto is perfect in pitch and tone. His performance of....Bring Him Home was the best version I have heard of this song. Keith has the incredible ability to sing straight through the verse into the chorus without taking a breath, in full belt no less! Keith's vibrato stays strong and solid." John Garcia, Talkin' Broadway, Dallas
"He was simply amazing. Keith had an incredible vocal range that gave me chills and goose bumps throughout the entire show."
"Randal Keith makes a passionate Valjean and he's got a singing voice that goes from flickering whisper to glorious trumpet. He's wonderful in his soliloquy during the prologue and holds the audience in the palm of his hand during the prayerful Bring Him Home."
"Randal Keith as Valjean is captivating. His part requires an expansive vocal range and commanding stage presence." Paul Crocetti and Kate Schrinsky, The Heights, Boston College
"Randal Keith as Valjean should be singled out for his heavenly voice. The audience swooned and gasped at his angelic restraint, then marveled with applause at his ability to fill the house with the powerful anthems of Les Misérables." Melissa Frey, On the Edge, Madison, WI
"Keith is a beautiful singer, able to go through the range of anger, warmth, desperation and understand compassion." Rohan Preston, Star Tribune, St. Paul
