When "Les Misérables" was announced as the Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival (PSF) 24th season-opener, the Lehigh Valley theater community was all abuzz.

Tickets are selling at nearly triple the rate of any previous production and more than half of the 10,400 tickets have been sold, according to PSF officials.

"Les Misérables," also known as "Les Miz," culminates years of effort by Patrick Mulcahy, now in his 12th year as PSF Producing Artistic Director, to stage the iconic musical.

"'Les Miz' is very exciting, partly because I've been working on getting the rights to it for half of those 12 years. I think it's been actually seven or eight years," Mulcahy says.

"The rights were locked up for either on being on Broadway or national tours. The window would open or close.

"And to have it while it's still running on Broadway is pretty amazing. It's very unusual for us to get the rights to a show that's on Broadway," Mulcahy says.

"Les Misérables" runs for 22 performances, with previews June 10 and 11, opening night June 12, and continuing through June 28, on the Main Stage of Labuda Center for the Arts on the idyllic Center Valley campus of DeSales University in Upper Saucon Township.

The first day, Feb,. 12, that single tickets became available for PSF's summer season, a new record was set, an increase of 85 percent more than the previous record set, according to PSF officials.

In one day, 809 tickets were sold for about $38,000, predominantly for "Les Miz." Normal one-day sales in February range between $4,000 and $6,000. The previous single largest sale day in the box office was on June 13, 2011, when the total sales were $18,400, with about two-thirds for "South Pacific."

Although PSF held its subscription renewal campaign without informing patrons of the opening-season musical, renewals were up more than 60 percent compared to the same time last year.

As part of the licensing agreement for "Les Miz," the title couldn't be announced until after Jan. 1. The season's other six titles were announced last fall.

PSF's 2015 season includes Shakespeare's "Henry V," July 16 - Aug. 2, Main Stage, and "Pericles," July 22 - Aug. 2, Schubert Theatre; the American comedy by Larry Shue, "The Foreigner," July 8 - Aug. 2, Main Stage, and Mark Brown's "Around The World In 80 Days," June 17 - July 12, Schubert Theatre. The children's productions are a new adaptation of "Rapunzel" (written and directed by Erin Sheffield), May 29 - Aug. 1, Schubert Theatre, and "Shakespeare For Kids" (written by Erin Sheffield and directed by Matt Pfeiffer), July 22 - Aug. 1, Main Stage.

"I love the different kinds of popularity that each of these plays has," says Mulcahy. "'Les Miz' will set a record. It will be the most attended musical ever in the Lehigh Valley."

There are also one-night events, including: "Luminosity," the PSF Gala, 6 p.m. May 30; "The Rape Of Lucrese," 7:30 p.m. June 22, Schubert Theatre, in which Dan Hodge, PSF actor and co-founder of the Philadelphia Artists' Collective, interprets Shakespeare's epic poem, and "Choose Love: Jeremiah James In Concert," 7:30 p.m. July 27, Main Stage.

PSF presents seven productions and 140-plus performances in nine weeks, May 29 - Aug. 2. PSF brings 160 visiting artists and artisans from 20-plus states to the Lehigh Valley, including 35 Equity actors from Broadway, New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles.

PSF draws from a five-county region, with 75 percent of its audience from Lehigh, Northampton, Bucks and Berks counties and also from 30 counties in Pennsylvania and 30 states in the United States.

Alvin H. Butz is "Les Misérables" production sponsor. Production co-sponsors are Air Products and Orlando Diefenderfer Electrical Contractors.

Amaranth Foundation is the 2015 season sponsor. Associate season sponsors are the Szarko Family, Harry C. Trexler Trust and Linda Lapos and Paul Wirth.

The announcement that "Les Miz" would open the 2015 season was made at a special event for PSF subscribers and supporters Jan. 15 at The Cosmopolitan Restaurant, Allentown. The "Les Miz" banner was unfurled from the balcony and flags were waved.

Once PSF received the rights to produce "Les Miz," increasing the number of performances was explored. "The best we could do was to add two Wednesday matinees to our traditional schedule," says PSF Managing Director Casey Gallagher. "We have a total of 10,400 seats available for 22 performances and we expect to sell them all.

"'Les Misérables' ticket sales are a driving force, but ticket sales for all the productions are significantly ahead of last year, which came close to matching the attendance record of 33,940 set in 2011," Gallagher says.

"Les Misérables" is directed by PSF Associate Artistic Director Dennis Razze, who has directed all of PSF's musicals, including "Fiddler On The Roof," "Oklahoma!" and "Sweeney Todd."

Says Razze, "Victor Hugo's epic tale of suffering and redemption is one of the greatest classics of literature and this musical brilliantly adapts this story to the stage. PSF has the talent, the energy, and the passion to make 'Les Miz' an unforgettable theatrical experience.

"PSF has wanted to produce Les Misérables for many years," Razze continues, "and I have certainly dreamed that I would have the opportunity to direct it. I am thrilled that day has come and that we will be the first professional theater in our area to produce this monumental achievement in musical theater."

The all-new PSF production of "Les Miz" features a cast of 37 that collectively represent the most Broadway credits, most recording artists, and most national tours of any cast ever on stage in PSF's 24-season history.

"The sweeping range of the operatic music and the epic story of 'Les Miz' demands exceptional singer-actors, and this cast has experience on some of the world's best stages," says Razze.

Leading the cast is Mike Eldred as Jean Valjean, a role he performed on Broadway, where he also starred in the original cast of the Tony-nominated "Civil War." In addition to his three solo CDs, Eldred is an internationally-renowned tenor who has performed in concert with many of North America's finest symphony orchestras, including Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Edmonton, San Diego, Seattle and Toronto.

Valjean is mercilessly pursued by the police officer Inspector Javert, performed by Jeremiah James. James played Billy Bigelow in "Carousel" in London's West End, El Gallo in "The Fantasticks!" in New York City and Curly in the Broadway-London first National Tour of the Trevor Nunn-Cameron Mackintosh revival of "Oklahoma!" James, a solo recording artist, is a member of the singing supergroup Teatro.

Kate Fahrner portrays the impoverished factory worker Fantine, who sings the show's most famous song "I Dreamed a Dream." Fahrner's credits include the National Tour of "Wicked" as Glinda, a role she played in Chicago and on Broadway. She also performed as Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center's National Tour of "South Pacific."

Rachel Potter, a Nashville recording artist who played the character of Wednesday in Broadway's "The Addams Family," in addition to other Broadway and national tour credits, plays Eponine, who sings "On My Own." Potter was a Top 12 finalist on Fox TV's "The X Factor" in Season Three and just released her second album.

Performing the role of Cosette, Valjean's adopted daughter, is Delaney Westfall, who recently finished "Side Show" on Broadway (multiple roles). She has also played principle roles in several full-length HBO movies.

Brad Greer plays the student revolutionary Marius. Greer's credits include the Riverside Theatre-National Tour of "Altar Boyz" and the Walnut Street Theater, Philadelphia, production of "Grease."

Tim Gulan, reprising the role he played in the 25th Anniversary National Tour of "Les Miz, plays Thénardier, a thief and gang leader. On Broadway, Gulan performed in the world premiere of Sting's "The Last Ship," as well as "The Lion King," "The Frogs" and "Blood Brothers."

Jon Berry, a co-star in hit TV shows "Nashville" and "Drop Dead Diva," plays the student leader Enjolras. His regional theater credits include the title roles in "The Who's Tommy" and "Jesus Christ Superstar," and Che in "Evita."

"All of those folks are new to us," Mulcahy says. "That's actually not uncommon for a musical at PSF.

"This is a play where the casting often hinges on who can belt the high notes, eight times a week and really nail it. That's not the only consideration."

There's an ensemble cast of more than 25 and a full orchestra under the baton of Nathan Diehl, music director and conductor for PSF's last four musicals. J. Bennett Durham, who conducts DeSales University's three choral ensembles, is music director for the production.

For Mulcahy, "Les Miz' is right at home on the PSF stage.

"'Les Misérables' is a sweeping, timeless classic that began its life at a Shakespeare theater and fits our mission beautifully. It is Shakespearean in scope and scale, and is perhaps the most powerful and moving musical ever created," according to Mulcahy.

"Les Miz" auditions were held in New York City. PSF didn't hold Equity auditions for the other plays. "We had a stable of actors and those who directors wanted," Mulcahy notes.

Equity actor favorites include: "Around The World In 80 Days," Brad DePlanche (Passapartout), Anita Vasan (Aouda track); "Henry V," Zack Robidas (Henry V), Bill Zielinski (Pistol-Ely), Jacob Dresch (Dauphin-Nym); "The Foreigner," Carl Wallnau (Froggy), David Button (Ellard), and "Pericles," Chris Mullen (Pericles), Susan Riley Stevens (Dionyza) and Gina Lamparella (Thaisa).

Other returning PSF favorites are Greg Wood, Anthony Lawton, Wayne Turney and Jane Ridley.

"Henry V," directed by Matt Pfeiffer, and "The Foreigner," directed by Jim Helsinger, are presented in repertory on the Main Stage, whereby the same cast is in both plays, which alternate on the same stage.

"We've really got something for everyone," says Mulcahy. "Side-splitting comedies that have a heart to them. One of Shakespeare's great history plays, a penetrating look at leadership, justification for war and a look at nationalism. It's the original 'Band Of Brothers.' And it ends with a delightful love scene."

"That's something that's true about the season," Mulcahy says. "That's a thread, that of the heart opening up. It happens in 'The Foreigner.' It happens in 'Henry V.' It happens in 'Pericles.'"

And, we might add, it happens in "Les Misérables."

Tickets: pashakespeare. org, 610-282-WILL (9455)