The great composer Stephen Sondheim loved puzzles, and when he died in 2021, he left one for his good friend, British super-producer Cameron Mackintosh.

Cartell leads the touring production of Les Misérables as Jean Valjean.

One of the classics of musical theater is in Detroit through Jan. 8 at the Fisher Theatre. “Les Misérables” is one of the most celebrated shows of all time and cast member Haley Dortch joined Tati Amare on “Live in the D” to talk about her national debut tour.

(Aaron Chown/PA via AP)LONDON – When Andrew Lincoln steps onstage at London’s Old Vic Theatre as Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol,” he looks out on an empty auditorium. The Old Vic is among theaters trying to keep the flame alive. That includes London, where theaters had just begun to reopen after a four-week national lockdown ended Dec. 2. The Old Vic has mounted an “In Camera” season of plays performed on its stage and broadcast online. Playwright Jack Thorne’s adaptation has been a hit at the Old Vic for the past three Christmases.

ANN ARBOR A recent video posted by Ann Arbor Pioneers Theatre Guild gives meaning to the phrase the show must go on.When senior Dana Steiner learned that the groups spring production of Les Miserables was canceled, she pitched the performing-in-place idea. I am a senior at Pioneer and this would have been my last musical with my younger brother and my PTG family. To help everyone record their parts, I sent out an instruction video and sample recordings of every ensemble vocal track, Steiner said in a statement. Every cast member who wanted to participate recorded themselves singing their part a cappella while listening to the accompaniment in headphones. I got sent each video individually -- 35 total -- at the beginning of May and spent weeks editing them all together.Wed say it was a big success.