Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Shakespeare Festival has announced it is canceling its production of ``Les Miserables'' from its 2008-2009 schedule because of slumping ticket sales.
The regional theater in Montgomery made the move following projections that the current ASF show, ``A Christmas Carol: The Musical,'' would only sell about 60 percent of its sales goal when it wraps Dec. 24.
``Les Mis rables'' was the biggest production in the upcoming lineup and would have cost the theater about $1.3 million. Festival officials considered delaying the show until 2010 but were unable to obtain production rights for that year.
ASF had already been forced to make cutbacks and lay off workers because of the economic downturn. The theater's $9.6 million budget was reduced by more than $600,000 this year.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)