It is not always easy to regularly update this shows section in Paris because some don’t stay on the bill long enough for me to find the time to see them and tell you about them before the performances end. I have therefore decided to tell you about some shows in advance and add the reviews later, once I have seen them.
I still managed to gather for you in this article a small selection of shows to see right now, with a nice variety of themes as usual: concert, mentalism, musical, comedy, circus…
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Table of Contents
Funny Girl at Théâtre Marigny
I have been a fan of musicals for years, so I was excited to discover the adaptation of this legendary musical created on stage in 1964 and then brought to the screen by Barbra Streisand. Unfortunately, I have never seen this film (a gap that I will have to fill very quickly), but I have been a fan of the song Don’t Rain on My Parade since my Glee years.
The story takes place in the 1910s and recounts the rise of Fanny Brice, from her chaotic beginnings as a “chorus girl” to her status as a star of the Ziegfeld Follies, including her romance with the elegant Nick Arnstein.
After the success of Guys and Dolls, which I already told you about on the blog, Jean-Luc Choplin has chosen to present for the first time in France a new production of Funny Girl, entrusted to Stephen Mear (director of 42nd Street and choreographer of Singin’ in the Rain at the Théâtre du Châtelet and recently Guys and Dolls at Marigny).
Christina Bianco, in the role of Fanny Brice, is the revelation of this show. She is impressive on stage and despite (or because of) her short stature, she lights up the show and demonstrates that even if we do not fit the standards and canons of “beauty” of an era, talent and willpower can bring us to the forefront, just like her character with her impressive strength of character and contagious positivity.
In short, it is a grand and touching show and a magnificent musical to discover or rediscover on stage!
Funny Girl Until March 7, 2020 Théâtre Marigny Carré Marigny, 75008 Paris Evening shows Tuesday to Saturday at 8 PM, matinees Saturday at 3 PM and Sunday at 4 PM Prices: from €15 For information, the show is performed in English with French surtitles
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Christelle Chollet in N°5 de Chollet
After triumphing in “L’Empiafée” and then in “L’Entubée,” her 2nd “Musical One-Woman-Show,” after igniting Bobino, the Casino de Paris, the Olympia, and all of France with over 500 tour dates, Christelle Chollet is back with her 5th show at the Théâtre de la Tour Eiffel.
In this new show, the diva of humor is definitely musical and rock-n-roll, and she gives off an impressive energy on stage that is extremely contagious!
I must say I had an excellent time at this show, which I highly recommend if you are a fan of 80s/90s songs! I laughed a lot, but I was also swept away by a moment of very pleasant nostalgia.
N°5 de Chollet by Christelle Chollet
Until February 1, 2020
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays
Théâtre de la Tour Eiffel
4, square Rapp 75007 Paris
Prices: between €17 and €29 (VIP box)_
Siddhartha the Rock Opera
As I said above, I am a fan of musicals, so I was once again impatient to discover this rock opera. And yet, I must confess that I was quite disappointed by this show.
In theory, discovering the life of Siddhartha, who lived 2,500 years ago somewhere in northern India and became the Buddha, seemed quite cheerful and interesting. However, I appreciated the costumes and grand sets of the show, as well as the talent of the rock opera singers (even if I regretted that, overall, the voices all sounded a bit the same from my perspective).
Furthermore, I found the narrative sometimes disjointed and even difficult to follow, presenting us with characters whose link to Siddhartha I did not understand (the latter only revealing himself after the intermission). Not to mention the fact that from far away (yes, we are at the Palais des Sports), the characters are ultimately quite hard to recognize (for the secondary roles), which I find confuses the story even more.
I also regretted the lack of dancing in the show, aside from a few acrobatic passages that were quite pleasant but too few in my opinion. Fortunately, the performance of the main character Siddhartha by Inca is up to the task and allowed me to latch onto the story and watch the show until the end. Even so, I left with a feeling of disappointment compared to the expectations I had for the show.
Siddhartha The Rock Opera from November 26, 2019 to January 5, 2020 Palais des Sports de Paris Prices: from €25 to €79
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Pourang – Labyrinthe, The Corridors of Infinity
Pourang
was born in Tehran and arrived in France in 1980 at the age of 14. Today, he is an emergency doctor and performs on stage out of passion because he has been interested in Magic, and more specifically Close-Up, since his university years. For about ten years, he has specialized in the art of mentalism and is a member of several associations in the field of magic and mentalism. He also participated in the TV show “La France a un Incroyable Talent” (M6) in 2017.
In this show, Pourang takes us to the heart of the Labyrinth myth, from its Greek origins with the Minotaur, to the labyrinth of our modern lives, passing through London in 1888, a terrible era marked by the murders of Jack the Ripper.
I liked the effort put into the sets and costumes, which give an original and inventive (almost theatrical) staging for this type of show, but I was less convinced by the mentalism tricks… Perhaps also because I am starting to see a few (I’m thinking in particular of Langevin).
I quite easily saw the “strings” of the tricks and where he wanted to lead us. And ultimately, the more exceptional acts in my opinion were not those that were really highlighted. However, if you have never seen a mentalism show, I think you will certainly adhere to it more easily than I did.
Pourang Mentalist Show resumes every Monday at 7:30 PM starting January 13, 2020 until April 27, 2020 Comédie de Paris 42 rue Fontaine 75009 Paris Prices: from €16
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M concert at the AccorHotels Arena
M concert at the AccorHotels ArenaTo end the year well, I am lucky to have been invited next Wednesday to attend the M concert in an Orange box. I can’t wait to discover it because he is an artist I like a lot but whom I have never seen on stage.
If you want to follow this evening live with me, don’t hesitate to watch my stories on my Instagram account @mellebonplan.
-M- in concert at the AccorHotels Arena from December 16 to 19, 2019
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Bond Symphonique at the Grand Rex
Bond Symphonique is the first symphonic concert based on the musical themes and songs from James Bond films, performed by 50 musicians from the Colonne and Musidrama orchestra, Prisca Demarez, and Damien Sargue. As a long-time fan of James Bond films, I confess I can’t wait to discover this!
During these Bond Symphonique concerts, we will find the most famous themes, including the famous James Bond Theme, the instrumental music that appears in the introduction of all the films. But also other famous tracks: Goldfinger, Diamonds are forever, Goldeneye, Skyfall, Live and let die, Die another day, The living daylights, A view to a kill, You Only Live Twice, Nobody Does It Better…
The majority of the music (11 contributions) is by John Barry, one of the world’s greatest film music composers. After John Barry, David Arnold is the second most important composer in the series (5 contributions). He composed the music for Tomorrow Never Dies to Quantum of Solace. The other composers in the saga are George Martin, Bill Conti, Michael Kamen, Marvin Hamlisch, Eric Serra, and Tomas Newman.
Bond Symphonique
at the Grand Rex in Paris, February 14 and 15, 2020
and then on tour in France (Lyon, Rennes, Nantes, Rouen, Caen, and Amneville) and
Switzerland (Geneva)
Prices: from €49 to €110_
Forever, the best show about the King of Pop
Forever, the best show about the King of Pop arrives in France for a 30-date tour from November 26, 2019, to February 9, 2020, including six performances at the Casino de Paris and one at La Seine Musicale on January 4, 2020.
It is a 2-hour show, one of a kind, because it is the only one in the world approved by three members of the Michael Jackson family. In addition to the great hits of Michael Jackson performed by 26 artists and musicians, it is above all a show that retraces the great standards of the King of Pop thanks to careful staging bringing together the best voices, musicians, and dancers.
For my part, I am going to discover the show on January 4th at La Seine Musicale with my friend Julie, who is a big Michael Jackson fan and who I think will have a sharp opinion on the matter (she can’t wait to be there, in any case).
Forever, the best show about the King of Pop
on January 4 at La Seine Musicale in Paris and on tour until February 9, 2020
Prices: from €35_
Le Monde de Jalèya by Cirque de Paname
This winter, Cirque de Paname has set up in a brand new dome built for the occasion at the Hippodrome de Longchamp. Even if, without a car, access to the dome is a bit complicated in these times of strikes, this show is really worth the trip because I was absolutely enchanted by its magical and colorful universe!
We find a very contemporary and danced circus in a dreamlike and particularly visual world. On stage, more than 30 talented artists and a creation that blends contemporary circus, dance, live singers and musicians, visual and sound effects… In short, we embark on an extremely exhilarating fantastic voyage!
My little access tip: if you don’t take the shuttle from Porte Maillot but come from the T2 tram like me, there is bus 244 that can bring you closer to the circus entrance, but above all, even on foot, you must enter through the car entrance of the Longchamp golf course!
Cirque de Paname Le Monde de Jalèya show until 02/23/2020 Hippodrome ParisLongchamp, 2 Route des Tribunes, 75016 Paris Price: tickets from €35
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Polar System in immersive live at Café de la Danse
The band Polar System (Alternative / New Wave) will be in immersive live at Café de la Danse on Wednesday, January 15, 2020. In this immersive live, there will also be a projection of Kaspar’s “glitch” visual creations on a custom-made structure designed and built by the Nymphe Collective.
I really liked the few videos I saw of them on YouTube, so I really wanted to announce this date in my selection of shows to see in Paris in early 2020.
Polar System in immersive live on Wednesday, January 15, 2020, from 6 PM to 10:30 PM Café de la Danse 5 Passage Louis-Philippe 75011 Paris Prices: €12 presale / €14.50 at the door
