STARMANIA PARIS. 43 years after its creation by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon, the musical Starmania made its debut at the Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, before going on tour in France.
The new version of Starmania is, let’s not be afraid of words, sparkling. The cult musical, created by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon 43 years ago, moved to the Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, from November 8. She will then go on tour in the Zeniths of France. For the premiere of the show, an audience of stars attended this 2022 version of the famous rock opera: Brigitte Macron, Line Renaud, Michel Drucker, Vincent Cassel, Clara Luciani, Tony Estanguet, but also Fabienne Thibeault, historic Marie -Jeanne and Luc Plamondon, creator of Starmania, received a standing ovation upon entering the room.
First performed in 1973, the musical Starmania resonates impressively. Between the rise of extremism, embodied by a Zero Janvier and his Nazi imagination, the reverse of fame in the guise of the fallen star in search of a resurgence in popularity Stella Spotlight or the violence of the streets sung by a Johnny Rockfort cruel and ruthless (except for Cristal, with whom he falls in love before causing their downfall), differences in sexuality or gender with the Machiavellian Sadia and Ziggy, David Bowie’s groupie… Everything that made Starmania so successful is taken up and magnified by Thomas Jolly, the director of this 2022 version, initiated by Raphaël Hamburger, the son of France Gall and Michel Berger.
With a budget of 7 million euros, Starmania, whose debut has been postponed due to the Covid, completes nailing the spectator to his seat with a dazzling light show by Thomas Dechandon, minimalist sets and this huge star as a monumental central decor. The costumes, created by Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of Louis Vuitton’s women’s collections, showcase an impeccable cast (and little known to the general public) and biting choreography by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. All this, accompanied by live musicians, led by composer, producer, arranger and musician Victor le Masne.
The only downsides are necessary: ??the questionable contribution to the story of the “guru-marabout”, the original character of the show, but deleted in the 1988 and 1993 versions, embodying ecological aspirations faced with a totalitarian Zero Janvier wishing to “build the new atomic world.” The impressive dancers deserved more light, so that Starmania remains totally the musical comedy that it is.
If the story created by Luc Plamondon and Michel Berger remains modern, Thomas Jolly has worked hard not to distort the historical spectacle: the artists sing microphone in hand, but manage to breathe new life into songs (too) often occasions, such as The world is stone, S.O.S. of a landsman in distress or The blues of the businessman. But the public, shivering from the introduction of the countless Starmania hits, can’t help but hum, coming out of the show with (black) stars in their eyes.
Johnny Rockfort, Marie-Jeanne, Sadia, Cristal, Ziggy, Zéro Janvier, Stella Spotlight and Roger-Roger are back. The cult musical Starmania moved to the gates of Paris, at the Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt, in the fall of 2022. Forty years after its creation in 1979 by Michel Berger and Luc Plamondon, the rock, futuristic and timeless was reinvented by director Thomas Jolly, accompanied by internationally renowned choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and musical director Victor le Masne. The costumes are signed Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of women’s collections at Louis Vuitton.
“More than a new version, it’s a return to the primary intention of Starmania, its dramaturgy, its tragic dimension that the public will be able to discover”, say the creators of the 2022 version show, postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Covid-19. Spectators will be able to rediscover the hits from the musical Starmania, such as When we arrive in town, The Businessman’s Blues, The world is stoned, One against the other and, of course, SOS from a land in distress.
Cristal – Lilya Adad
Johnny Rockfort – Como
Sadia – Manet – Miriam Baghdassarian
Zero January – David Latulippe
Marie-Jeanne – Alex Montembault
Stella Spotlight – Maag (Magali Goblet)
Guru Marabout – Simon Geoffroy
Ziggy – Adrien Fruit
Ensemble / Choristers:
Max Carpentier / Alice Lynn
Alternates:
William Cloutier
Ambriel
Jeanne Jerosme
Aurel Fabregues
Nicolas Dorian
Louise Charbonnel
Orchestra:
Romain Théret – Piano
Ann Shirley – Piano
Edouard Algayon – Guitar
Paul Cépède – Guitar
Romain Joutard – Drums
Aurelien Calvel – Bass
The Starmania show started with three preview sessions, from November 4 to 6, 2022. Building on the success of the show, touring throughout France, the show will return to the Seine Musicale de Boulogne-Billancourt from November 14 2023 to January 28, 2024.
The price of tickets for the musical Starmania, at the Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt or in the Zeniths of France, varies according to the room and between 25 euros for a place in category 4 and 130 euros in gold category on Saturday evenings .
Starmania takes place in Monopolis, capital of the West. The city and its inhabitants are plagued by the terrible Dark Stars and their leader, Johnny Rockfort, himself subject to the terrible Sadia. For his part, the whimsical billionaire Zéro Janvier nourishes the hopes, from his golden tower, of establishing an authoritarian and racist regime over the West and Monopolis. At the bottom of this tower, Marie-Jeanne serves coffees at the Underground Café and dreams of a better world by following the news bulletins of Roger Roger, who officiates on the Télé-Capitale channel.
The star host of this channel is Cristal: she presents the program Starmania, which propels young talents into “one-night stars”. A title dreamed up by Ziggy, a young homosexual record store owner who makes Marie-Jeanne’s head spin. The show, which takes place in 1978, depicts the love stories and manipulations of these characters.
