Top 12 can’t miss shows in Paris this season

For all theater lovers out there we’ve got good news, we have the scoop on all the high rated shows displaying until the month of January. As theatre enthusiasts it is our job to find the best of the best of new shows coming to a theatre near you. Start to paint a mental picture of you sitting in one of Paris’ oldest theatres getting warm after having been out in the cold, all while watching a comedy or a musical, sounds good doesn’t it? to make it easier for you to choose we’ve categorized the following shows based on genre, no need to thanks us.

Plays

Successful Strategies (L'heureux Stratageme)

Dates for tickets available: October 2019- January 2020

If you’re into dark comedy guess which play would suit you well? Successful Strategies! L’Heureux Stratageme in French. This play would not be a success if it weren’t for the talented actors who play their parts all too well. This humorous yet maleficent story takes you back to the 1920s where the Countess has had it with her lover the Marquise, she is tired of being pushed aside so she falls into the arms of the Damis Knight. The Marquise not in favor of this relationship, feeling hurt shows his true colors and comes up with a plot to break-up the Countess and Damis Knight. With the help of the Damis Knight’s previous partner the Marquise has a few tricks up his sleeve to make the two jealous.  Some of us might know the story all too well, cruel thoughts have crossed our path being in the Marquis’s shoes. The show will have you bursting in laughter from all the corrupt intentions throughout the story.

I Want You (J'ai Envie De Toi)

Dates for tickets available: October 2019- January 2020

What would happen if you were to accidentally send a naughty message to your ex-girlfriend or ex-boyfriend who is still not over you? Would it be messy? It was for Guillaume anyway. Produced by Sebastian Castro this hilarious play has gotten excellent feedback from spectators, nothing but five-star reviews and best of all it’s a brand new never before seen show in Paris. The narration is pure genius and funny because of all the calamity that goes on as the play advances. Playing as the meddling neighbor, Sebastian Castro makes the crowd fall face forward, laughing their hearts out with his clueless yet witty character. The background of I want you starts with Guillaume the main character sending an accidental text message to his ex-girlfriend Christelle telling her to meet him at night and of course guess what happens, Christelle still starstruck over Guillaume shows up at his door. To make things worse, Youssouf his neighbor who is taking care of an elderly woman accidentally knocks down the wall that separates his apartment and Guillaume and now there is an ex-girlfriend heading over to his house and a hole in his wall. It all becomes a mess once Youssouf insists on helping. It’s all one big hilarious disaster, will Guillaume’s recent girlfriend find out? You’ll just have to watch and see.

Around the World in 80 Days (Le Tour Du Monde En 80 Jours)

Dates for tickets available: October 2019- December 2019

Extracted from the famous Jules Verne’s 1872 novel, Around the World in 80 days has been a huge hit in Paris for years and now it's back! Théâtre De La Gaîté Montparnasse welcomes Around the World in 80 Days, an extravagant comedy full of energy and adventure. Nothing beats a classic. This is a story about a man by the name of Phileas Fogg who wagers that he can circumnavigate the world in just eighty days, but how will this be possible? Considering he has transportation issues (one including an elephant), he falls in love and gets into trouble throughout the countries he travels to. Will he make it in just 80 days? His journey will be tough, but his ambition towards fulfilling this mission is tougher!

Musicals

Rimbaud Verlaine

Dates for tickets available: October 2019- November 2019

Can you recall reading about two particular poets back in high school that go by the names of Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine? If you don’t let us remind you. Paul Verlaine was a wise poet married to a beautiful woman named Mathilde who at that time was a teenager and he had a child with her. He believed he needed inspiration to write his poems, and this is when he found poetry written by none other than Arthur Rimbaud a young rebellious boy who was a genius writer for his age. Verlaine invited him to come to Paris, and it all starts from there. A passionate yet tragic love story of two men who inspired each other to write some of the best poems known to men. These poems are recited in the play currently being displayed in Théâtre du Gymnase Marie Bell, you can time travel back in time when history was made between these two men living a bohemian life. This contemporary musical is a jaw- dropper and trust us when we say you will be surprised. However, this play does involve some graphic scenes, therefore we recommend parental discretion.

Funny Girl

Dates for tickets available: November 2019- January 2020

Who is Fanny Brice? A young talented woman who gets by with her character instead of her looks. Dreaming of being a big star young Fanny gets the opportunity to join Ziegfeld Follies revue show and with hard work and talent becomes the star of their show. In Follies is where she meets the love of her life, Nick Arnstein, a well- known high rolling swindler. A bad decision led him to get caught by authorities that sentenced him to jail. This situation broke poor Fanny’s heart, but not her will to wait until he was released from prison. During the incarceration of Nick Arnstein, Fanny thrives to the top and becomes successful reminiscing her life in the past ad everything she’s been through. Fun facts, Funny Girl is loosely based on the true story of a young woman called Fanny Brice and nominated for 8 Tony Awards! It’s no wonder this Broadway hit musical was what started Barbra Streisand’s big-time career as a star. What brings the play together is its popular songs Don’t rain on my parade, My man, and I’m the greatest star. The music will have you humming in your head the rhythm for days.

Sky’s the Limit (Plus Haut Que Le Ciel)

Dates for tickets available: October 2019- January 2020

It’s 1884 and two brilliant engineers come up with a creative idea of how to draw attention to the city of Paris. Chasing after their dream they design a project plan outlining the architecture of what can become the most popular monument that represents Paris, the Eiffel Tower. Thrilled with their idea they show their design to Gustave Eiffel’s assistant who without hesitation rejected their proposal. Both men don’t give up that easily though, their ambition is fierce. The musical is a creative way to illustrate France’s history and the true story of how we obtained the iconic tower that attracts millions of visitors all year round through delightful symphony.

An American in Paris

Dates for tickets available: December 2019- January 2020

Originating from the classic film An American in Paris, not long after the play was transformed into one of the longest ongoing shows of the century. With celebrated songs by George Gershwin such as Love is here to stay, I’ll build a stairway to heaven, and 10 other catchy ballads An American in Paris won several Tony Awards. The title clearly gives away the theme of the play, an American who moved to Paris. Veteran Jerry Mulligan decided to stay in Paris a little longer and live his long-last dream of becoming a painter and displaying his work around Montmartre. One day out of the blue Lise appeared into his life, they fell in love, but some complications in their life won’t allow them to stay together starting with the fact that Lise is engaged to another. The production is bursting with a fusion of drama and comedy as Jerry tries his hardest to win Lise’s heart all at the same time while trying to make it into the art industry with the help of a woman by the name of Milo who is attracted to Jerry but also admires his work.

Ghost, The Musical

Dates for tickets available: October 2019- January 2020

Another big- time Broadway hit musical that originated from a 1990s movie is Ghost, you know, that movie with the scene where Patrick Swayze romantically helps his girlfriend Molly mold her clay while listening to the song Unchained Melody by the Righteous Brothers? Well, there is a French version that arrived in Paris in Theatre Mogador, one of Paris’ oldest theatres inaugurated in 1913. Ghost shows us the true definition of the power of love as Sam’s ghost does whatever it takes to protect his beloved Molly from danger. If you have yet seen the movie, don’t get any spoilers we promise the play is just as good if not better. Oda Mae the psychic in the show is played by proclaimed actress Claudia Tagbo and adds a little dazzle to the play with her charming humor that makes the whole crowd laugh. The show is playing in French with English subtitles, but it is very easy to follow along considering it’s musical and the subtitles are visible from every angle. If you are looking for a good laugh and to shed some tears, then this is definitely the show you should be watching.

New Age Circus

The World of Jaleya (Le Monde De Jaleya)

Dates for tickets available: November 2019- February 2020

The World of Jaleya introduced by Cirque de Paname has one thing in common with the play I want you and that is the fact that they are both brand new shows kicking off this year in Paris. The concept behind The World of Jaleya is unique. It is a combination of theater, acrobatic acts, professional yet playful costumes, surround sound systems that will literally make you feel as if you were emerging into the story, and special effects all in the form of a modern circus! If you’ve ever heard of the popular Cirque du Soleil, then you know what to expect from this Parisian version. The show is not like any other circus act, it’s composed a magnificent story in our opinion it’s a combination of Aladdin and The Wonderful Wizard of OZ but better. It’s about a young boy who finds a magical lamp that transports him to a mystical world full of creatures he had never seen before. In his journey to find his way back home, he must go through different paths that represent the four elements: water, fire, earth, and air. He will come across friends that will stand by him and enemies that will create obstacles. Just watching all this exciting adventure happen live will give you goosebumps.

Ballets

Preljocaj’s Le Parc

Dates for tickets available: December 2019

This winter get ready to watch a beautiful ballet performance choreographed in 1994 by Angelin Preljocaj and in which has now been brought back to life in the oh so famous Opera Garnier. This holiday season you and the family can enjoy this beautiful peace that exposes the journey of finding oneself and the battle of the sexes. Though this piece was created in 1994, it remains contemporary exposing to the audience the laws of attraction, playing hard to get, and bashfulness all while dancing to the sounds of Mozart. While other theatres will be displaying the marvelous but overplayed play, The Nutcracker, you can try something different this Christmas season and surround yourself with enriched décor of more than 100 years old in a posh atmosphere enjoying ballet footwork comprising of poise and seduction.

Noureev’s Raymonda

Dates for tickets available: December 2019

Another impressive ballet demonstration being displayed in Palais Garnier is Raymonda. Dressed in stunning medieval costumes, the performers integrate dances from characters from traditional Russian folk dance in a graceful manner. Raymonda is a ballet recital that was created in 1898, and until this day is still one of the popular programs in Paris. It conveys a combination of classical ballet movements and Italian artistry all in a fantasy- filled medieval story of forbidden love in three acts. The immaculate dance expresses the story of Raymonda whose fiancé leaves on a crusade, and as soon as he leaves, she keeps having recurring dreams of having an affair with the man who kidnapped her. It’s a must-see performance, considering that it is not displayed in theatre too often!

Cabarets

Crazy Horse

Dates for tickets available: Non- stop fun. Their Totally Crazy Programme ends July 2020

What’s so special about Parisian cabarets? They were first established here in Paris darling. Everyone knows Parisian cabarets are the best. At least queen bee, Beyoncé seemed to think so considering she made her popular music video “Partition” in Paris’ beloved Crazy Horse cabaret. The women in this show are extremely skilled, engaging spectators during the show with their sensual dance routines that will make you think “wow how is it possible to move like that”, this was my thought when I went to see their new programme Totally Crazy. What makes the show different from others is their astonishing special light effects which cover the dancers’ nude bodies giving them a combination of leopard spots and sexy outfits. The songs, the distinct themed design all in red, and custom-made champagne and wine give it that special touch that makes the crowd go wild.

If you’re a fan of theatre check out these related articles:

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Crazy Horse Paris, What’s all the hype about?

A history of mime, the most oh so French of art forms

Ten mysteries behind the magnificent Opera Garnier

The intrepid adventures of Jules Verne