Musicals in Paris

With shows like Notre-Dame de Paris, Cat, Résisteand Dirty Dancing playing to sold-out audiences, Paris has become a real mecca for musicals. Just like Broadway in New York, Paris venues have developed a distinctive artistic identity and become genuine hubs for live performance. With their toe-tapping songs, dazzling stage decor and extravagant scenography, musicals have become a must-do for many visitors to Paris. A great outing with the family or a group of friends.

This year, the biggest Paris venues are once again putting on a whole range of exciting shows to choose from.

This autumn’s cultural calendar features some legendary Broadway hit shows for Paris audiences to sing and dance along to. From 17 September 2017, the Théâtre Mogador will be hosting the fantastic musical Grease. Sandy Dumbrowski and Danny Zuko meet again: get ready for lively dance moves, lots of hair gel and some classic hits. The evergreen West Side Story will be on at the Seine Musicale with the renowned musical director Donald Chan in charge, featuring one of the most legendary romantic scenes of all time. The scary characters of The Addams Family, who made their first appearance on Broadway in 2010, will make their debut at the Palace in Paris after seven years of terrorizing international audiences.

History features strongly in this year’s selection of musicals. Singer Pascal Obispo’s musical frescoJésus - De Nazareth à Jérusalem takes spectators on a journey 2,000 years into the past, from the Palais des Sports to the banks of the River Jordan. A sublime show titled Un été 44 at the Folies Bergère zooms audiences back into the 1940s and the lives of three girls dreaming of love and freedom at the height of the Second World War. And, for those nostalgic for the hippie movement, Welcome to Woodstock at the Comedia pays a psychedelic tribute to the 1960s.

Take another kind of journey at the Casino de Paris, where Priscilla Folle du désert (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) is back after a successful run of several months. Expect glitz and glamour at the Palais des Sports on 16 September 2017: one not-to-miss date to see the Ohlala show. And if you’ve never seen it, Les demoiselles de Rochefort will be on at the Grand Rex to celebrate 50 years of this cult musical, with concerts and a screening of the beautifully restored film.

Towards the end of the year, two international blockbusters will be on the cards: Notre-Dame de Paris will be back at the Palais des Congrès (from 9 to 12 November 2017), while Singin’ in the Rain will be on in the nave of the Grand Palais (from 28 November 2017 to 11 January 2018). Meanwhile, the Palais des Sports has already announced it will be staging the musical Bodyguardfrom 2 February 2018 onwards.

Musicals will have the whole of Paris singing along this season!