Musical shows
Québec has also made an original contribution to the world of musical comedies and rock operas with shows that have become hits both locally and internationally. When it comes to musicals, lyricist Luc Plamondon, who co-penned hit musicals like Notre-Dame de Paris and especially Starmania, a musical seen by millions of audiences over three decades of shows in France, Québec and even the English-speaking world, is still the definitive reference.
Since then, there have been a large number of successful original productions, both co-productions between France and Québec and productions fully designed and produced in Québec. Recently, adaptations of popular Québec works have also been created and booked long touring schedules even before their premiers:
- Belles-Sœurs, a musical adaptation by composer Daniel Bélanger and René Richard Cyr, director of the most popular play by Québec’s most famous playwright, Michel Tremblay.
- Les Filles de Caleb, a “folk opera” adapted from a popular novel by Arlette Cousture, and composed by renowned musicians Michel Rivard and Louis-Jean Cormier.
Other shows feature an international repertoire performed in an original way by Québec artists and producers:
- Elvis Story, a show built around the songs of the king of rock, has been running for 15 years and been seen by an audience of over 1.6 million in Québec, Paris, Toronto, United States and Japan.
- Je m’voyais déjà, a musical comedy based on the songs of Charles Aznavour, whose Québec version was produced in the fall of 2010.
- The very multi-talented Gregory Charles has also produced several popular shows, in which he performs a large repertoire of songs from around the world with remarkable virtuosity.
