French Musicals

[SahDu]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:12pm

A friend of mine is attempting to put together a France booth for a World's Fair and he has chosen to base it on French musicals. He has La Cage, Cabaret, and Les Mis. Can you guys help me out with some other shows he could use? He would also be willing to take shows with French songs in it (i.e. I Speak Six Languages (Spelling Bee), C'est Moi (Camelot), Ces Soir A-La (Jersey Boys), etc.) Any and all help is much appreciated!

Updated On: 2/15/14 at 11:12 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:13pm

Aspects of Love (Chanson d'enfance)

[BroadwayNick]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:16pm

Notre Dame de Paris is all in French.

[GClef2]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:20pm

The Scarlet Pimpernel partially takes place in france.

Also, an American in Paris.

[SahDu]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:23pm

Thanks so much for all your help! It is much appreciated! Keep them coming.


Updated On: 2/15/14 at 11:23 PM

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:25pm

Those really aren't French musicals, you know that right?

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:25pm

Those really aren't French musicals, you know that right?

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:27pm

It would seem to me that if your friend is putting together a French booth, she/he should use French music.

To use American or British versions of what France "sounds like" is insulting at worst and ethnocentric at best.

I would urge your friend to take the time to explore REAL French theater music if that what she/he is interested in.

Works by Offenbach, Ravel, Faure, Poulenc, etc would be more welcome and much more respectful to the French people and its culture.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:29pm

My favorite French musical is Les Dix Commandements. The French version, not the apparent trainwreck that it became when brought to the US.

I agree with Fenchurch... and don't forget Delibes!

[justagirl2]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:30pm

Eh.


Martin Guerre
Jacques Brel
Updated On: 1/18/07 at 11:30 PM

[SahDu]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:31pm

I do understand and I appreciate the point. I merely posted the question as he posed it to me. I will mention those composers to him.

I just asked him about it and he clarified it to be "about French/France in the Broadway Musical, not about french theater, more like french in theatre" if that helps. Thanks!


Updated On: 2/15/14 at 11:31 PM

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:33pm

Well, still, if it's a World's Fair booth about France, it still seems disrespectful. I mean its not like one can't find French theater music.

And btw, Jacques Brel was Belgian, but at least he sang in French and about France.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:34pm

Then two names for you: Boubil and Schonberg.

The Baker's Wife is also set in France. And My Life With Albertine is based on French parlor music.

[SahDu]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:35pm

That's true Fench...I do apologize and hope you are not taking this personally, as it is not my project. I appreciate your insight!


Updated On: 2/15/14 at 11:35 PM

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/18/07 at 11:46pm

Oh no, I didnt take anything personally.

Just wanted to make you aware how a French person might see it.

And to make you aware of some incredibly beautiful music.

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:04am

Give your friend this. All 100% percent French and Fenchurch approved.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:French_musicals

Amour
http://www.amazon.com/Amour-2002-Original-Broadway-Cast/dp/B0000A1HSI/sr=1-1/qid=1169182726/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5323741-5009702?ie=UTF8&s=music

Les Miz
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/102-5323741-5009702?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=les+miserables

Miss Siagon
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/002-6678394-0092851?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=miss+siagon

Martin Guerre
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/102-5323741-5009702?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Martin+Guerre&Go.x=14&Go.y=8

Notre Dame de Paris
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/102-5323741-5009702?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Notre+Dame+de+Paris&Go.x=18&Go.y=12

Les Dix Commandements
http://www.amazon.com/10-Commandements-Original-French-Cast/dp/B00004VTL0/sr=1-2/qid=1169182913/ref=sr_1_2/102-5323741-5009702?ie=UTF8&s=music

Irma la Douce
http://www.amazon.com/Irma-Douce-1960-Original-Broadway/dp/B0000027TH/sr=1-1/qid=1169182983/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5323741-5009702?ie=UTF8&s=music

Les Demoiselles de Rochefort (film)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/103-6608920-0690217?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Les+Demoiselles+de+Rochefort&Go.x=18&Go.y=11

The Little Michus (operetta)

Peau d'Âne (film)
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_m/102-5323741-5009702?url=search-alias%3Dpopular&field-keywords=Peau+d%27%C2ne&Go.x=14&Go.y=9

Romeo & Juliette
http://www.amazon.com/Romeo-Juliette-Original-Cast-Recording/dp/B00004U88D/sr=1-1/qid=1169182630/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-5323741-5009702?ie=UTF8&s=music

[SahDu]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:05am

Wow, Julian. Thank you so much for the list. I really appreciate you taking so much time finding links and everything. Thanks again!


Updated On: 2/15/14 at 12:05 AM

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:06am

P.S. Cabaret is set in Germany.

[Julian2]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:07am

Oh your welcome, its my pleasure.

[GClef2]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:10am

get some Edith Piaf going in the background.

that is what french cabaret music is about.

also some faure would be good

[Fenchurch]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:14am

What a wonderful list!

I would also recommend the Legrand musicals
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg (really incredible)
and
The Young Girls of Roquefort (not as good, but the film has Gene Kelly in it)

[ahmelie]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 12:15am

Some of Can-Can could work (Allez-Vous En, C'est Magnifique) As well as The Baker's Wife (Esp. the first song, Chanson)
And, because Follies is amazing, you might as well throw in Ah, Paris!

And definitely get some Piaf, she's glorious.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 6:59am

Lautrec by Charles Aznavour

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 7:38am

If you're mentioning DEMOISELLES, you canNOT forget its predecessor, PARAPLUIES DE CHERBOURG, which is one of the most beautiful films to come out of France in that era. It also gave us Catherine Deneuve, which definitely makes it worth mentioning.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 1/19/07 at 8:12am

Napoleon - Andrew Sabiston and Timothy Williams. Productions in Canada and London.
La Revolution Francais - Boublil and Schoenberg's first collaboration