A constellation named Starmania | La Presse

The rock opera was a landmark album before it found success on stages in the French-speaking world and around the world. On the occasion of the new production of Starmaniawhich will be presented in Quebec starting August 6, a reminder of the main productions of the imperishable creation of Luc Plamondon and Michel Berger.

1978

Double album released Starmania, or the passion of Johnny Rockfort according to the televised gospels. Quebecers Fabienne Thibeault, Diane Dufresne, Nanette Workman and Claude Dubois rub shoulders with Daniel Balavoine, France Gall, Éric Estève and René Joly. The album sold more than 2 million copies.

1979

Creation of Starmania on the stage of the Palais des Congrès in Paris on April 10. Directed by Tom O’Horgan (Jesus Christ Superstar, Hate), the show ran for only 40 nights. Claude Dubois was replaced by Étienne Chicot. This production did not cross the Atlantic.

1980

Quebec creation of Starmania on the stage of the Comédie nationale, in Montreal, in a production by Olivier Reichenbach. Louise Forestier, Robert Leroux, Sylvie Boucher, France Castel, Martine St-Clair, Gilles Valiquette, Michel McLean, Jacques Blais and Francis Martin are part of the cast.

1986-1987

Claude Girard is staging a new Quebec version at the Festival de Lanaudière and at the Théâtre Maisonneuve at Place des Arts. Marie Carmen, Marc Gabriel, Marie Denise Pelletier, Norman Groulx, Maude Grenier, Richard Groulx, Anne Bisson and Jean Leloup are the new performers.

Extract of The Complaint of the Automatic Waitressperformed by Marie Carmen

1988-1989

Berger and Plamondon sign the staging of a new version presented at the Théâtre de Paris, then at the Théâtre Marigny. Martine St-Clair, Norman Groulx (then Renaud Hantson), Richard Groulx (then Michel Pascal), Maurane (then Réjeanne Perry), Nathalie Lhermitte, Wenta (then Bruna Giraldi), Renaud Hantson (then Solal) and Luc Laffite (then Jean-Jacques Fauthoux) take on the characters. The show will be presented throughout France as well as in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

1992

Starmania becomes Tycoon on a record where Cyndi Lauper, Kim Carnes, Celine Dion, Nina Hagen, Tom Jones and several others cover the songs in English. The stage version is offered by French-speaking performers at the Théâtre Mogador in 1993.

1993-2001

Creation of a third version of Starmania in France, this time at the Théâtre Mogador, in a production by Lewis Furey. Luce Dufault, Isabelle Boulay, Lulu Hughes, Bruno Pelletier, Marie Carmen, Judith Bérard and Patsy Gallant play the characters. This production, which will be reworked, is also presented at the Palais des congrès de Paris, the Palais des sports de Paris and the Casino de Paris.

Extract of Monopolisperformed by Luce Dufault

2004-2008

To celebrate the 25th^e anniversary of the rock opera, the Montreal Symphony Orchestra offers a symphonic adaptation at the Wilfrid-Pelletier Hall at Place des Arts. Marie-Josée Lord, Marc Hervieux, Lyne Fortin, Gino Quilico, Raphaëlle Paquette, Dominique Côté and Renée Lapointe transform the famous arias. This production is offered in Paris, Quebec City, Seoul and Ottawa.

2008

World premiere of Starmania Opera at the Grand Théâtre de Québec on the occasion of the 400th^e anniversary of the city. This production, staged by Michel Lemieux and Victor Pilon, was revived in 2016 at the Quebec Opera Festival.

2022

A fourth Parisian version is born at the Seine Musicale in Boulogne-Billancourt in a staging by Thomas Jolly, also known as the artistic director of the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games. Quebec artists William Cloutier, David Latulippe, Heidi Jutras, Gabrielle Lapointe and Miriam Baghdassarian triumph in this gigantic production. Acclaimed throughout France by a million spectators, the production finally arrives in Montreal in August 2024.

Also read our column “Plamondon and its many summits”