Quebec Issime | The mega-success from Saguenay

It all started in a garage in Shipshaw, a small municipality now merged with the city of Saguenay. Two families — the Riverins, the Dorés — laid the first bricks of what was to become one of the greatest successes of the Quebec scene: the Quebec Issime troupe.

We are in 1993, in a village of 3000 souls in the suburbs of Jonquière. Young singers and musicians—mostly teenagers—get together in a garage with the hope of putting on a show. Among them, the Doré brothers and the Riverin sisters, who live in the same neighborhood and sing in the same choir.

Pierre Doré, founder and artistic director of Québec Issime, remembers: “In 1995, after two years of playing with our band Logistik 22, we wanted to go up starmania in summer theatre; my father Robert had endorsed a line of credit of $4,000 to finance the production! But the project fell through for copyright reasons. Except that we already had a band of 12 singers and 8 musicians… We decided to turn around and write a show dedicated to Quebec song — including a good medley on starmania ! »

It is thus, because of an impossibility, that Québec Issime was born.

The beginnings were humble. “We played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Hôtel Chicoutimi. We changed hotels two or three times, we survived the flood of 1996. Then in 1999, we landed in Montreal and Quebec with our show that we had renamed From Celine to La Bolduc “says the double bassist by training.

Since then, the Quebec Issime band has become a regular on the Montreal scene. The holiday show December has been presented for 20 years at Place des Arts. This year, after a stint at the Videotron Center in Quebec, 15 performances are scheduled at the Théâtre Maisonneuve — plus 3 for the children’s show The little Christmas of Quebec Issime which takes place against the backdrop of December.

Even better, a new show is coming to town this winter: Party, presented at the Studio-Cabaret of Espace St-Denis. This festive production, which has been rolling around in Saguenay since 2003, has been presented more than 500 times since its creation. Party is also on view at Arvida until December 31, with another cast.

music first

Since the beginning of the adventure, it is the love of music that has driven the founders of Québec Issime, all of whom are still involved in one way or another in the troupe. “We are all musicians, says Pierre Doré. Yes, our shows include dancing, screenings, lots — lots! — costume changes. But for us, it’s through the music that it happens. Our medleys, it’s lace. The songs respond to each other. »

In fact, Québec Issime shows are largely composed of excerpts from popular songs which, put end to end, paint a picture of an era or agree according to a specific theme.

“We created our own universe, which explains why people often come back to see us. We saw a family from Victoriaville renting a bus to see a show in Arvida. Some go to a show one night and come back the next day. A 17-year-old girl told me that she had seen a show 12 times! The public has developed a sense of belonging. Fortunately, because we don’t have the promotional means of the big firms. »

How to explain this immense popularity, which continues to grow over the years? “Through our authenticity,” says Pierre Doré. The history of Québec Issime is that of a band of buddies, It’s a family story. Yes, we have grown, but we have been able to keep this family spirit and people feel it. Moreover, the artists in our productions have Québec Issime tattooed on their hearts. They don’t hesitate to come back when called. Renowned singers, such as Marc Hervieux or Natalie Choquette, are sometimes added to the cast.

In total, more than 200 singers, musicians and dancers have taken part in one or another of the 12 productions presented over the years by the troupe. In the batch, several come from Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean. “There are people from the region on each production, confirms Pierre Doré. There is a good pool of artists, with the Conservatory of Music, the Opera of the Kingdom… We have all evolved in the same broth of culture. »

If the seed had been sown outside the Saguenay, the story of Quebec Issime would undoubtedly have been different, believes Pierre Doré. “I have the impression that this is the kind of project that can only be done in the regions,” he says. It would not be possible in Montreal to see a gang of artists become producers. In the immensity of the Kingdom, the Riverins and the Dorés dreamed big. And the reality exceeded what they had hoped for.

Party according to Krystel Mongeau

” Partyit’s just fun, both on stage and in the hall,” says the singer, who is part of the Montreal cast of the show. Winner of Star Academy in 2022, the native of Saint-Malo, in the Eastern Townships, has been in the Quebec Issime family since 2017, when she joined the show Cowboys as a substitute. Moreover, this is not her first participation in Party.

“We perform songs that have spanned the ages, from Woodstock to Cindy Lauper and Madonna, says Krystel Mongeau. No matter how old you are, you always end up recognizing yourself in the paintings. It’s a show which is really good. »

In total, more than 120 songs are presented through 12 different charts. The cast of this show, which spans almost three hours, includes 16 singers, dancers and musicians.

Until December 30, at the Studio-Cabaret of Espace St-Denis

December according to Marc-André Fortin

This winter, the singer from Hébertville, in Lac-Saint-Jean, takes part in the show December for a 15^e season. ” December, it’s the perfect show to start the Holidays. It’s filled with Christmas classics, beautiful memories and great stories, all in a majestic setting,” says the winner of Star Academy of 2005, who has participated in various productions of Québec Issime for 22 years.

He continues: “In December, the village under the tree comes to life on stage. We recognize characters like the skaters, the priest, the lumberjack…” For this show presented at Place des Arts in Montreal since 2003, 13 singers and 5 musicians perform some sixty pieces, from the great international classics to the Quebec repertoire.

From December 8 to 29, at the Théâtre Maisonneuve of Place des Arts

In an earlier version of this text, we mistakenly renamed Marc-André Fortin. We called him Marc-André Gagnon. Our apologies.