Théâtre Libre (performing arts center)

{{Expand French|topic=struct|date=November 2022|Comédia (théâtre)}}

Théâtre Libre ({{IPA|fr|teɑtʁ libʁ}}), formerly Eldorado and then Comédia (or Théâtre Comedia), is a 934-capacity performing arts center located at 4 Boulevard de Strasbourg in Paris, France.

History

The original venue was built in 1858 and became the Eldorado Café-concert in 1862.{{cite web |title=Le comédia Café-concert L'Eldorado |url=https://paris-promeneurs.com/cafe-concert-l-eldorado-le-comedia/ |website=Paris-promeneurs |language=fr |access-date=29 April 2023}} It became one of the leading cafés-concerts, with its audience described by the Goncourt brothers in 1865.{{cite book |last1=McCormick |first1=John |title=Popular Theatres of Nineteenth Century France |date=1993 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=0203168119 |pages=63–4 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IeeJAgAAQBAJ&dq=L%27Eldorado+caf%C3%A9-concert&pg=PA64 |access-date=29 April 2023}} In 1892 Toulouse-Lautrec produced an advertising poster for Aristide Bruant's performance there.{{cite web |title=Eldorado: Aristide Bruant |url=https://www.artic.edu/artworks/67194/eldorado-aristide-bruant |publisher=Art Institute Chicago |access-date=29 April 2023}}

Walter Sickert's 1906 painting "The Eldorado, Paris" depicts the patrons in the galleries.{{cite web |title=The Eldorado, Paris, Walter Richard Sickert (1860–1942), The Barber Institute of Fine Arts |url=https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/the-eldorado-paris-33132 |website=Art UK |access-date=29 April 2023}}

The original hall was demolished and reconstructed as a 2000-seat cinema in 1932–33.

In 1993 the entrance hall and cinema hall were designated a {{ill|"Patrimoine du XXe siècle" designation |lt=Patrimoine du XXe siècle|fr|Label « Patrimoine du XXe siècle »}} ("20th Century Cultural Heritage").{{cite web |title=Cinéma l'Eldorado |url=https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/merimee/PA00086483 |website=POP : la plateforme ouverte du patrimoine |publisher=Ministère de la Culture |language=fr |access-date=29 April 2023}}

In 2000 a new proprietor renamed the venue "Comédia".

In 2007, American actor/director John Malkovich directed Ariel Wizman and Vincent Elbaz in {{ill|Good Canary|fr}} at the Comédia.{{cite web | title=John Malkovich on stage, from Steppenwolf to the West End – in pictures | website=the Guardian | date=2 April 2019 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/gallery/2019/apr/02/john-malkovich-on-stage-from-steppenwolf-to-the-west-end-in-pictures | access-date=7 January 2024}}

Théâtre Libre

In 2017, under new ownership, it was again renamed, to become "Théâtre Libre".{{cite web |title=HISTOIRE DU LIEU |url=https://le-theatrelibre.fr/le-theatre/ |website=Théâtre Libre|language=fr |access-date=29 April 2023}}

In recent times, the venue has hosted artists such as R.E.M., Bon Jovi, Joan Jett and INXS.{{cite web |url=https://www.setlist.fm/search?query=L%27Eldorado&venue=5bd62790 |title=Search for setlists: L'Eldorado | setlist.fm |website=setlist.fm |format= |accessdate=2022-11-08}}

References

External links

{{official|https://le-theatrelibre.fr/ }}

Category:Theatres in Paris