The actor and comedian Gad Elmaleh was chosen by the courts to buy the business of the emblematic Parisian cabaret Chez Michouplaced in compulsory liquidation in mid-July. By taking over this iconic place in Montmartre, Gad Elmaleh “will make it a place of comedy and humor, while keeping the soul of the place”, explained the actor’s communications department, which however did not buy the Chez Michou brand.
The founder of the establishment, nicknamed Michou, died at the beginning of 2020. The transformist cabaret then experienced financial difficulties. Gad Elmaleh, 53, was chosen by the Paris commercial court to take over the premises, closed since the end of June before their 68th birthday, and whose 23 employees were dismissed.
“Gad is going to make it a very beautiful place”
For Catherine Catty-Jacquart, Michou’s niece, “Gad Elmaleh will continue to bring to life the “80 rue des Martyrs” which has fallen into good hands as Michou would have liked. We would have been unfortunate if the place became anything other than a cabaret.” “It will no longer be called Chez Michoubut Gad is going to make it a very beautiful place. It’s a very good thing to turn the page, turning a corner,” she said.
The cover by Gad Elmaleh seems logical: a figure of French humor, the artist interpreted the character of “Chouchou”, an exuberant transvestite. Created on stage, it earned him one of his biggest theatrical successes with the comedy Petwhere his character frequents a cabaret in the northern suburbs, L’Apocalypse. The film attracted 3.8 million spectators when it was released in 2003. For this role, Gad Elmaleh was nominated for the César for best actor.
Gad Elmaleh is also not the only comedian to have his own theater. Before him, Fary, Jamel and Kev Adams launched their “comedy club”.
