The founder of the establishment, nicknamed Michou, died at the beginning of 2020. The transformist cabaret then experienced financial difficulties and was put into liquidation in mid-July.
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.
For Catherine Catty-Jacquart, Michou’s niece, “ Gad Elmaleh will continue to bring to life “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 Michou” but Gad will make it a very beautiful place. It’s a very good thing to turn the page, taking a turn “, she told AFP.
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The cover by Gad Elmaleh seems logical: a figure of French humor, the artist interpreted the character of “ Pet », a colorful and exuberant transvestite.
Created on stage, it earned him one of his biggest theatrical successes with the comedy “ Pet “, where 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 not the only comedian to have his own theater. Before him, Fary, Jamel and Kev Adams launched their “ comedy club ».
With the business assets of “ Chez Michou », Gad Elmaleh offers an internationally known address, whose emblematic founder, nicknamed “ the blue prince of Montmartre ”, inspired in the 1970s “ The Crazy Cage » to actor and author Jean Poiret.
Among the most popular icons of Parisian nights, Michou and his cabaret had become French symbols, as popular as the Moulin Rouge, Le Lido and Crazy Horse.
« The Michou cabaret is a big family. We stick together as much as we can but we feel a lot of bitterness », Confided to AFP Michou’s niece who had taken over the reins since the death of her uncle.
Cradle of transformism and smallest cabaret in Paris, “ Chez Michou » presented a dinner show with extravagant transvestites nicknamed the “ Michettes », imitating stars of song and cinema like Sylvie Vartan, Annie Girardot, Johnny Hallyday, Mireille Mathieu or Dalida.
In deficit for three years, the cabaret was confronted, according to its former director, “ strikes, demonstrations and parking problems, especially for coaches », causing the collapse of reservations.
However, drag queen shows and transformist shows have seen a resurgence of interest in recent years, driven by establishments which have been able to target more of a young and trendy audience, such as Madame Arthur, also located in Montmartre.
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