Comédie-Française

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Comédie-Française, late 18th century

Interior view, late 18th century

The Comédie-Française or Théâtre Français is the only state theatre in France. It is also one of the few to have its own troupe of actors. It is located in the Ier arrondissement of Paris.

The best-known playwright associated with the Comédie-Française is Molière. He was considered the patron of French actors; however, he died seven years before the birth of La Maison de Molière, as the Comédie-Française is often styled.

The Comédie-Française was founded by a decree of Louis XIV on 24th August 1680 to merge the only two Parisian acting troupes of the time, the troupe of the Hôtel Guénégaud and that of the Hôtel de Bourgogne. The repertoire at that time consisted of the collection of theatrical works by Molière and Jean Racine, along with a few works by Pierre Corneille, Paul Scarron and Jean Rotrou.

On 3rd September 1793, during the French revolution, the Comédie-Française was closed by order of the Committee of Public Safety, and the actors were imprisoned.

On 31st May 1799, the new government made the Salle Richelieu available and allowed the actors to reconstitute the troupe.

The Comédie-Française today has a repertoire of 3,000 works and three theatres in Paris (Salle Richelieu, next to the Palais Royal; Théâtre du Vieux-Colombier; Studio-Théâtre).

Additionally, the Comédie-Française is the current resting place of the heart of Francois-Marie Arouet, more commonly known as Voltaire.

[edit] List of administrators of the Comédie-Française

Salle Richelieu, 2004

The chief administrator of the Comédie-Française has been given the title administrateur général since Simonis' term of 1850. Before that, a variety of titles were given. The administrators are listed below in chronological order.

Jean-François-René Mahérault (7 Feb 1799-3 Feb 1813)
Nicolas Bernard (3 Feb 1813-11 Jun 1814 and 24 Mar 1815-28 Jun 1815)
François Cheron (1821-9 July 1825)
Baron Isidore Justin Séverin Taylor (9 July 1825 until the July revolution and 5 Apr 1831-17 Oct 1838)
Hyacinthe Albertin (interim administrator during Taylor's travels)
Édouard-Joseph-Ennemond Mazères (24 Sep 1830-6 Apr 1831)
Armand-François Jouslin de La Salle (8 Jun 1833-31 Jul 1837)
Hygin-Auguste, called Edmond Cave (28 Jan 1837-17 Oct 1838)
Alexandre-Louis Poulet, called Vedel (managing director, 1 Mar 1837-8 Mar 1840)
François Buloz (17 Oct 1838-2 Mar 1848)
Joseph-Philippe Simon, called Lockroy (2 Mar-11 Oct 1848)
Eugène Bazenerye (20 Oct 1848-16 Nov 1849)
Sébastien Edmond, called Sevestre (producer with administrative rôle, 13 Oct 1848-15 Nov 1849)
Arsène Housset, called Houssaye (15 Nov 1849-29 Jan 1856)
Adolphe Dominique Florent Joseph Simonis, named Empis (30 Jan 1856-21 Oct 1859)
Édouard Thierry (2 Oct 1859-8 Jul 1871)
Émile-César-Victor Perrin (8 Jul 1871-8 Oct 1885)
Albert Kaempfen (provisional post, 30 May-20 Oct 1885)
Jules Claretie (20 Oct 1885-23 Dec 1913)
Albert Carré (1 Jan 1914-30 Nov 1915)
Émile Fabre (2 Dec 1915-15 Oct 1936)
Édouard Bourdet (15 Oct 1936-27 Dec 1940)
Jacques Copeau (interim post 15 May-27 Dec 1940 and full post 27 Dec 1940-7 Jan 1941)
Léon Lamblin (government commissioner 13 Jan-7 Mar 1941)
Jean-Louis Vaudoyer (4 Mar 1941-23 Mar 1944)
André Brunot (24 Mar-28 Jul 1944)
Jean Sarment (July 1944 did not take office)
Pierre Dux (1 Sep 1944-1 Jul 1945)
Joseph Denis called Denis D'Ines (1 Jul to start of Oct 1945)
André Obey (provisional post Oct 1945-6 April 1946 and full post 6 Apr 1946-5 Feb 1947)
Pierre-Aimé Touchard (5 Apr 1947-5 Apr 1953)
Pierre Descaves (5 Apr 1953-5 Apr 1959)
Claude de Boisanger (20 Apr 1959-30 Jan 1960 recalled then reinstated 27 Nov 1962-31 Jan 1960)
Maurice Escande (1 Jun 1960-31 Jul 1970)
Pierre Dux (1 Aug 1970-31 Jul 1979)
Jacques Toja (1 Sep 1979-31 Jul 1983)
Jean-Pierre Vincent (1 Aug 1983-31 Jul 1986)
Jean Le Poulain (1 Aug 1986-Mar 1988)
Claude Winter (interim post 1 Apr-15 Jun 1988)
Antoine Vitez (15 Jun 1988-30 Apr 1990)
Catherine Samie (interim post 1 May-5 Jul 1990)
Jacques Lassalle (15 Jul 1990-5 Aug 1993)
Jean-Pierre Miquel (5 Aug 1993-3 Aug 2001)
Marcel Bozonnet (4 Aug 2001-3 Aug 2006)
Muriel Mayette (4 août 2006 -