Théâtre des Folies-Marigny, Historic theatre in Champs-Élysées, Paris, France.
Théâtre des Folies-Marigny was a theatre building on the Champs-Élysées in Paris that held approximately 300 seats. It sat at the eastern end of Carré Marigny square and faced west toward the Cirque National across the plaza.
The building was constructed in 1848 by the City of Paris for magician Lacaze. It underwent several name changes and eventually became Théâtre des Folies-Marigny in 1864, before being demolished in 1881 to make room for a panorama building.
The theatre's name changed with each company that ran it: Salle Lacaze, Bouffes-Parisiens, Théâtre Féerique, Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, then Folies-Marigny from 1864. Offenbach premiered 16 of his pieces here across the 1855, 1856, 1857 and 1859 summer seasons, including Les deux aveugles, a one-act bouffonerie about two swindling "blind" beggars that gained an international reputation.
The location sits on the Champs-Élysées near Carré Marigny, making it easy to find on a map of central Paris. No original structure remains visible today since the site was completely redeveloped in 1881.
The theatre was also billed as the Château d'Enfer (Castle of the Underworld) during Lacaze's magic shows. Offenbach chose the spot in spring 1855 to catch overspill crowds from the Universal Exposition, and his opening night on 5 July 1855 ended with Les deux aveugles, a one-act bouffonerie about two sham blind beggars.
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