Jérôme Savary

Jérôme Savary (27 June 1942 – 4 March 2013) was an Argentine-French theater director and actor. His work has democratized and widened the appeal of musical theater in France, drawing together and blending such genres as opera, operetta, and musical comedy. From 2000 to 2007 was director of the Paris Opéra-Comique.

Turkish actor, writer and director Ferhan Şensoy worked in his theater for a while after his graduate as Savary's assistant.

Richard Elfman performed with Savary's Grand Magic Circus in the early 1970s and married the show's leading lady, Marie-Pascale (Elfman). Richard's brother, Danny Elfman, performed with the troupe when he was 18. The show, Zartan, included Danny's first public musical performance and compositions. Richard says his work with Jerome Savary and the Magic Circus helped inspire him to create the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo.

Savary composed the song "Pleure" in Richard Elfman's film Forbidden Zone.

He died at Levallois-Perret, on 4 March 2013, of cancer, at the age of 70.

Selected productions

Theater Looking for/A la Recherche de Josephine – New Orleans for Ever (2006) The Barber of Seville (2006) Rigoletto (1996) Carmen (2004) Zazou, une histoire d’amour sous l’Occupation (2003) Irma la Douce (2000) La Cenerentola (2001) Cabaret (1986) Le Voyage dans la Lune (1986) The Merry Widow (1983) La Périchole (1982)

Film La fille du garde-barrière (1975) Le Boucher, la star et l'orpheline (1975)

Television La Belle et la toute petite Bête (2003) Mistinguett, la dernière revue (2001) Les contes d'Hoffmann (2000) La Périchole, la chanteuse et le dictateur (2000) Le comte Ory (1997) Y'a d'la joie!… Et d'l'amour (1997) Nina Stromboli (1996) Attila (1991)

Honors Knight of the Légion d'honneur Knight of the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres