PRESS CONFERENCETHURSDAY, 27TH OF NOVEMBER 2014

2ND OF APRIL 2015

FIRST NIGHT OF THE NEW SHOW CREATED AND STAGED BY FRANCO DRAGONE

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The Lido sets the standard forinternational cabaret

Located on one of the world’s most beautiful avenues, the prestigious institution is determined to amaze and surprise once more. Its ambition is to make its new revue the Parisian jewel in the crown of live shows.

This was the challenge set for leading writer and stage director Franco Dragone, famous for his dazzling shows worldwide.

The Sodexo group, world leader in Quality of Life services, is worth 18 billion euros, and has the means to bring Parisian cabaret into the 21st century, as evidenced by the announced investment of 25 million euros, nearly three times more than the previous revue. The goal is to increase the Lido’s turnover by 30% within 3 years.

Sodexo Sports & Loisirs managed by Nathalie Bellon-Szabo, has a few tourism gems such as the Eiffel Tower restaurants and Bateaux Parisiens, and also prestigious brands like Yachts de Paris and Lenôtre. The only thing missing is a new show in line with the increasingly demanding expectations of French and International clients, a new challenge for Lido de Paris President, Nathalie Bellon-Szabo.

To stage this first revue of the Sodexo era, Nathalie Bellon-Szabo travelled the world and chose an international giant in the shape of Franco Dragone. The bar for live shows has been set at the highest level of professionalism and expertise.

The orchestral genius is surrounded by a world class creative team: Jean Rabasse for scenography, Nicolas Vaudelet for costumes, Benoit-Swan Pouffer for choreography, Yvan Cassar formusic and Saule for lyrics. The teams have already been hard at work for over a year. “My ambition is to continue the great history of the Lido by creating fantasy and wonderment”, says Lido de Paris President, Nathalie Bellon-Szabo.

Nathalie Bellon-Szabo,Lido de Paris President and

Sodexo Sports & Loisirs CEO

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Le Lido de Paris

On December the 2nd the establishment will be closed for complete renovation. The auditorium will receive a complete makeover while the stage and all the stage equipment will be renewed and optimised to accommodate explosive stage effects. Around 30 companies and French craftsmen have already been mobilised behind the scenes and will work for 4 months.

Chef Philippe Lacroix and his team are busy in the kitchen developing a new menu based on high-quality products. Food is prepared on site at the Lido.

Nothing is left to chance in one of the most anticipated shows in the history of the Lido. The boldness, poetry and power of the staging will combine to create an unforgettable experience.

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Choosing Franco Dragone

The Lido has been thinking about its new revue since 2006. Nathalie Bellon-Szabo visited every corner of the world. Her goal was to understand how the live show had evolved, and to get to know the main players and choose the future designer of the Lido revue. Trips to Europe, but especially to Asia and the United States, increase. The call for applications is launched in 2010. The legendary Paris cabaret is inundated with proposals. Shows in Las Vegas of one of the most famous stage directors catch the eye of Nathalie Bellon-Szabo.

His name is Franco Dragone. From their common desire to create a mind-blowing show together, comes great cooperation and a single vision. The principle of the revue does not exist anywhere else in the world other than Paris. They had to preserve its DNA whilst modernising it.

Cabaret, a new calling consistentwith Sodexo Sports & Loisirs

Sodexo got on board with the Lido from March 1997, by taking care of the restaurant side of the dinner-show package. The group then took over the establishment in February 2006 before becoming the sole shareholder in 2009. This acquisition followed that of Bateaux Parisiens, when the contract with the Eiffel Tower restaurants was signed, making Sodexo Sports & Loisirs a major player in the tourism market in Paris. By signing the contract for the Cité Musicale de l’île Seguin 18 months ago, Sodexo has also become a strategic partner in theatre shows.

After a consolidation period of the Lido management, comes a new challenge, the creation and production of a 27th revue. “The show is a new calling for us but is fully consistent with the expertise and strategy of Sodexo Sports & Loisirs”, explains Nathalie Bellon-Szabo Lido President and CEO of Sodexo Sports & Loisirs.

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F R A N C O D R A G O N EAUTHOR AND STAGE DIRECTOR

So, are you happy to work for the Lido?I’m delighted and can’t wait, because despite 25 years in show business, this is a first for me: both taking up residence in a legendary cabaret and designing the new revue for it.

Have you been dreaming of doing a revue for a long time?All show directors live in hope of putting on a revue one day, the noble genre that was invented in Paris. When, in addition, it’s in such a setting, in the heart of the Champs Elysées, I believe that lots of people would love to sit in the driver’s seat. It’s already been ten years since the Lido approached me to create a touring show; I’ve finally got my wish.

What will the Franco Dragone version of the Lido be like?It will be the Lido version of the Lido! Not the Dragone version. First and foremost, I rely on the soul of the place, its history and previous revues. You can’t re-enchant the future by erasing the past. And we must be modest: the star at the Lido must be the revue, not the people who created it.

What is the theme of the show going to be?It’s a “journey to Paris in Wonderland”, an enchanted rediscovery of the capital, where we follow a young woman from her attic room to gradually earn her stripes and become lead dancer in the Lido revue.

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‘‘By staging this show on the world’s most beautiful avenue, I want to push back the limits of my dreams.’’

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« I want to offer viewers memorable images, such as these optic fibre ball gowns that

sparkle like the blueness of the Venice Lido. »

« Pour moi, une revue réussie ne joue pas consFor me, a successful revue does not hit

the high note all the time. It captivates by al-ternating the intimate and the spectacular. »

« My vision for the nude at the Lido? Prioritise aesthetics, translucency, hint at

elegant eroticism. »

Did you do a lot of documentary research beforehand?We have been immersed in the picture archives of the “City of Lights” for a year and a half, steeping ourselves in it: the architecture of the city, the Parisian woman’s dressing room, the capital’s iconic places. But mostly our real challenge was trying not to be too literal.

How will you surprise us?The space will be increased by a huge LED screen, by projections on the floor and on transparent fabrics. This will all blend with the real sets and incredible costumes, where feathers and glamour reign supreme. There will be over twenty tableaux that revisit the “City of Lights” alternating a feeling of intimacy and a big-budget production that will take your breath away. Everything must be beautiful, in every detail, and the artists and dancers on stage will make you thrill with delight. This show is like a giant mirror ball where every viewer must be able to find his own reflection, the reflection of his emotions.

A few adjectives to describe this new revue?Elegant, surprising, exhilarating, moving...but above all, I would like it to be mainstream. This is why I’ve gathered a team of experienced and talented people around me, from set designers, costume designers, through to the musical director and choreographer. For them and for me, this revue is a new experience. We will do everything to make it memorable.

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J E A N R A B A S S ESCENOGRAPHER

Nothing seems to intimidate him. Jean Rabasse has received two César awards (for his sets on City of Lost Children and Vatel) and is also the creator of the scenography for both Verdi’s Requiem and that of the opening ceremony of the Albertville Winter Olympics. Today he is delighted to begin a new chapter at the Lido. “It has some of the finest stage machinery in Europe, and we will exploit all the possibilities to the fullest, from the swimming pool, to the ice-rink”, he tells us. “But with unprecedented plays of light and shade, and video projection, we will triple the sensation of space for the viewer in the room.” The big challenge for him is the break-neck speed of scenery changes in the room (most of which will take place in public view!) and the enormous size of some elements such as the large Art Nouveau staircase and a 12-metre high chandelier. For the rest, Jean Rabasse has only one desire: “that the audience is constantly dazzled.”

« Art Deco, Belle EpoquePop Art: the Lido’s iconic stair-

case will be used in all its facets.

And boosted by video! »‘‘Take the audience by the hand, one by one, and lead them with us, not as spectators, but as participants.’’

« Some sets will transformin front the audience’s eyes,such as this frosted fountain

suddenly sparkling with the vigour of springtime. »

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N I C O L A S VA U D E L E TCOSTUME DESIGNER

He may have worked in haute couture, everyone from Dior, Christian Lacroix through to Jean-Paul Gaultier, or dressed Madonna on stage, but he still cannot believe Franco Dragone has chosen him for this new Lido adventure. “Isn’t designing outfits for a revue the secret fantasy of every designer?” he confesses. And so, from his imagination springs a series of fibre optic ball gowns, others covered in blue crystals with graduated shading, or the giant crinoline of the show’s lead dancer where the 12 Lido boys take shelter. Even if Nicolas Vaudelet made the outfits more lightweight to make the Bluebells and others dancers more ethereal, he has not forgotten to adorn them with the iconic feathers of the Lido, to line the dancers’ frock coats or some petticoats with them. “Working with a Parisian feather worker, we just wanted to rein-vent the wheel. We used feathers from peacocks, cockerels, pheasant and ostrich, but washed, burned, puffed up with ink, varnished. Glamour awaits you.

« I’ve been working in high fashion for a long time and it’s this Parisian

spirit that I want to inject into this revue. Audacious style. »

« The public comes to dream. Each of the 600 costumes, such as

this XXL dress for the chorus-line leader, must be XXtra ordinary. »

‘‘AmStramGLAM!The magic formula for the sixhundred costumes featuredin this new show.’’

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B E N O I T - S WA N P O U F F E R CHOREGRAPHER

It was here at the Lido that he celebrated his eighteenth birthday, invited by his parents. The place was already magical in his eyes; today he sees it as a sign of destiny, as he has come back years later to choreograph the new revue. In the meantime, Benoit-Swan Pouffer has danced on stages around the world and led a New York ballet company before moving back to his hometown of Paris.“Here I am, back in the temple of glamour. Since last April, along with Jane Sansby, Ballet Mistress of the Lido, we have auditioned 500 dancers from London to Paris, Berlin to New York, finally only keeping the best 40.” International auditions for an ambitious project: a modern revue where nothing is forbidden, for example, the cancan has been reinvented for the occasion, danced for the first time at the Lido. “A tsunami of feathers bobbing up and down”, he says with relish.

‘‘As great as ever, still as beautiful, but totally of its time: this is my vision of the Bluebells.’’

«The auditions were a herculean task: the pace of this new show requires real

performance from the dancers.»

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‘‘The Lido, this beautiful bird for whom I want to compose a score that is as contemporary as it is timeless.’’

Y VA N C A S S A R COMPOSER & MUSIC DIRECTOR

Adapting to a universe is his guilty pleasure. During the 25 years he has been making albums and setting shows to music, Yvan Cassar was able to play the chameleon. From Nougaro to Johnny Hallyday, from Vangelis to Montserrat Caballé, the only thing missing from his list of conquests was probably a revue as legendary as the Lido. “It’s a real challenge. I admire both the place and the immense quality of invention of Franco Dragone’s staging, and I will have to be equal to the task. Just like in my work for the cinema, (he did the soundtrack for the Visitors), there will be beautiful melodies with strings and brass but also songs you will remember, I hope. Saule, the lyricist and I have already composed some songs, such as Angel, Parisienne and Kiss, which reflect the musical variety of this new revue.” Yvan Cassar is offering to take the audience on a walk through a Paris in a familiar setting, and also on a real musical journey.

S A U L ECO-COMPOSER & LYRICIST

Franco Dragone was so taken with his young fellow Frenchman that he designed scenes for some of his concerts. “I’m now returning the compliment, this time it’s me who is at his disposal and the disposal of the Lido for this revue”, says a rapturous Saule. “The real joy is that this production involves teamwork, where each inspires the other. The poetry of the sets and costumes makes me want to challenge myself.” Sharing is not an empty word for this artist, close to Bénabar, Dominique A and Charlie Winston, with whom he sang a duet called “Dusty Men”, which was an enormous hit. “A song where French mixes with a touch of English. “And it was on this principle”, he adds, “that I imagined the titles of this new show”. Something to please both the French audience and the entire world.

‘‘My songs must bring their share of dreams to this show as much as the staging, the sets or the costumes...’’

« My challenge? To rediscover the theme of Paris through music, without nostalgia

or sentimentality, but with pace and fantasy. »

« Looking at these magical outfits, how is it possible not to want the words of the songs

to celebrate Paris as well? »

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Biographies

F R A N C O D R A G O N EBorn in Italy, this visionary stage director was the creator of the first ten Cirque du Soleil productions before founding his own company in La Louvière, Belgium, in 2000. Among his undoubted successes are Alegria and Saltimbanco, and the great productions for Las Vegas casinos such as Mystère and Ô. Combining artistic virtuosity and daring technology, Franco Dragone has thrown away the rulebook for the living show. He explores all registers, from huge Céline Dion extravaganzas in the United States, to the launch of the new Cirque, Archaos, or the very sensual show, Taboo, in Macao. The new challenge for him in 2015 is the Lido. By setting up a major show for the first time in Europe, which is expected to run for a decade, Franco is launching himself “into one of the greatest adventures of my artistic life”.

J E A N R A B A S S ELong time set designer for Philippe Découflé, set designer for numerous films; Jean Rabasse received a César for “City of Lost Children” in 1996. He has recently worked with Roman Polanski on “Venus in furs” and did the set design for “Verdi’s Requiem”, directed by Daniele Finzi in 2012.

N I C O L A S VA U D E L E TNicolas was born in Brittany. After his studies at Académie Julian, Met de Penninghen andStudio Berçot, he joined the couture studio of Christian Lacroix. He then worked with the houses of Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, Givenchy and Jean-Paul Gaultier where he produced the designs for Madonona’s “Confession Tour”. He created his own brand in 2011 in Madrid. He met Franco Dragone in 2013 when making the costumes for “Sorolla” for the Spanish National Ballet.

B E N O I T - S WA N P O U F F E RFrom 2005 – 2013 Benoît directed the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, a dance company based in New York. In April 1993 he received first prize in the Benetton dance competition and studied at the Alvin Ailey Dance School in New York. Since then he has choreographed many works and the dance sequences from the film “The Agency” with Matt Damon in 2011.

Y VA N C A S S A RA renowned musician, he has collaborated with many artists, both on stage and in the studio, as an arranger, producer and musical director. So, stars such as Charles Aznavour, Patricia Kaas, Johnny Hallyday, Jean-Jacques Goldman, Jacques Dutronc and Mylène Farmer have called on his talent. He has composed film music (The Visitors) and a musical (Cleopatra), and has also worked with classical singers, from Montserrat Caballé to Roberto Alagna and José Carreras.

S A U L EBehind the nickname of Saule, (it means willow-tree in English) hides a young Belgian of thirty years of age and nearly two metres tall called Baptiste Lalieu. After training as an actor at the Brussels Conservatory of Dramatic Art, it was ultimately his passion for music that would lead him to the stage. A singer-songwriter with three albums under his belt, he has just finished an international tour with 150 dates with the last one, “Géant” (Giant). 2015 will be a great year for him: the musical tale he wrote will be produced in Mons, the European Capital of Culture, he will record his next album and above all because he was chosen to write the songs for the new Lido revue!

J AY S M I T H Creative DirectorPAT R I C K N E Y S Video DesignerPAT R I C E B E S O M B E S Lighting DesignerJ A Q U E PA Q U I N Acrobatic Structures DesignerS T E V E D U B U C Sound DesignerO L I V I E R S I M O L A Assistant Stage Director & Specific Video Content Designer

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Production Schedule for the new Lido de Paris show

N O V E M B E R 2014

2 D E C E M B E R 2014

D E C E M B E R

E N D O F D E C E M B E R

J A N UA R Y

J A N UA R Y

JA N UA RY TO M A R C H

F E B R UA R Y

F E B R UA R Y

M A R C H

2 N D O F A P R I L 2015

1st Workshop choreography

FINAL ‘BONHEUR’

Set removal

Dismantling machinery

Adding new machinery

Costume fitting

Production, Training and Rehearsals

Technical installation

Placing of the sign

Music recording

Premiere of the new show

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Once upon a time there was the Lido...Standout datesStandout stars

Standout moments1928 Opening of the Lido at 78 avenue des Champs-Elysées. Artificial beach in the basement, swimming pool, musical entertainment and gondolas like the Venice Lido.

1936 The Lido is transformed into a theatre.

1946 Creation of the dinner-show formula, since revived by many establishments. Launch of “Sans rimes ni raisons”, the first of the 26 revues to take place at the Lido.

1947 Laurel and Hardy choose the Lido for their only appearance on the French stage.

1948 Arrival of the legendary Bluebell Girls troupe under the direction of Margaret Kelly.

1977 The Lido moves further up the Champs Elysées, to No. 116. Creation of a panoramic room with 1150 seats with the most unique machinery in Europe, including an ice rink, swimming pool and water jets.

1979 Shirley MacLaine arrives at the Lido for a show broadcast on American television.

2003 Elton John gives a memorable solo piano concert on the Lido stage.

2006 The Sodexo group becomes majority shareholder of the legendary cabaret.

2 N D O F D É C E M B R E 2014 The ‘Bonheur’ revue bows out after over 7000 performances in ten years. And more than five million spectators.

2 N D O F A P R I L 2015 Launch of the new Lido de Paris show.

The Kessler sisters, twins Alice and Ellen, stars of the Lido revue called Voilà, in 1953.

View of the theatre in the 1940s, when the cabaret was still at 78 avenue des Champs-Elysées.

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Key Statistics for the Lido

About Sodexo Sports & LoisirsDirector Nathalie Bellon-Szabo

In France and throughout the world, Sodexo Sports & Loisirs provides the important activity of managing prestigious, cultural and sporting sites and big events, both as owners of prestigious venues and brands (The Lido de Paris, Lenôtre/Pré Catelan, Bateaux Parisiens, Yachts de Paris) or as a partner for their clients, exceptional venues and major events (the Eiffel Tower restaurants, Maisons de Prestige, Roland Garros, the Tour de France, Paris-Dakar, la Cité Musicale, Royal Ascot, Rugby World Cup).

Founded in Marseille in 1966 by Pierre Bellon, Sodexo is the world leader in services that improve Quality of Life, an essential performance factor for individuals and organisations.

The success and performance of Sodexo is based on its independence, its sustainable economic model and its ability to ensure the development and commitment of its 419,000 employees around the world.

T H E A U D I TO R I U MNumber of dinner places 900 Total number of seats 1100 Area of the auditorium 900m2

Lido staff 350 people

K I T C H E N A N D A U D I TO R I U MNumber of kitchen staff 35Theatre staff 100Number of bottles of champagne 250 000 per year

O N S TA G E 45 Bluebell Girls 1 Lead dancer 16 dancersNumber of artists 70 artistsNumber of dressers 25 dressers Number of technicians 40 techniciansNumber of costumes 600 costumes Seamstresses 10 Seamstresses

P R E S S C O N TA C TNathalie Franchini Communication

25-27, rue Danièle Casanova 75001 Paris01 47 54 07 95

presse@franchinicommunication.com

L I D O D E PA R I S116 bis, Avenue des Champs-Elysées 75008 Paris

www.lido.frTelephone: +33 (1) 40 76 56 10

Dinner-Show — 7 pmFirst show — 9 pm

Second show — 11 pm