Thomas Jolly Prepares Big Show for Paris Olympics Opening

July 20th, 2024

Thomas Jolly, the renowned 40-year-old French actor and stage director, stands amidst the bustling preparations for an historic celebration. As the artistic director for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games’ grand ceremonies, he faces the monumental task of capturing and sharing the essence of France in a groundbreaking opening ceremony set to unfold along the picturesque Seine River in the heart of Paris. Gearing up for a four-hour production anticipated to captivate over a billion viewers worldwide, Jolly is no stranger to monumental theatrical endeavors. With a resume boasting of a grueling 24-hour Shakespeare marathon and the revival of the much-loved musical "Starmania," his artistry has been thrice honored with the prestigious Molière awards—the apex of French theater recognition. The ambitious vision for the ceremony mirrors France itself—a nation in perpetual motion, evolving and reshaping its identity. In the backdrop of Parisian landmarks, workers are hard at it, crafting the stage upon which a global narrative will soon play out. Jolly and Tony Estanguet, the president of the Olympic organizing committee, converge discreetly amidst the chaos, trading insights with the flowing Seine as their witness. Previous French ceremonies have grappled with an over-reliance on clichés, a pitfall Jolly aims to avoid. Instead, he plans to conjure a nuanced portrait that honors tradition while challenging outdated stereotypes, underscoring Paris’s youthful vibrancy and cultural mosaic. While originally envisioned as a universally accessible and free event, considerations of public safety have necessitated adjustments given the shadow of extremism that looms over the city's recent history. Nonetheless, approximately 300,000 guests will be treated to an unprecedented spectacle, one which eschews the conventional stadium backdrop in favor of the River Seine's natural stage. The scale of Jolly's artistic vision is colossal—a 12-act ballet involving hundreds of dancers and a fleet of boats parading Olympic athletes towards the Eiffel Tower. With rehearsals shrouded in secrecy, speculation runs rampant. Whispers of submarine appearances and marquee performances by global music icons like Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, and Aya Nakamura add to the fervor. Yet, for all the rumors, Jolly maintains a playful silence on the final details, promising a ceremony that will resonate deeply for both the audience and the participating artists. With the world's gaze turned towards Paris, the intrigue continues to build as the city readies itself for a momentous celebration that seeks to both honor and redefine the Olympic spectacle.

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💭 Discussion Questions

. How does Thomas Jolly's experience with past theatrical productions contribute to his approach as the artistic director for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games?

. In what ways does Jolly plan to differentiate the 2024 Olympic opening ceremony from previous French ceremonies, and what challenges might he face in this endeavor?

. What measures are being taken to address the concerns of public safety during the event, and how might these impact the overall experience for attendees?

📖 Vocabulary

🌐 Cultural context

French culture values artistic excellence and innovation, evident in the country's rich history of theater and the prestigious Molière awards. Paris, known for iconic landmarks, has a legacy of historic events and is the capital of a diverse nation proud of its cultural heritage.

🧠 Further reading

2020 Summer Olympics opening ceremony

On July 23, 2021, the world witnessed the inauguration of the rescheduled 2020 Summer Olympics at Tokyo's Olympic Stadium, graced by Emperor Naruhito's formal opening. Adhering to the Olympic Charter, the event blended time-honored inauguration rituals—such as rousing speeches, the raising of flags, and the athletes’ parade—with a mesmerizing display of the host nation's culture and history. With COVID-19 considerations in mind, much of the pageantry was pre-recorded, while live elements were performed with strict social distancing, before a select group of athletes, officials, and dignitaries. This iteration of the Games marked the 125th anniversary since the first modern Olympics in 1896 in Athens. Embracing the resolve to move forward amid the global pandemic, the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics adopted the theme "Moving Forward" and directed the spotlight on the Olympic motto "United by Emotion" during the opening ceremony. The event intended to reaffirm the value of sports and solidarity within the Olympic spirit, while also acknowledging the impact of the pandemic, applauding frontline workers, and exploring feelings of grief, anticipation, and aspiration. Additionally, the ceremony celebrated Japanese popular culture, incorporating elements like traditional theater, video games, and renowned variety shows such as Kasou Taishou. For the first time in an Olympic opening ceremony, moments of silence were held to honor both the 50th anniversary of the tragic Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics and the decade that has elapsed since the Tōhoku disaster in 2011. Preparations for these unprecedented Games were detailed in the "Basic Policy" document, released by the Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (TOCOG) in December 2017. The document was the culmination of expert feedback and Japanese public opinion and laid the groundwork for the Olympic and Paralympic ceremonies' vision and overarching

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees

Established in 1893, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is a prominent labor union in North America which encompasses an array of professionals in the entertainment sector. With a membership exceeding 168,000 individuals, IATSE plays a pivotal role in advocating for the rights of those involved in live theater, motion pictures, television, broadcasting, and even trade shows across the United States, its territories, and Canada. Notably, the union received the Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre in 1993 in recognition of its contributions to the theatre community. The roots of IATSE trace back to a gathering of stagehands from eleven different cities in New York, where they committed to mutual support in their quest for equitable employment conditions and fair pay. Over the years, the union has shown remarkablility, welcoming the emergence of innovative entertainment media and technological advancement while also engaging new crafts and expanding its geographical reach. Today, it represents a diverse variety of professions including, but not limited to, animators, ushers, and technicians. At a time when unions in the private sector are witnessing a decline in membership, IATSE stands out as it continues to grow robustly. From a membership of about 74,344 in 1993, the union has seen its numbers swell to around 160,000. This growth is often attributed to IATSE's flexible approach to changing demands, safeguarding established domains, and integrating emerging vocations within its ambit. The union's history is marked by significant moments like the strike in 1886 by the Theatrical Protective Union of New York, which, though initially met with resistance by producers who hired less competent replacement workers, ultimately enjoyed success through solidarity with actors who stood by the strikers amidst the chaos of crumbling stage sets. This early event underscores the importance of collective action and unity, principles which continue to underpin IATSE's ongoing mission to secure and enhance the livelihoods of

Smudging

Within various Indigenous cultures in the Americas, a ceremonial practice known as smudging involves the burning of sacred herbs such as white sage, to purify and bless individuals and spaces. This rite shares similarities with smoke-based spiritual practices found in other cultures around the world, where smoke is used for cleansing and bestowing blessings. However, within various tribes, bands, and nations, the specifics of these ceremonies, including their purposes and the substances burnt, can differ significantly. Elders within traditional communities preserve the intricacies of these rituals and provide guidance that reflects their unique cultural heritage. Despite this, smudging, under several names, has found its way into non-Indigenous contexts, such as the New Age movement or commercial ventures. This development has led to an increase in white sage over-harvesting, prompting Indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada to voice concerns about cultural appropriation and the sustainability of traditional plants. Specific herbs hold a sacred place in Indigenous American and Canadian ceremonies, being burnt to create smoke for purification or blessing, with practices varying from one culture to another. For instance, red cedar smoke is utilized in some cultures for its purifying and healing properties, and can even be used in hospital settings to cleanse the environment and ward off negative forces. However, the very herbs considered cleansing in one tradition may be prohibited or used for entirely different rituals in another. The ceremonial use of herbs demands a mindful approach to harvesting, with particular attention to suitable times, which could be influenced by the time of day, lunar phases, or seasonal cycles. A Lumbee individual, Gertrude Allen, shares that her father, skilled in plant-based healing, emphasized that sage's potency fluctuates with these different times.