It’s a missed call first. And a name that appears, “Al Pacino”. This winter Sunday, waking up, producer Richard Caillat cannot believe his eyes. But it was not a mistake. The actor from “The Godfather”, “Scarface” and “Serpico” wanted to come back to Paris… Yes, the theater director has Al Pacino’s mobile number. This is how, moreover, he had managed to bring him to play in Paris in 2018. Inducted by Jean Reno, he had been able to meet him in his dressing room in New York. Nothing beats direct contact to jump the many barriers that exist to reach such a star.
“I had been trying for years, it was obviously easier that way, remembers Richard Caillat. I was able to offer him, and everything was done very quickly, he dreamed of playing in Paris. He gave me his number, we edited it like that, it was pretty lunar. And a first for the American. Two evenings in a row at the theater in Paris, he told himself. First through a kind of conversation led by Léa Salamé – the mediator has not yet been chosen for this new evening – then an exchange with the audience and finally interpretations of great texts or scenes from her career.
He had loved his first Parisian experience
On the occasion of this Parisian stay, the actor of the “Godfather”, keen on theater and Shakespeare in particular, had also given a surprise master class to the students of the Conservatory of Dramatic Art. “It was phenomenally intense and passionate,” says Caillat, who was able to attend. Passionate about history and Napoleon, Pacino had also visited the Élysée with Emmanuel Macron. The actor left delighted, showing his intention to return.
Everything accelerated a few weeks ago. He had an idea: to offer it for his birthday! Here again, everything goes up quickly, it will be April 25 in a “bigger while remaining intimate” room. “As a producer, I will be more comfortable with 2,000 than with 1,000 seats, this allows me, if we consider the controversy last time, to offer prices that are more consistent with the rates for major concerts. of international stars. »
“I’ve seen shows, but Al Pacino remains incomparable”
In 2018, places ranged from 90 to 950 euros, a final price which included a “meet and greet”, or the possibility of meeting the actor after the show. These tariffs had caused much ink to flow. From 49 to 550 euros – on sale on the Salle Pleyel site from 10 a.m. this Friday – it’s almost half as much. There will be no “meet and greet” offered at the ticket office, but the possibility of meeting the star could be marketed within the framework of “hospitality”, exceptional VIP services, like what is done in the boxes of large stadiums for events. On demand.
“It was controversial, but people were happy, remembers the producer. Al had been as generous on stage as off. “And to add:” It is prodigious to see him on stage, he has a charisma, a power. I’ve seen shows of it in my life, but Al Pacino remains incomparable, there are no actors like that in the world. It is to offer this type of emotion that I do this job. »