"What if we could recapture our childhood?" This is the challenge Manuel LeMaître et Mathilde Le Quellec at the center of their search for the idea of their next show. What makes children dream? Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, superheros, vacations...and...The Little Mouse (that's Tooth Fairy in French), of course! The answer in hand, Manuel et Mathilde decided to create a children's musical, a form that transcends all ages and makes the text dynamic. A chance encounter with Michael Maricondi and À La Recherche de La Petite Souris was born from their fruitful collaboration. Marrying Broadway style music and form and French humor, they set out on the search for the ideal team. With the costume creations of Alex Dos Lopez, they discovered the style and the "spice" of Venezuela, and in the brother/sister collaboration of Panos Kondylis and Iro Kondylii they take inspiration from Greek architecture and theatrical ingenuity. All of these international influences help to build a magical world, incarnated in a cast of 5 actors that lead us on a unique and spirited voyage. Adventure, enchanted creatures, an evil queen, magic...all sewn together with zany and precise dialogue and Broadway style showtunes, "À La Recherche de La Petite Souris" is a cocktail of laughs and drama that promises to rivet parents as well as their children, embarking them on a wondrous world that will have everyone talking. À La Recherche de La Petite Souris plays at La Folie Théâtre in Paris, France from January 8th to March 26th, 2014, every Wednesday and Saturday at 2.30p and Sundays at 3.00p.

HIC AND NUNC

Hic and Nunc ("Here and Now) has been a part of the Seine and Marne region since 2005. This team of artists (actors, authors, directors, and dancers) pledges itself to the production of contemporary theatre, a precious gift and tool in our world, as well as new adaptations (novel, news story, fairy tale) while bushing theatrical boundaries.

THE TEAM:

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Michael Maricondi

(Music/ Orchestrations/ Director)

Michael Maricondi (NYU Tisch School of the Arts, '08) has always been attracted to the arts. Beginning at the age of three with his studies of piano and singing , he played in his first musical Rags (David Hershkowitz) . In 2000, he played at the Long Wharf Theatre opposite Raùl Esparza in The Good Person of New Haven (Junior) .

He attended the Cooperative Arts and Humanities in New Haven , CT where he graduated, having studied theater and music. During his studies, he staged three shows , includingThe Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Scooby Doo Mysteries! and What Fairy Tale is This, Anyway?!, which he would later adapt into a musical.

Following his studies in high school, Michael was accepted to New York University, where he studied Theatre Performance ( CAP21 ) , Music Composition , and sociology. During his studies, he continued to work on stage off- Broadway, and wrote several musicals including takingmealsinadollhouse, the musical version of What Fairy Tale is This, Anyway?!, and, with collaborator Rachel Bloom (Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury!) When Push Comes to Shove: A New Youth Musical and Sing Out, Louise!, a comedy cabaret presented at the Upright Citizens ' Brigade.

After touring in several regional shows, he founded his own theater company , Trust Your Gut Productions , LLC, which produces musicals for young audiences. Their inaugural show, When Push Comes to Shove, is currently touring the United States .

In 2009, Michael came to France to study at Acting International under the pedagogy of Robert Cordier. He sang with composer and Molière winner Patrice Peyrieras on his opera Paradise Market (Mister Trash) and his composition for the rollercoaster Oziris at Parc Asterix . He recently orchestrated and staged the musical Blax (with Brown Sugar Productions) at the Bobino theatre and played the supporting lead role of Nate in the feature film Drakula XO directed by Attila Luca with whom he filmed in France and Transylvania.

Michael is very proud of the adventure of À La Recherche de La Petite Souris, and feels very blessed to be surrounded by talent and the souls of this star-studded team!

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Mathilde Le Quellec

(Book and Lyrics/ Mémère/ Souris Souillon)

Mathilde Le Quellec was trained at the Pierre Debauche School and Theatre Company in Agen. After graduating, she decided to perfect her technique by entering into the Superior Institute of Performing Arts in Paris, following their two-year curriculum. She currently studies voice and accordion at the Conservatory of the 14th District of Paris. In September 2010, she played in Sofia Douleur by Laurent Gaudé, directed by Nitya Fierens. In 2011, Mathilde joined the Hic and Nunc Collective for their piece Mystère Pessoa, Mort d'un Hétéronyme". From 2012-2013, she created Les Muses Donnent Le Ton! with the company Les Muses d'Orel. At the same time, she joined the Shows on the Road company for their production of Les Malheurs de Sophie and is currently attached to the project Les Dézingués du Vocal at the Eaasïon Theatre. In 2013, she completed the writing on her second original creation, À La Recherche de la Petite Souris, which will play at the Folie Theatre at the beginning of 2014 and was recently cast in the ensemble of Twins: The Musical.

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Manuel Lemaître

(Book and Lyrics/ Le Rat/ Souris Souillon)

Manuel Lemaître began his training at AICOM in 2006 after which he matriculated into the program at ECM-ISAS where he trained in dance, music, and theatre. In 2009, he continued his theatrical training at the Cartoucherie in Vincennes with Jacques Courtès and Stanislas Grassian and played, in 2010, in Laurent Gaudés Sofia Douleur, also at the Cartoucherie. That same year, he continued his voice studies with Allan Wright and, in 2011, entered into the Academie du Chanteur Moderne where he is currently a student. At the same time, he continues to study acting at the Frères Botti workshop and joined the theatrical company Crocenjambe. In 2012, he began teaching contemporary technique at the municipal conservatory of Vésinet Le Pecq. From 2012-2013, with the Crocenjambe company, he portrayed the role of Eddy in Coco of Paimpol: The Musical which will play in Paris at the Clavel Theatre. In 2013, he joined the company Scénistic and interpreted several roles in their musical Symphonia at the Marsoulan Theatre. During this time, he continues his studies and teaching of his first passion, singing.

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Panos Kondylis

(Chief Props Designer/ Assistant Set Designer)

Born in Athens in 1989, Panos Kondylis showed an interest in the arts from a young age. In 2007, he entered into the Architectural Engineering program at NTUA, where he is currently completing his master's thesis. In 2009, he graduated from the K.Kyriakou school of Make-up Arts in Athens. Since his graduation, he has worked as chief make-up and special effects artist, including short films, music videos, and professional photoshoots. His work has been exhibited at several festivals and expositions around the world. He formed PanDa Cinematix, a Greek audiovisual production company with which he directed, filmed, and edited several short films, music videos, and advertisements. In 2011, he moved to Paris where he founded 134FX Labo, an artistic direction and make-up arts laboratory. While living in Paris, he began to create a network of collaborators consisting of well-respected artists such as Hervé Boudon, Viktoria Perrin, and others. As for his work, he combines his knowledge of architecture, design, and make-up and realizes conceptual art, sets, props, and sculptures. Among his latest projects are Drakula XO, a feature length film directed by Attila Luca, which filmed in Vancouver, Paris, and Transylvania for which he was the Chief Make Up and Special Effects Artist.

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Iro Kondyli-Giannopoulou

(Set Designer)

Iro was born in Athens, Greece. After finishing her studies in 2012, she received her MA in Architectural Engineering at the University National Technica in Athens. At the same time, she received her certification as Modern Theatrical Dance Professor from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance in the United Kingdom. She works most often as engineer, but she performs regularly as a dancer in Athens. In 2005, she joined the group Micro Team Architects, which offers experienced architects complex projects in the public sector. She is also a free-lance set-designer. Since 2013, she has been in collaboration with the make-up studio and creative workshop 134 FX Labo, based in Paris. The goal is to use all of her areas of expertise to create forms and structures for all genres of space; real or imaginary.

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Alex Dos López

(Costumes)

Alex was born in Venezuela where he graduated, in 2006, from the school of fashion Monsenor de Talavera in Caracas. During his studies, he began to work with several professional stylists including Angel Sanchez. He also worked with Origami Productions on their advertisements for the Sony Playstation game Conflict: Denied OPS and Chevrolet. His creations appeared in cinemas at La Fundacion Villa del Cine in the films Cheile, Bambi C-4, and Miranda. He designed costumes for youth programs on the television channel RCTV. In 2011, Alex moved to Paris where he is currently training in Costume Design.

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Stéphanie Le Touzic

(Assistant Director/ Stage Manager)

Stéphanie began in the theatre at age 14 in an extra-curricular program. In high school, she majored in Cinema and Audiovisual Studie, which moved her from the Island of Reunion to Paris where she matriculated into the Cinema and Audiovisual Studies program at La Sorbonne Nouvelle.

At the same time, she completed the full three year curriculum at Acting International, under the pedagogy of Robert Cordier.

For the past four years, she has been studying Indian dans (Bollywood) at the Dance Center of the Marais. This activity allowed her to perform two times at the Cirque d'Hiver as well as at the Cabaret Sauvage and L'Espace Jemappes.

Since finishing her studies, Stéphanie has participate in many projects for the cinema. Most recently, she played the lead female role of Rave in the pilot for a new, live-action manga series, Super Soja.

Currently, she can be seen performing in various roles in an adaptation of Oscar Wilde's A Portrait of Dorian Gray here in Paris.

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Claire Couture

(Choreographer/ Irène/ La Reine/ La Petite Souris)

After obtaining her baccalaureate in Literature Studies, Claire attended the ECM-ISAS for three years, majoring in voice, dance, and theatre. She entered into the contemporary dance company Dia Baïla (award winner in the Tobina Competition) which has helped her to develop her creativity. She also works for the Institut des Hauts-de-Seine as choreographer, dancer, and singer traveling to children's hospitals. She continues her voice and contemporary music training at the Conservatory of the 14th District in Paris. With Mathilde Le Quellec, she created Les Muses Donnent le Ton! and plays in several musicals at the same time including La Belle au Bois Dormant Que Veillent Les Fées, La Revanche dune Blonde (Legally Blonde) at the Palace Theatre, Il Était Une Fois, at La Grand Comédie, and Peter Pan at the Bobino.

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Pauline Cassan

(Bastien)

Pauline Cassan began her acting training at the ECM-ISAS (musical theatre conservatory) directed by Rick Odume (2007-2009). She participated in two dance workshops taught by the ex-assistant of Bob Fosse, Chet Walker.

Pauline played in two musicals, Chicago and West Side Story both directed by Stanislas Grassian and Milard Hurley. Following these productions, in late 2009 she entered into the professional program at Théâtrale de Vitry-Sur-Seine, directed by Florian Sitbon. At the theatre, she played for Florian Sitbon in Les Histoires d'A and The Dragon by Evgueni Scharwtz, Joachim Sallinger in J'Entends Quelqu'un Qui Se Moque, Nadine Darmon in Gare L'Obus, Jean-Louis Jacopin in Ma Solange, Comment T'Écrire, Mon Désastre… by Noëlle Renaude and Une Rose Lui Battait Dans La Poitrine, and Camille Chamoux in Les Prétendants by Jean Luc Lagarce. In 2012, she was the assistant of Demis Podalydès on the Molière Les Bourgeois Gentillhomme at the Theatre Bouffes du Nord. In 2013, she played in La Fable Perdue at the Theatre Du Temps, directed by Marine Behar and Yoann Piquet. In addition, she appeared in several short films including Souffle Court directed by Johann Dulat which was selected for several film festivals.

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Pauline Joquel

(Bastien)

Pauline has studied ballet, jazz , modern and theatre dance since childhood. At age 19, she entered the Bordeaux Conservatory of Dramatic Arts from whence she decided to continue her draining at L'Institut Supérieur des Arts de La Scène . Her training completed, she was accepted into Jacob 's Pillow, having won a scholarship, and went to the United States where she had the chance to work with Chet Walker, former assistant to Bob Fosse. Eclectic, Pauline played in myriad theater pieces including Les Petites Marionnettes at La Grand Comédie, Alias Le Bonheur at the Théâtre de L'Épée de Bois, and also in several musicals including Place de L'Opéra, presented at the Espace Cardin, Upper Criminal at La Main Jaune, and children's shows such at La Princesse Au Petit Pois Dans La Tête at the Théâtre Le Bout and Marx Jacob Nous Fait La Courte Échelle… Passionate about cinema, she made her debut in 2010 as a hero in the science fiction short film The Guardians of Gaïa and, shortly after, as a Victorian woman in an advertising caricature as well as a young woman hunted in the short film evasion or an enthusiastic dancer in Grand Ma, a movie tribute to Jacques Demy . In September 2013 , Pauline released his first short film as director entitled Lavomatik and now participates in several film projects as an actress and writer.

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Thomas Fournier

(Le Rat/ Souris Souillon)

Following his acting studies at the Conservatory of Nice, Thomas decided to complete his training at the Higher Institute of Dramatic Arts where he studied singing, dancing and theatre. He joined the ensemble of the Colette Fontaine Roumanoff Theatre, as well as more contemporary pieces such as Les Petites Marionnettes directed by Guy Shelley and Personnages À Croquer directed by Nicole Genovese .

Thomas appeared in the musicals Place de L'Opéra (Espace Cardin), Il Était Une Fois (at La Grand Comédie), Symphonie (TMM), and Tant Qu'il Y Aura Blanche Neige(Fontaine Theatre). He has acted also in several short films.

Recently, he choreographed the contemporary dance pieces Foudédames and La Forêt de La Mémoire.

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Maxime Bisantz

(Scorbute/ Jaques)

Max is a young actor trained at Acting International under the pedagogy of Robert Cordier from which he graduated in 2012.

Since then he has acted in a dozen plays, contemporary and classic, diversifying his acting style.

Artistic director of the company "Loonieshead" with which he began his first creation, he also passes on his knowledge to children by teaching drama in extra-curricular workshops. Topito, his clown, visits hospitals and participates in the development of several shows for children and adults.

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Sophie Kaufmann

(Mémère/ Souris Souillon)

Sophie began very early on stage and trained at the Conservatory of Dramatic Arts Paris Center and 11th District, at the Théâtre National de Chaillot and the Incognito Theatre in London. On stage she has appeared in Les Hommes Préhistoriques Sont Des Cons at the Théâtre du Rond Point, Landscape et Elle Est Là, a series of bilingual pieces at the Théâtre des Déchargeurs. On the classical side, she played in Les Caprices de Marianne (Marianne), Dom Juan (Done Elvire), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Nurse Rached), and Twelfth Night (Viola). Sophie has also trained at the Musical Conservatory Of Paris 9th District multidisciplinary while studying singing and dance. This versatility led her to perform regularly in children's theatre including productions of Symphonia, Les Malheurs de Sophie, Le Petit Chaperon Rock, Il Était Une Fois, and La Belle au Bois Dormant. She was also seen in a great historical epic , the musical called Foulques III L'Épopée at the Fortress Montbazon throughout the summer of 2011. Sophie also uses his voice for dubbing , particularly for documentaries ... or cartoons ! The fall 2013 looks promising for her , since she will play in the musical she also wrote Blanche Neige et Moi until early 2014 at the Théâtre de Dix Heures in Paris , as well as "La Reine Blanche and Le Petit Chaperon Rock at the Clavel Theatre.

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Veronique Hatat

(Doublure Irène/La Reine/La Petite Souris)

After training in classical dance and theater, Véronique entered the International Academy of Musical in Paris in 2010 to train in singing and enrich her technical dance and acting technique.

In parallel with her training, she played in musicals Paris-Broadway and 1939 as well as the first part of the movie Glee On Tour! and Grease at the Gaumont Parnassus.

Since 2012, Véronique has played various roles in Legally Blonde, La Vie Rêvée de Norma, and in the the children's musicals Nono et Les Couleurs de L'Amitié and Symphonia. She joined the ensemble of this year's coming musicals Twins and Crime: The Musical.

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A la Recherche de la Petite Souris

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