After a two-months run, the French production of Nine will be closing on Nov. 15. This French adaptation of Maury Yeston's musical, inspired by Fellini's 8 1/2, opened at the Folies Bergere on Sept. 16. Directed by Saverio Marconi and starring Jerome Pradon as Guido Contini, the show, unfortunately, didn't attract enough audiences.

Spotted among the audience during the two-months run were a few French musical theater celebrities. Liliane Montevecchi, who won a Tony for her portrayal of Liliane La Fleur in the original Broadway production of Nine, attended a performance at the famous Folies Bergere theater. Montevecchi was herself one of the most famous leading ladies of the Folies.

French composer Claude-Michel Schonberg also came to see Nine. Jerome Pradon, star of the show, is one of the rare performers to have starred in the three musicals written by Schonberg (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Martin Guerre).

No announcement has been made yet regarding another production filling the space left by Nine but it is likely that the Folies Bergere will host a musical revue by the beginning of December. Then, the Australian sensation Tap Dogs is scheduled to perform at the Folies in February 1998.

For tickets and information on Nine at the Folies Bergere, call 331 44 79 98 98 or visit the Folies Bergere web site at http://www.foliesbergere.com -- By Stephane Ly-Cuong
France Correspondent