Theater, singing, dancing, music, set design… Every year, Audencia’s Musical Theater, known as “CoMu,” showcases students’ creativity through an ambitious collaborative project: imagining, writing, directing, and bringing a show to life. For the 2026 edition, the action takes us back to the 1889 World’s Fair and behind the scenes of the Eiffel Tower, in a comedy set to take the stage at the Théâtre Graslin in Nantes on November 6 and 7. We caught up with Julie Blanchard and Elise Brochard, the two students leading this 100% student-run production.
First things first: What exactly is CoMu?
Julie: CoMu is the biggest event organized by the Arts Association (BDA). The idea is to bring as many students as possible together around a shared artistic project. Musical theater is perfect for that because it brings together so many different talents: acting, singing, dancing, music, directing, set design, stage management, and more.
Elise: What makes this project so special is that it’s entirely student-led. From writing the script to designing the poster, sets, choreography, and music, everything is conceived and created by us.
How do you manage to put on an entire show in just a few weeks?
Julie: That’s the magic of CoMu! Second-year students in the Grande École Program start preparing the show several months in advance. They work on the script and direction, among other things, and recruit coaches for the different CoMu teams. First-year students join them later and have just six weeks to get to grips with the show, with guidance from their coaches, before taking the stage. Many are completely new to this world. We learn together, and just a few weeks later, the show comes to life!
Elise: There’s also a real tradition of passing things on. Students who performed in their first year can become coaches the following year, sharing what they’ve learned and helping guide the next group of participants.
You both took part in CoMu last year. What made you want to take on a leadership role this time around?
Elise: Last year, we were both part of the theater team. When you’re a first-year student, you mainly see your own part of the show. The people in charge shielded us from all the organizational challenges happening behind the scenes! This year, we wanted to discover that other side of the project and play a bigger role in the creative process. In particular, we wanted to get involved in writing and artistic direction. And that’s exactly what we did: we wrote the play ourselves, together with our theater coach.
Julie: I’d been wanting to try my hand at writing for a while, ideally as part of a real project. I could see that CoMu would give me that opportunity—and at the Théâtre Graslin, no less! Taking on a project of this scale is also an incredible opportunity. You have to coordinate a large number of people, make artistic decisions, and work with a theater and its professional team. It’s an incredibly valuable learning experience.
So, what exactly does being in charge involve?
Julie: The first major part of the job is coordination: recruiting coaches, getting the different teams to work together, and making sure everyone is moving in the same direction.
Elise: The second part is artistic direction. Each team has plenty of creative freedom, but we also need to make sure everything fits together. That means bringing theater into conversation with music, dance, singing, and all the other elements of the show. This year, we also wanted to create stronger connections between the different scenes so that singing and dancing would become fully integrated into the story.
Speaking of the story, what will this year’s show be about?
Julie: We started with a real historical event: the 1889 World’s Fair and the debate surrounding the future of the Eiffel Tower. After the fair, people genuinely questioned whether the tower should be kept or dismantled. Using that historical backdrop, we created our own fictional story. It features characters from the cabaret world, scientists, an American investor, and more. We’ve brought together very different worlds and added plenty of humor.
Elise: This year, we really wanted to write a comedy while keeping the historical roots that are such an important part of CoMu’s identity.
Do you need an artistic background to get involved?
Julie: Some CoMu teams naturally require specific skills. To join the music team, for example, you already need to know how to play an instrument. But many teams are open to students with no previous experience. That’s one of the project’s greatest strengths: it gives everyone the chance to discover something new, learn, and develop new skills. Anyone who wants to get involved will find a way to contribute, whether onstage or behind the scenes.
Elise: Coaches do need some experience, since they’re responsible for managing and guiding a team. But you don’t necessarily have to have taken part in CoMu the previous year. In fact, we’ve welcomed several new recruits this year.
Once again, you’ll be performing at the Théâtre Graslin. What does that bring to the project?
Elise: It’s an incredible opportunity. We get to work with the theater’s staff and technical crew, who aren’t used to working with students and are genuinely happy to share their expertise with us. For students, working on an artistic project in such a professional environment is an especially valuable experience.
Julie: And, of course, performing at the Théâtre Graslin in front of several hundred people is pretty extraordinary!
One last pitch for anyone still on the fence about getting a ticket?
Elise: Come and enjoy an energetic show created entirely by students, in the exceptional setting of the Théâtre Graslin.
Julie: Come for the laughs, the surprises, and maybe the chance to spot a familiar face onstage… but above all, come and discover the result of a collective adventure imagined and brought to life entirely by students.
See you at the Théâtre Graslin on November 6 and 7!
Tickets are available to everyone, including members of the Audencia community and the general public.
🎟️ Get your tickets for CoMu 2026 here