Michel Lauzière

Michel Lauzière (born 1954) is a Canadian comedian and musical performer known for his unusual visual comedy acts and inventive use of everyday objects as musical instruments. Lauziere began performing in 1975 in a duo called Les Foubrac, with Jean Roy. Since then, Lauziere has performed his one-man show to an estimated 1 billion viewers on five continents.

One famous performance was done for the Late Show with David Letterman. Lauziere rollerbladed through a closed street, playing Georges Bizet's Toreador Song on tuned wine bottles. Lauziere had a recurring role on the Super Dave Osborne Show and he also performed on the 1994, 1995, 1996, 2007, Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.

Early life

Michel Lauziere was born in 1954 in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada. He was raised in Quebec and began exploring performance-related activities at a young age, including juggling and acrobatics during his teenage years.

Before dedicating himself fully to entertainment, he worked as a freelance cartoonist for local publications while studying psychology at the college level in the early 1970s. These early creative and academic experiences contributed to the development of his multidisciplinary performance style, which later incorporated visual humor, music, and physical theater.

In 1975, he began his professional career as a part of the comedy duo Les Foubrac with Jean Roy. The duo performed throughout Quebec and developed a physical and absurdist comedy style combining juggling, acrobatics, and musical invention, which later influenced Lauziere's solo work.

Career

In 1975, Michel Lauziere began his professional performance career as part of the comedy duo Les Foubrac with Jean Roy. The duo performed across Quebec and developed a style of physical and absurdist comedy combining juggling, acrobatics, and musical invention from Lauziere's solo work.

During this period (1975-1988), Les Foubrac built their reputation through stage performances in Quebec and became known for their inventive and multidisciplinary approach to comedy, blending circus-style skills with theatrical performance.

After more than a decade performing as a duo, Lauziere transitioned toward solo work at the end of the 1980s. In 1989. He began his solo career, expanding his performance style internationally and developing one-man shows built around visual comedy, invented musical instruments, and physical performance techniques.

Following his solo debut, he performed extensively worldwide, presenting shows in dozens of countries across multiple continents. His works gained international recognition through television appearances and live performances, establishing him as a visual and musical comedy performer with a global touring career.

Touring in China (2012)

In 2012, Michel Lauziere performed in China as part of his international touring activities. Contemporary materials and media reports documented performances in multiple Chinese cities, where he presented his visual comedy routines and musical inventions to local audiences. One documented engagement was a performance in Guangzahou in April 2012.

Selected works

Television appearances

• The Super Dave Osborne Show (1987-1991), guest performer in sketch comedy segments, including stunt and variety routines.
• The Late Show with David Letterman featured a guest performer presenting visual comedy acts involving musical invention and physical performance.
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, guest performer in televised variety format appearances.
• Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon (2007): featured guest performer in a televised charity broadcast.
• 1989: First solo TV live on Japanese New Year's show. After this performance, I wish I had been regularly invited to Japan until 2004.
• 1989: First solo performance at the Just for Laughs Festival in Montreal (a few more followed until 2007). This triggered dozens of major TVs in the Western Hemisphere.
• 1989: First time solo on The Super Dave Osborne Show ... It led to several more appearances that involved a close interaction with the host.
• 1990:The Arsenio Hall Show guest performer showcasing visual comedy routines.
• 1991: TV Live Appearance on the American Comedy Awards (ABC) with actress Bea Arthur
• 1994: The Koln Comedy Festival opened the door for some 150 one-man shows in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria from 1996 to 2006.

Stage performances

• Les Foubrac (1975-1988), comedy duo performance with Jean Roy across Quebec, combining juggling, acrobatics, and physical comedy in theatrical stage shows.
• Solo international touring shows (from 1989 onwards), performing visual comedy acts incorporating invented musical instruments and physical performance techniques across multiple continents.

Buckingham Palace performance

On 14 November 2018, Michel Lauziere performed at Buckingham Palace during the celebrations marking the 70th birthday of King Charles III. According to contemporary media reports, Lauziere was invited by Queen Elizabeth II to participate in the event, where he presented a revised version of his horn-overalls musical comedy act before approximately 250 guests. His performance concluded with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday.'

Notable acts

• A street performance segment on The Late Show with David Letterman, featuring rollerblading while performing music on turned bottles, was widely circulated as a signature act.
• Balloon-based physical comedy act performed in international stage shows as part of his visual performance repertoire.

Awards & Recognition

• International recognition as a visual and physical comedy performer through worldwide touring across multiple continents.
• Featured performer on major U.S. television programs, including The Late Show With David Letterman.
• Appeared on major entertainment platforms such as The Super Dave Osborne Show.
• Participation in major televised charity entertainment events such as the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon (2007).
• Widely recognized for developing a unique style of visual comedy using invented musical instruments and physical performance techniques, contributing to his international reputation.
• In 2001, Michel Lauziére received the RMC Prize in Monaco for his work in visual comedy.

External links

• michellauziere.com
• The Mozart performance on YouTube
• French audio/bio interview with Michel Lauzière for "Les Baladodiffusions DuBon et DuCon" by Serge Lemire, in January 2007.