PARIS — A major pyro blast injured crew members prior to doors for the staging of a musical about the French revolution, 1789: Les Amants de la Bastille, at Palais des Sports de Paris. The show’s technical director, Marcus Toledano, 41, had a heart attack and later died.
Production crew members rushed toward the initial explosion, reportedly sparked by a technician using a faulty circular saw near pyrotechnic devices backstage.
That initial explosion led to a subsequent blast powerful enough to knock a wall and part of the ceiling down. Fifteen were reported injured, some seriously, with burns and injuries from the collapsed wall.
Among those rushed to the hospital was Toledano, whose heart had stopped. He succumbed despite resuscitation efforts.
The accident started before the audience entered the 4,500-capacity arena. The production was canceled.
