An American in Paris is a musical play inspired by the 1951 film of the same name and adapted for the stage by Christopher Wheeldon. It first opened at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in December 2014 and then at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in April 2015. Incorporating songs from George and Ira Gershwin, the book is by Craig Lucas. The musical won four Tony Awards.
The Broadway production closed in October 2016. A US national tour opened in the autumn of 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts, and a London West End production opened at the Dominion Theatre in March 2017. The Italian premiere took place in Genoa in Teatro Carlo Felice in October 2018.
Contents
Plot
This synopsis reflects the American version of the musical play, which was revised after its premiere 2014 run in Paris.
Setting: Paris, 1945, at the end of the Second World War.
Act I
Adam Hochberg walks on stage and downs a cup of liquor. He sits at a piano and recounts the story of the day his friend, Jerry Mulligan, came to Paris. Just after the liberation of France, US Army Lieutenant Jerry Mulligan is struck by a mysterious girl after seeing her on the maze-like streets of Paris ("Concerto in F"). Ready to rebuild his life after the war, he deliberately misses his train home and decides to stay in Paris to nurture his passion for painting. He makes his way to a cafe/lodging house, where he meets Adam Hochberg, a fellow veteran and pianist, whose war injuries have left him with a permanent limp. Recognizing a kindred spirit, Adam helps Jerry find a place to live and helps him get started in Paris. Henri Baurel, the son of wealthy French industrialists, enters to rehearse the nightclub act he is putting together with Adam. Henri reveals his plans to run his family's American branch while becoming a nightclub star in secret, fearing his parents' disapproval of his dreams of being an entertainer. Both Henri and Jerry berate Adam for making his new song too dark when what Paris needs is light. Adam retorts that as artists, they have a duty to show the horrible things they've seen, and teases Henri about his fear of proposing to his girlfriend, whose name he will not tell Adam. The three bond in friendship as they imagine a brighter future ("I Got Rhythm").
Adam takes Jerry to the Paris ballet, where he is accompanying auditions, to sketch the dancers. Jerry bumps into headstrong American philanthropist, Milo Davenport, who, struck by his talent and good looks, invites him to a party to introduce him to gallery owners. Henri's mother, Madame Baurel, arrives with Ballet Director Maestro Z, and introduces Milo to him as a potential donor. Dancers arrive for the audition, and the audition has begun when to Jerry's shock, the mysterious girl arrives, apologizing for being late. She is told to leave, but Adam convinces her to dance in the back. As the audition continues, the girl dances beautifully, impressing the Ballet Director, Milo and both Jerry and Adam ("Second Prelude"). The girl introduces herself as Lise Dassin, and Maestro Z recognizes her as the daughter of the famed ballerina Arielle Dassin. In gratitude for his help, she gives Adam a flower and a kiss on the cheek before hurriedly leaving for her job. Milo, charmed by Lise and her mysterious demeanor, tells the maestro she will fund his season only if he commissions a piece just for Lise with a score written by Adam. She then takes it a step further, demanding it be designed by the 'noted painter' Jerry Mulligan. Helpless at her charismatic hands, the maestro agrees, except for allowing Jerry to design the ballet—he has his own stable of designers. Immediately infatuated with Lise, Adam sits down, thrilled with the prospect of writing a ballet that joins French and American culture.
Productions
Paris
An American in Paris opened at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, France, on December 10, 2014 for a limited run through January 4, 2015.
Broadway
The musical opened on Broadway at the Palace Theatre on April 12, 2015, following an engagement at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. Christopher Wheeldon directs and choreographs, with the cast led by Robert Fairchild, Leanne Cope, Veanne Cox, Jill Paice, Brandon Uranowitz and Max von Essen.
The creative team consisted of Bob Crowley (sets and costumes) and Natasha Katz (lighting) as well as Jon Weston (sound) and 59 Productions (projections). The musical score was adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher, orchestrations were by Christopher Austin, dance arrangements by Sam Davis, musical supervision by Todd Ellison and musical direction by Brad Haak. Of the musical numbers in the film, the show retains "I Got Rhythm", "'S Wonderful", "Stairway to Paradise", and the orchestral pieces Concerto in F and An American in Paris, with other numbers drawn from the George Gershwin's works.
The production closed October 9, 2016 after 623 performances and 29 preview performances.
US tour (2016–18)
The US national tour opened in Boston, Massachusetts in October 2016, starring Garen Scribner and Sara Esty. The run ended on July 1, 2018.
West End
The musical made its UK premiere in London's West End on March 21, 2017, following previews from March 4, at the Dominion Theatre with Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope reprising their roles as Jerry and Lise. After three months, Ashley Day took over the lead role of Jerry from Fairchild. The production ran until January 6, 2018. The production also aired on PBS' Great Performances.
2018 West End recording
Trafalgar Releasing announced a new film version of the stage production set for release in 2018. The West End production was filmed with a live audience in May 2017 and live-streamed across cinemas. The film is available for viewing on BroadwayHD.
Australia
An American In Paris had its Australian premiere at the Lyric Theatre, Brisbane, where it played from 8 January - 30 January 2022.
Broadway and West End leads Robbie Fairchild and Leanne Cope reprised their roles as GI Jerry Mulligan and Lise Dassin in Australia, with Cameron Holmes and Dimity Azoury from The Australian Ballet, to alternate in the lead roles.
It subsequently toured to The Arts Centre, Melbourne from 18 March - 23 April 2022, Theatre Royal, Sydney from 29 April - 2 July 2022.
The tour continued without Fairchild and Cope at the Crown Theatre, Perth from 9 July - 24 July 2022. The tour was scheduled to conclude in Adelaide, but the stop was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
US tour (2022)
Following its COVID-19 pandemic closing in 2020, the second US national tour opened at the Palace Theater (Waterbury, CT) on January 28, 2022 starring Branson Bice and Camila Rodrigues. The tour will travel to over 20 cities in the continental United States before closing in May 2022.
Musical numbers
From the Broadway production. Source: Internet Broadway Database
Awards and nominations
An American in Paris won four Tony Awards, three Outer Critics Circle Awards, a Drama League Award, two Theatre World Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, three Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, and an Actors Equity Association "ACCA" Award.