Ten years ago: An American in Paris, a stage incarnation of the
classic Gershwin film, officially opened at Broadway's Palace Theatre, April 12, 2015, following previews that began March 13.
The dance-focused, visually arresting musical arrived on Broadway after a Paris world premiere. Inspired by Vincente Minnelli's 1951 film of the same name, the Broadway musical features a score by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Craig Lucas. (The film, with a screenplay by Alan Jay Lerner and co-starring Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, and Oscar Levant, won six 1952 Academy Awards, including Best Picture.)
The musical was billed as transforming "the timeless story of love in a city rebuilding from the heartbreak of World War II—into a new Broadway musical of hope, redemption and romance.�
An American in Paris follows the story of veteran and artist Jerry Mulligan—as told by his friend, veteran and pianist Adam Hochberg—and the love quadrangle that ensues when both of them and aspiring performer Henri Baurel all fall for ballerina Lise. The musical changed the 1950s setting of the film to 1945 Paris emerging from the shadows of the occupation.
Directed and choreographed by , the Broadway cast was led by as Jerry Mulligan, as Lise Dassin, as Madame Baurel, as Milo Davenport, as Adam Hochberg, and as Henri Baurel.
In his New York Times review, Christopher Isherwood wrote, "An American in Paris weds music and movement, song and story with such exhilarating brio that you may find your own feet fidgeting under your seat before it’s over, and your heart alight with a longing to be swept up in the dance."
The musical also featured set and costume design by Bob Crowley, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Jon Weston, and projections by 59
Productions with the musical score adapted, arranged, and
supervised by Rob Fisher, orchestrations by Christopher Austin, dance
arrangements by Sam Davis, musical supervision by Todd Ellison,
additional orchestrations by Don Sebesky and Bill Elliott, and musical
direction by Brad Haak.
An American in Paris received 12 Tony nominations, winning awards for Best Choreography (Wheeldon), Best Orchestrations (Sebesky and Elliott), Best Set Design (59 Productions and Crowley), and Best Lighting Design (Katz). The musical also won four Drama Desk Awards; four Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical; the Drama League Award for Best Musical; three Fred and Adele Astaire Awards; and two Theatre World Awards.
The score of An American in Paris includes classic Gershwin songs like “I Got Rhythm,� “Liza,� “’S Wonderful,� “But Not For Me,� and “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise,� as well as orchestral music including “Concerto in F,� “Second Prelude,� “Second Rhapsody/Cuban Overture� and “An American In Paris.�
An American in Paris ended its critically acclaimed Broadway run October 9, 2016, following 29 previews and 623 regular performances.
The subsequent London production, featuring original stars Fairchild and Cope, was filmed and screened in the U.S. in 2018 (it's also available to purchase ).
Learn what other theatre milestones happened on April 12 by visiting the °ëµºÌåÓý Vault.
