If you are looking to recharge your musical batteries that have been depleted since La La Land and The Greatest Showman left theaters, you may want to make plans in September to see the new film of the play the based on the Academy Award-winning musical, An American in Paris, from George and Ira Gershwin. Tickets for the September 20 and 23 viewings are on sale now at AnAmericanInParisCinema.com.
The new film features the music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin, including well-known hits like ‘S Wonderful and I Got Rhythm, and book by Craig Lucas. The reimagined musical draws on Gene Kelly’s work in the Oscar® winning MGM film for inspiratation as Robert Fairchild, who plays Jerry Mulligan, discovers love in the ‘City of Light’ in 1945.
“I am so honored and privileged to share our movie of An American in Paris with North America!” said leading actor Robert Fairchild who plays Jerry Mulligan. “It’s the culmination of 5 years of passion, creativity, and hard work and I couldn’t be happier that it’s finally being released!”
The show is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, the 2015 Tony® Award winner for Best Choreography for this production. The latest iteration premiered in 2014, at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. When it hit the Palace Theatre on Broadway, it became the most awarded musical of the 2015/16 season, including four Tony® Awards. The film brings the London-based West End show to to North American.
Everyone knows the story of Jerry Mulligan, an American GI striving to make it as a Parisian painter. After a serdipitous encounter with a beautiful dancer named Lise, Paris’s streets erupt with sensuous, modern-art inspired romance, friendship and love.
The film stars former principle dancer for the New York City Ballet Robert Fairchild as Jerry Mulligan and British Royal Ballet dancer Leanne Cope as Lise Dassin. Both reprise their Tony-nominated roles from the original Broadway production. The two are joined by a company of over 50 actors, dancers and musicians including Haydn Oakley as Henri Baurel, Zoë Rainey as Milo Davenport, David Seadon-Young as Adam Hochberg, and Jane Asher as Madame Baurel. The musical score is adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher with orchestrations by Christopher Austin and Bill Elliott; dance arrangements by Sam Davis; musical supervision by Todd Ellison; and musical direction by John Rigby. The set and costumes are designed by celebrated West End and Broadway designer Bob Crowley (The Audience; Mary Poppins) with projections by prominent British designers 59 Productions (War Horse; London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony), lighting by Natasha Katz and sound by Jon Weston.
If you are looking for a walk down Paris streets, and a bit of nostalgia this fall, An American In Paris The Musical may be just the ticket you need to buy.