An American in Paris

An American In Paris is playing at the Palace Theatre located at 1564 Broadway, New York City. The musical runs two hours twenty minutes with one intermission. It is an open ended show.

The musical is based on the American film (1951) that was inspired by the 1928 orchestral composition by George Gershwin. It stared Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant and Nina Foch. Vincent Minnelli directed it. The film won six Academy Awards for, Best Picture, Best Art, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Musical Score and Best Writing Scoring & Screenplay. It was also nominated for two more Academy Awards for Best Director and Best Film Editing.

Craig Lucas wrote the book. He was nominated for a Tony Award in 2005 for “The Light in the Piazza”.

Bob Crowley is the set and costume designer. He won six Tony Awards for, “Once” (2012), “Mary Poppins” (2007), “The Coast of Utopia” (2007), “The History Boys” (2006), “Aida” (2000) and “Carousel” (1994).

Christopher Wheeldon is the choreographer. He has won an Olivier Award.

Veanne Cox was nominated for a Tony Award in 1995 for ”Company”.

Jerry Mulligan (Robert Fairchild) decides to stay in Paris after World War II. His friends have gone home. He is an artist and carries a sketch pad with him. Jerry is intrigued with a woman, Lise Dassin (Leanne Cope) he sees all the time. She keeps avoiding him.

Wandering around he goes into a bistro where he meets Adam Hochberg (Brandon Uranowitz). Adam runs the place for free board and the chance to use their piano. He is a song writer. Adam is writing a cabaret act for the owner’s son Henri Baurel Max von Essen). His parent would be shock if they knew what he was doing. He told them he would go to the United States to open up a branch of the family business. His dream is to open up at Radio City Music Hall.

Adam is also writing music for a ballet. Madame Buarel (Veanne Cox) is on the board for the ballet. One of the women trying out is Lise. Jerry is invited to come and see the tryout for the ballet Adam is playing at.

Milo Davenport (Jill Paice) is a rich American who wants to invest in the arts. Madame agrees she can invest. Milo spots Jerry and in infatuated with him. She said she will invest if he is the set designer. Mr. Z (Victor J Wisenhart) refuses but finally agrees let him to join the group. Madame has her say that Adam composes the music. Lise gets in.

The story revolves around the three men Jerry, Henri and Adam and their love for Lise. None of them knows that each one is in love her even though the hang out together

What happens to the characters, go see the show?

The set is different. Panels come and go, so do walls. They all have reflections on them which tell you where you are. Some could Jerrys sketches of the city. There is a lot of dancing styles in the show such as ballet and modern dance.

Among the great songs performed were “I Got Rhythm”, “The Man I Love” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me”. The last song Robert, Brandon and Max did a fantastic job singing it.

I liked the show but there was no spark for me to say it was great. I saw it the first day it opened to previews and maybe it go better. It could have been the lack of chemistry between the actors?

The costumes were great.

Max von Essen did a fantastic job.

Review by Rozanna Radakovich

Photos by Annazor.

To read a candid interview with the cast, scroll down to the left for recent photos. Click on resent photos for this and other shows.