This 2015 Tony Award-winning musical sweeps into Chicago for just three weeks of pure theatrical entertainment. Inspired by the 1951 Academy Award-winning film starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron, An American in Paris tells the romantic tale of an American soldier who decides to remain in the City of Lights after the war has ended. Into his life comes a mysterious French girl and new friends who are all trying to start over and pursue their passions in the arts. Directed and choreographed by 2015 Tony Award-winner Christopher Wheeldon, the show features the beautiful music and lyrics of George and Ira Gershwin. The dancing is superb.
McGee Maddox as American soldier Jerry Mulligan sings and dances his way into the audience’s hearts. As a trained ballet dancer, he has all the right moves as the styles of dancing shift from ballet to jazz to modern. Sara Esty is the perfect Lise Dassin. Her beautiful, elegant dancing and absolute vulnerability, despite her loyalties to the Baurel family, are a joy to behold. A stand out on vocals is Nick Spangler as Henri Baurel. One hopes he will be singing every time he appears on stage.
The sets, created by Tony Award-winners Bob Crowley (set and costume designer) and Natasha Katz (lighting designer) are simply phenomenal and will take your breath away. Combining live animation and gorgeous Parisian scenes, the sets are very much a star of the show.
Audiences will sing along with the wonderful score of such favorites as “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “‘’S Wonderful,” “But Not For Me,” “I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise,” and orchestral music including “Concerto in F,” “Second Prelude,” “Second Rhapsody/Cuban Overture” and “An American In Paris.”
An American in Paris won numerous awards: four 2015 Tony Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, four Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Drama League Award for Best Musical, three Fred and Adele Astaire Awards, and two Theatre World Awards.
Catch it will you can! An American in Paris is part of the Broadway In Chicago season, now playing at the Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph) through August 13, 2017. For tickets, call the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (800) 775-2000 or online at www.BroadwayInChicago.com.
