New Stage Adaptation of the Gershwins' An American in Paris Will Play France Before Broadway
(© Richard Termine)
A stage musical adaptation of the Academy Award-winning film An American in Paris, featuring a book by Craig Lucas (The Light in the Piazza) and the music of George and Ira Gershwin, will see a December 2014 world premiere production at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris before moving to Broadway in spring 2015. New York City Ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon directs and choreographs the production.
Based on the film, which itself was inspired by George Gershwin's 1928 orchestral composition of the same title, An American in Paris follows the romance between American ex-pat Jerry Mulligan, a World War II veteran who falls for Lise, a Parisian shopgirl with a secret of her own. He soon realizes that his friends also vie for Lise's affection. The score includes Gershwin standards including "I Got Rhythm," "'S Wonderful," and, of course, the title piece.
An American in Paris is produced by The Pittsburgh CLO (Van Kaplan) and Théâtre du Châtelet (Jean-Luc Choplin) by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical (Stuart Oken, Michael Leavitt, and Five Cent Productions).
