An American in Paris

Photo © Johan Persson

“This rhapsodic production is a triumph that pays loving tribute to the marriage of music and movement, and to cherished notions about romance that have been a defining element of the American musical theater practically since its inception.”
-The New York Times

“This production instantly catapults Christopher Wheeldon into the ranks of top-tier director-choreographers, by which I mean Jerome Robbins and Bob Fosse. It’s been years - decades, really - since I last saw production numbers that were infused with this kind of rich, sustained creativity.”
-The Wall Street Journal

The Story

Hoping to start a new life, World War II, veteran Jerry Mulligan chooses Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter. But Jerry's life becomes complicated when he meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret - and realizes he is not her only suitor.

In 1928, George Gershwin composed An American in Paris which inspired the 1951 six-time Academy Award-winning film of the same name starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. In 2014, “An American in Paris” opened at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in December, 2014 and then at the Palace Theatre on Broadway in April, 2015.

The musical won four Tony Awards and features original choreography by Christopher Wheeldon. Wheeldon received his first Tony Award for Best Choreography and the musical received multiple Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle awards, as well as an Olivier award for Best Set Design.

Creative Team

Director/Choreographer
Christopher Wheeldon

Orchestrator
Christopher Austin

Set Design & Costume Design
Bob Crowley

Lighting Design
Natasha Katz

Musical Director
John Rigby

Sound Design
Jon Weston

Projection Design
59 Productions

Associate Director
Jacquelin Barrett

Associate Choreographer
Dontee Kiehn