Theatre: An American in Paris (September 2016)

My spouse and I saw the Broadway show “An American in Paris” on a Saturday afternoon in late September 2016. We won tickets to the show in an online lottery, where we received front-row seats for $40 each. We liked the show, but we would prefer to sit farther back in the audience next time so that we could better enjoy the fancy footwork and set design. On the other hand, it was interesting to look into the orchestra pit to see the musicians and their instruments. (Some of the woodwind musicians played up to six different instruments during the course of the show.) It was also fascinating to glimpse to the wings of the stage to see the inner workings behind the show, and to see the costume area under the stage behind the musicians.

“An American in Paris” is a musical inspired by the 1951 Academy Award-winning film starring Gene Kelly (which was inspired by the 1928 orchestral composition “An American in Paris” by George Gershwin). The Tony award-winning show opened at the Palace Theatre in April 2015, and incorporates songs from George and Ira Gershwin including "I Got Rhythm", “Love Is Here to Stay”, "Liza", "'S Wonderful", "But Not For Me", "I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise", as well as orchestral music.

Struck by a mysterious girl and ready to rebuild his life at the end of World War II, American soldier Jerry decides to stay in Paris and paint. With a help from new friends Adam (a composer and fellow veteran) and Henri (the son of a wealthy French couple and wannabe song and dance man), they imagine a bright future. When Jerry reconnects with the mysterious girl—a stunning French ballerina named Lise—he is certain that he made the right decision. That is, until he discovers that she is the very same woman Adam and he have been encouraging Henri to propose to. Meanwhile, Jerry meets American philanthropist Milo, who is enthralled with Jerry’s talent and good looks, ushers him into the Paris art scene. Lise struggles to choose between her obligations to Henri and what she thinks might be her true love for Jerry. As each man comes to terms with his own fate, it is revealed that Lise is beholden to Henri because he and his family saved her life during the occupation. But both she and Henri realize that it is time to let go. When the curtain falls on the opening night performance of a ballet that will allow Lise to claim her place as an accomplished artist in France, she realizes that she and Jerry are meant to be together. They reunite at the River Seine and walk off into the Paris night.