The New York City Ballet returns to Paris to perform four Balanchine ballet set to works by three French composers.
New York City Ballet in Paris
Ballet
An American in Paris
Theater139 min2018PG
“Theatrical gold” ★★★★★ ( The Guardian). Christopher Wheeldon's Tony Award-winning production "An American in Paris" transforms a beloved Hollywood classic into an utterly charming stage production. Inspired by the Oscar-winning MGM film, with George and Ira Gershwin's timeless songs, including 'S Wonderful and I Got Rhythm, this dazzling musical blends romance, theater, and extraordinary dance. Jerry Mulligan (Robert Fairchild), an American GI turned aspiring painter, falls for the enchanting Lise (Leanne Cope), a dancer torn between passion and duty. Their charming romance unfolds amid a newly liberated city, where hunger and hardship coexist with the promise of art and possibility. Wheeldon's choreography brings Paris to life with every umbrella-twirl and sweeping pas de deux, while Bob Crowley's painterly sets shimmer with echoes of Monet, Renoir, and Matisse. With vibrant character, from Henri's fantastical "Stairway to Paradise" to Milo's star-making ballet, the production bursts with color, movement, and theatrical imagination. More than a love story, "An American in Paris" is a luminous celebration of music, art, and hope reborn.
Why Watch This
“Christopher Wheeldon made his Broadway directorial debut with this production, winning the Tony Award for Best Choreography and bringing classical ballet and musical theater jazz dance into seamless dialogue. The show is packed with George and Ira Gershwin's most celebrated songs, including I Got Rhythm, S Wonderful, and Stairway to Paradise, climaxing in a full-length orchestral jazz ballet that stands as a theatrical high point.”
— Marquee TV Content Curator