Inspired by the Academy Award-winning film of the same name, the musical is described as "the romantic story about an American soldier, a mysterious French girl, and an indomitable European city, each yearning for a new beginning in the aftermath of war."
Like the film, the show uses songs from the George and Ira Gershwin songbook, with a new libretto by Craig Lucas. Extended ballet sequences are set to George Gershwin's orchestral music.
"We are delighted to open the first national tour of Christopher Wheeldon’s extraordinary production of An American in Paris in Boston," said producer Stuart Oken in a statement. "Citi Performing Arts Center has been a big supporter of this project from the very beginning, and we know the people of Boston are going to fall in love with this show."
Josiah Spaulding, president and CEO of the Citi Performing Arts Center, stated, "We are proud to bring this exciting new production to Boston and to the American stage, and are extremely honored to open the tour. Our participation in Elephant Eye Theatrical enables us to go beyond the role of presenter and to develop new works."
Prior to the Boston engagement, An American in Paris will hold its technical rehearsals and initial previews at Proctors in Schenectady, NY. Directed and choreographed by 2015 Tony Award winner Christopher Wheeldon, the creative team also includes Bob Crowley (sets and costumes), Natasha Katz (lighting), Jon Weston (sound) and 59 Productions (projections), with the musical score adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher, orchestrations by Christopher Austin, dance arrangements by Sam Davis, musical supervision by Todd Ellison with additional orchestrations by Don Sebesky and Bill Elliott.
The score includes "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."
The producers are Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan and Roy Furman by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical, Pittsburgh CLO and Théâtre du Châtelet.
Full details on the Boston engagement, visit citicenter.org. For more information on the show, visit AnAmericanInParisBroadway.com.
