REHEARSALS BEGIN IN LONDON FOR THE TONY® AWARD-WINNING NEW MUSICAL
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS
Dominion Theatre from 4 March 2017
Original Broadway stars
Robert Fairchild & Leanne Cope are joined by
Jane Asher, Haydn Oakley, Zoë Rainey, David Seadon-Young & Ashley Day
Jane Asher
Haydn Oakley
Zoë Rainey
David Seadon-Young
Ashley Day
Rehearsals begin in London today for the highly anticipated new West End musical An American in Paris. Christopher Wheeldon’s stunning reinvention of the Oscar® winning film (that starred Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron) features the sublime music and lyrics of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a new book by Craig Lucas. Directly following celebrated engagements in Paris and New York, this critically acclaimed and multi award-winning new musical lights up London from Saturday 4 March 2017 with the official opening night on Tuesday 21 March 2017 at the Dominion Theatre.
Joining award-winning Broadway stars Robert Fairchild (as Jerry Mulligan) and Leanne Cope (as Lise Dassin) are Haydn Oakley as Henri Baurel, Zoë Rainey as Milo Davenport, David Seadon-Young as Adam Hochberg and Jane Asher as Madame Baurel. Ashley Day will be the alternate Jerry Mulligan (and will assume the role from Monday 19 June 2017).
The company also features Julian Forsyth and Ashley Andrews, Sophie Apollonia, Zoe Arshamian, Sarah Bakker, James Barton, Alicia Beck, Chrissy Brooke, James Butcher, Jonathan Caguioa, Jennifer Davison, Katie Deacon, Rebecca Fennelly, Sebastian Goffin, Alyn Hawke, Nicky Henshall, Genevieve Heron, Amy Hollins, Frankie Jenna, Justin-Lee Jones, Robin Kent, Kristen McGarrity, Julia J. Nagle, Daniela Norman, Aaron Smyth, Todd Talbot, Max Westwell, Jack Wilcox, Carrie Willis, Stuart Winter and Liam Wrate.
The new musical An American in Paris premiered in 2014 at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris to ecstatic reviews before transferring to the Palace Theatre on Broadway, where it became the most awarded musical of the 2015/16 season, including four Tony® Awards. A major North American tour is currently playing. An American in Paris features many of George and Ira Gershwin’s most iconic songs including I Got Rhythm, ‘S Wonderful, I’ll Build a Stairway To Paradise and They Can’t Take That Away from Me, together with George Gershwin’s sweeping compositions including ‘Concerto in F’ and ‘An American in Paris’.
Jerry Mulligan is an American GI striving to make it as a painter in a city suddenly bursting with hope and possibility. Following a chance encounter with a beautiful young dancer named Lise, the streets of Paris become the backdrop to a sensuous, modern romance of art, friendship and love in the aftermath of war…
An American in Paris is directed and choreographed by the internationally renowned, British-born Christopher Wheeldon. An Artistic Associate of the Royal Ballet, Wheeldon received an OBE in the 2016 New Year’s Honours ‘for services to promoting the interests and reputation of British classical and theatrical dance worldwide’. He is the recipient of a Tony® Award and two Olivier Awards. The set and costumes are designed by the multi Tony® Award-winning West End and Broadway designer Bob Crowley (The Audience; Mary Poppins and Christopher Wheeldon’s productions of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and The Winter’s Tale) with projections by the celebrated British designers 59 Productions (War Horse; London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony).
With music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a new book by Craig Lucas, the new musical An American in Paris is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon with set and costumes designs by Bob Crowley, lighting by Natasha Katz, sound by Jon Weston and projection designs by 59 Productions. The musical score is adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher with orchestrations by Christopher Austin and Bill Elliott, dance arrangements by Sam Davis and musical supervision by Todd Ellison. The UK Musical Director is John Rigby.
An American in Paris is produced in London by Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan, Roy Furman, Michael McCabe and Joshua Andrews. Robert Fairchild is appearing with the support of UK Equity, incorporating the Variety Artistes’ Federation, pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and UK Equity.
Broadway production photographs by Matthew Murphy
To keep up to date with the latest news on this and many other shows, please follow thespyinthestalls on Twitter by clicking the image below. Thank you.
Listing
An American in Paris
First Performance: Saturday 4 March 2017
Monday to Saturday 7:30pm Wednesday* & Saturday matinees 2:00pm
Principal casting is subject to change. The producers cannot guarantee the appearance of any particular artist, which is always subject to illness, injury and statutory leave entitlement
the 10th annual London 50 Hour Improvathon at Wilton’s Music Hall
Inspired by a collision between the worlds of “Game of Thrones”, “Lord of the Rings”, “The Hobbit” and “Harry Potter” – Come for 1 episode, or a few, or join the party and stay for the whole thing!
Friday 20 to Sunday 22 January
Runs for 50 hours
each episode starting every 2 hours
7.00pm Friday 20 January, then 9.00pm, 11.00pm, 1.00am etc., to 9pm Sunday 22 January
There will be live music throughout the Improvathon and an all night bar!
The cream of the improv crop will descend on Wilton’s Music Hall for a four-night festival as 2016 Olivier Award winners, The Showstoppers, in association with Extempore Theatre & Something for the Weekend present The 2017 London Jam (Monday 16 – Thursday 19 January), culminating in LORD OF THRONES – the 10th anniversary London 50-Hour Improvathon.
Boasting a stellar line-up of home-grown spontaneous talent from Mischief TheatreOlivier-Award winning creators of The Play That Goes Wrong; Chortle Award-winning Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austen Novel, The Glenda J Collective and members of The Showstoppers themselves, plus Canadian legends The Sufferettes, Oslo’s Almost Ibsen and the UK premiere of The Dungeons & Dragons Show. Also featuring the all-new Ken Campbell Caper Competition – a day-long ‘improv-battle’ starring improvisers from around the globe, originally conceived by legendary theatre maverick Ken Campbell. With two shows each evening (and three on the Wednesday!), this is an uproarious season, perfect for comedy fans and improv newbies alike.
Then it’s comedy athleticism at its nest with Lord of Thrones (Friday 20 – Sunday 22 January) – The 10th Annual 50 hour London Improvathon takes over Wilton’s Music Hall for a weekend of Tolkein meets George R.R Martin from some of the world’s funniest performers. One throne to rule them all. Fifty hours to nd it! For those wanting to enjoy a few hours of fun, audiences can buy tickets to each self-contained 2-hour ‘episode’ or for those seeking adventure, there’s the opportunity to get a festival pass, allowing you access for the full 50 hours.
Playing annually since 2008, this theatrical marathon gathers some of the funniest performers from all over the world every year to appear as guests (dropping in for a few hours) or as main characters going the whole 50 hour mind-bending sleep- defying distance.
After 30 hours without sleep, performers become too tired to censor themselves. Hilarious, unpredictable, and unlike anything else, this is theatre at its most exciting.
Come for one episode, or a few, or join the party and stay for the whole thing! There will be live music throughout the Improvathon and an all night bar!
There will also be a special ‘Family Episode’ (Sunday 11am-1pm) where the action is suitable for children.
The 2017 London Jam
Monday 16 – Thursday 19 January
Monday 16 January
7.30pm Austentatious: An Improvised Jane Austin Novel (UK)
The Chortle Award winners are one of the most acclaimed improv troupes on the circuit. Performed in period costume with live musical accompaniment. Swooning guaranteed. Starring Edinburgh Comedy nominees Joseph Morpurgo and Cariad Lloyd.
Monday 16 January
9.15pm Lights! Camera! Improvise! The Improvised Movie Live On Stage – Mischief Theatre (UK)
A rare chance to catch the Olivier-Award winning team behind smash hit west end comediesThe Play That Goes Wrong, Peter Pan Goes Wrong and A Comedy About A Bank Robbery. Ever dreamed of creating your very own Hollywood motion picture? You choose the genre, the location and the title and the movie is brought to life before your very eyes while resident lm buff ‘Oscar’ can pause, rewind and fast forward scenes.
Tuesday 17 January
7.30pm The Glenda J Collective (UK)
Songs and sketches created on the spot from four superheroes of Improv: Josie Lawrence (Whose Line Is It Anyway? Comedy Store Players), Pippa Evans (Showstopper, Sunday Assembly), Ruth Bratt (Showstopper, People Just Do Nothing) and Cariad Lloyd (QI, Peep Show).
Tuesday 17 January
9.15pm Almost Ibsen (Oslo)
Det Andre Teatret from Oslo (the town where Ibsen spent most of his working life) conjure up new, one act plays based on the writings of Ibsen, his characters, themes and narrative style, combining theatre and improv, in a rare, moving and playful manner.
Wednesday 18 January
6.00pm Semi-final. The Ken Campbell Caper Competition 7.30pm Semi-final. The Ken Campbell Caper Competition 9.15pm Grand final. The Ken Campbell Caper Competition
Six teams compete in two semi- finals and a grand final to end the most entertaining group in spontaneous performance. The audience decides. A wild night of unpredictable hilarity, featuring the very best of established and emerging teams in the UK and overseas. (Teams to be announced. See website for further details).
Thursday 19 January
7.30pm The Sufferettes (Toronto)
One of the best-loved acts on the international improv scene, Toronto duo Becky Johnson and Kayla Lorette bring their unique mix of comedy and clowning to London. Winners of the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Improv Troupe 2014 and 2015.
Thursday 19 January
9.15pm The Dungeons & Dragons Show (Edmonton)
Spontaneous swords and sorcery in the UK premiere of Canadian comedian and writer Mark Meer’s geeky extravaganza. Part-game, part-adventure, all-comedy, Mark leads his intrepid team of adventurers on an off- the-cuff quest.
To keep up to date with the latest news on these and many other shows, please follow thespyinthestalls on Twitter by clicking the image below. Thanks.
WILTON’S MUSIC HALL
Wilton’s Music Hall is a gem in the heart of London and the oldest grand music hall in the world. It presents a year round programme of exceptional live music and world-class productions alongside learning and participa- tion work that engages the local community and schools. The Grade 2 Star listed building recently completed a 4 year capital project with support from Heritage Lottery Fund and numerous trusts and individuals. This project, designed by Tim Ronalds Architects recently won the RIBA London Award 2016, RIBA London Conservation Award 2016 and RIBA London Building Of The Year 2016.
Listing
Wilton’s Music Hall
1 Graces Alley London E1 8JB
Box Office
020 7702 2789
Book in person from 11am – 6pm Monday – Friday – No booking fee
