An American in Paris sets earlier Broadway closing date

After initially announcing a closing date of 1 January 2017, producers of the Broadway production of An American in Paris have now announced an earlier closing date of 9 October 2016 at the Palace Theatre. Upon closing, the musical will have played a total of 623 regular performances and 29 previews.

Producers Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan & Roy Furman released the following statement:

"We are delighted that along with many of our original cast members, our glorious 'Lise,' Leanne Cope, will remain with us to play her final performance before she departs for London to begin preparations for our opening at the Dominion Theatre on March 21, 2017. And less than one week after An American in Paris closes on Broadway, our national tour will begin performances on October 14. We are thrilled audiences across the country will soon experience the magic of An American in Paris and the talent of our incredible cast and creative team. If you have not seen our multi-award winning production, now is your chance to see what critics and audiences have been raving about. And for the many theatergoers who have loved our show, we hope you'll return again before October 9."

Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon, An American in Paris features music and lyrics by George and Ira Gershwin and a book by Pulitzer Prize and three-time Tony nominee Craig Lucas.

Synopsis: "Eager to begin his life anew after the brutality of combat, World War II Army veteran Jerry Mulligan chooses newly-liberated Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter. With the assistance of fellow ex-pat Milo Davenport, a wealthy American with a past she wishes to forget, Jerry's life becomes complicated when he meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret. Soon it becomes clear that Jerry's friends-Adam, a Jewish American composer, and Henri, a Parisian aristocrat-also vie for Lise's love."

The principal cast of An American in Paris currently includes Dimitri Kleioris (Jerry Mulligan), Tony nominee Leanne Cope (Lise Dassin), Tony nominee Veanne Cox (Madame Baurel), Jill Paice (Milo Davenport), Tony nominee Brandon Uranowitz (Adam Hochberg), and Tony nominee Max Von Essen (Henri Baurel).

The creative team behind An American in Paris features scenic and costume design by Bob Crowley, lighting design by Natasha Katz, and sound design by Jon Weston. Gershwin's musical score has been adapted and arranged by Rob Fisher, with orchestrations by Christopher Austin and musical direction by Brad Haak.

An American in Paris is produced on Broadway by Stuart Oken, Van Kaplan, Roy Furman, Stephanie P. McClelland, Darren Bagert, Carole L. Haber, James Nederlander, Five Cent Productions, Michael Leavitt, Apples and Oranges Studios/Dominion Pictures, Roger Berlind/Arch Road, Simone Genatt Haft/Marc Routh, Triptyk Studios/Spencer Ross, Ed Walson/Peter May, Adam Zotovich/Celia Atkin, Eugene Beard/Julie Boardman/Kallish-Weinstein, Stuart Ditsky/Jim Herbert/Sandy Robertson, Suzanne Friedman/Independent Presenters Network/Wonderful Productions, The Leonore S. Gershwin 1987 Trust/Jenkins-Taylor/Proctors, Harriet Newman Leve/Jane Dubin/Sarahbeth Grossman, Caiola Productions/Jennifer Isaacson/Raise the Curtain, by special arrangement with Elephant Eye Theatrical, Pittsburgh CLO and Théâtre du Châtelet.

- by Tom Millward