An American in Paris Broadway show: dance styles, music, and performance analysis

¶ … lightness delivers no depth in terms of political or social commentary, an American in Paris accomplishes what many Broadway musicals set out to do: provide a fantastic array of song and dance numbers sure to impress. As an adaptation of the original film from the 1950s, An American in Paris offers a modern rendition, albeit in period costume and set design. The music is nostalgic, and so are the dance styles. Viewers unfamiliar with the original film will understand how the producers seek to capture the spirited optimism and idealism that characterized both American and French society in the aftermath of World War II. The romantic tropes will likewise be familiar and require no prior knowledge of the plot or tone of the movie. Altogether, the happy ending and unabashed romanticism provide a welcome respite from the often cynical nature of postmodern theater and cinema.

The Gershwin songs that punctuated the film are present again on stage, with an orchestra rendering them with great accuracy. Likewise, the choreography remains faithful but does include more athletic and acrobatic elements as in the "Liza" number. Some of the more down-tempo moments in the play have counterpoint in lively but somewhat silly tunes like "I've Got Beginner's Luck." The female lead is a French ballerina named Lise, played by real-life ballerina Leanne Cope who is from London's Royal Ballet. Many of her dance pieces and several of the duets include traditional ballet elements as well as some more modern dances such as those she performs with her beau. Both the lead male and female exude the joie du vivre that encapsulates the theme and tone of An American in Paris. Robert Fairchild, who plays the American GI on stage in this Broadway edition of An American in Paris, is also a principle dancer in the New York City Ballet.

Set design is one of the strong points of the play, with great attention to detail. Key elements that signal authenticity include the Chanel signs, tribute to the Parisian design house that flowered during the 1950s. The street fashions are tasteful and subdued, not at all outlandish or exaggerated, and at times downright simple with their rather dull colors and fabrics. Other period-specific elements that allow the audience to immediately recognize that the story is indeed An American in Paris include the reference to the De Stijl movement, frequent references to the war and the efforts to rebuild the City of Lights, and the unabashed celebration of the burlesque shows that epitomized Parisian nightlife during the era. The inclusion of some tap dancing numbers and a few American jazz pieces also anchor the play squarely within its time frame.