Overview
Move over Hamilton, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Come From Away, Jagged Little Pill the Musical, The Phantom of the Opera and Girl From the North Country — another huge hit musical has just announced an Australian run. This time, it's Broadway and West End smash An American in Paris that's heading our way, with the four-time Tony-winner kicking off its Aussie shows in Brisbane in January 2022.
From there, An American in Paris will sing and dance its way to Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, bringing its vibrant adaptation of the 1951 film of the same name to Australian stages. Yes, if you're a fan of classic movies — and classic big-screen musicals starring none other than the inimitable Gene Kelly at that — then that's why the show's name sounds familiar.
Story-wise, the musical follows an American soldier in Paris — because its moniker is that straightforward. Set at the end of the Second World War, it charts US GI's Jerry Mulligan's exploits as he falls for a French woman. Well, he is celebrating the end of the combat in the notably romantic city, after all.
Bringing the Oscar-winning 70-year-old film to the stage, this version of An American in Paris is directed by acclaimed contemporary ballet choreographer Christopher Wheeldon — and adapted for theatre and choreographed by him, too. The Aussie run is also being staged in collaboration with the Australian Ballet, so expect to see some of their dancers helping to bring the musical to life.
George and Ira Gershwin's songs make the leap to the theatre as well, including 'I Got Rhythm', 'S Wonderful', 'But Not For Me' and 'They Can't Take That Away From Me'.
Initially, An American in Paris debuted in Paris — where else? — in 2014, before hitting Broadway, Boston and West End.
Johan Persson
'AN AMERICAN IN PARIS' AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2022:
- January 8–30 — QPAC Lyric Theatre, Brisbane
- From February, dates TBC — Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide
- From February, dates TBC — Crown Theatre, Perth
- From March, dates TBC — State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne, Melbourne
- From April, dates TBC — Theatre Royal, Sydney
An American in Paris will tour Australia from January 8, 2022. For more information or to register for the ticket waitlist, head to the musical's website.
Top images: Tristram Kenton.