An American in Paris at HCT

If you need a little joie de vivre in your life (and who doesn't in the middle of winter) then might I suggest attending An American in Paris at Hale Centre Theatre. It is a song and dance extravaganza set in Paris after World War II featuring the music of George and Ira Gershwin. 'S wonderful! 'S marvelous! Jerry Mulligan (Wesley Valdez) is an American soldier who decides to stay in Paris after the war to pursue his dream of becoming a painter. He sees Lise (Juliet Doherty), a Parisian shopgirl with aspirations of becoming a ballerina, on the street and begins to pursue her. They meet every afternoon along the Seine and inevitably fall in love but complications arise. Lise feels a duty to the Baurel family for hiding her from the Nazis and accepts a proposal of marriage from their son Henri (Taylor Morris). Jerry is indebted to his patron Milo Davenport (Ashley Gardner Carlson), a rich American heiress who promotes his art and falls in love with him. It takes several more dazzling dance sequences for Jerry and Lise to realize that they belong together! The choreography, which is used to tell the story, is simply amazing! I especially loved the big production numbers "I've Got Rhythm" in the middle of a Parisian cafe, "I've Got Beginner's Luck" in the Galleries Lafayette where Lise works, "Rhapsody Ballet" at a costume ball, and "Stairway to Paradise" at a Parisian nightclub. I loved how the choreography incorporates props such as umbrellas, benches, lampposts, and perfume counters into the numbers. The cast features incredibly talented dancers, especially the two leads. Doherty (who is single-cast) performs the demanding choreography, much of it on pointe, effortlessly and with so much passion while Valdez is charismatic and captivating to watch. I was so impressed with their performance in the final ballet because it requires a lot of stamina coming at the end of the show. I also really enjoyed Carlson's characterization of Milo as a formidable, yet vulnerable, woman and she provides quite a bit of comic relief with her delivery. The costumes are fantastic, especially Milo's elaborate gowns, the dramatic black and red costumes at the ball, and the sparkly showgirl costumes in "Stairway to Paradise."  The set is very clever and incorporates inventive choreography as pieces are moved on and off the stage. Who could ask for anything more? This production is a beautiful love letter to the City of Lights (my favorite city) and I highly recommend it. An American in Paris runs at HCT on the Main Stage through April 6 (go here for tickets).

Note:  Don't forget about the hilarious A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder which is currently being performed on the HCT Jewel Box Stage through March 16.