An American In Paris Closing

[FiddleMeThis]

Wheeldon didn't "direct" this show. He had a team of people fly over to Paris to help him get the show together, who are uncredited. His choreo is stunning, but he has a ways to go before he will be trusted to direct again. 

[TheSassySam]

I wonder if An American in Paris waited for Fun Home to announce its closing before making its own announcement. 

[EricMontreal22]

FiddleMeThis said: "Wheeldon didn't "direct" this show. He had a team of people fly over to Paris to help him get the show together, who are uncredited. His choreo is stunning, but he has a ways to go before he will be trusted to direct again. 

 

"

Oh well •shrug•. I hope Wheeldon puts a name down as director on another show and flies in all those same nameless people to direct a new musical!  Looking forward to it. 

 

[FiddleMeThis]

Choreography and direction are two different arts. There's a reason he won the Tony for choreo but not direction. 

[EricMontreal22]

I admit, I hadn't heard the gossip about "ghost directors" though I guess it's not surprising (do you have more details?)  On the other hand his story ballets, like Alice in Wonderland, while dance pieces, come off very much like Broadway shows so I gave him the benefit.  Still, one thing I liked so much about the staging was how fluid the choreography meshed with the overall staging--something that seems increasingly rare on Broadway.

[FiddleMeThis]

I mostly credit the set design for that aspect of the production.

[vampire musical]

EricMontreal22 said: "I admit, I hadn't heard the gossip about "ghost directors" though I guess it's not surprising (do you have more details?)  On the other hand his story ballets, like Alice in Wonderland, while dance pieces, come off very much like Broadway shows so I gave him the benefit.  Still, one thing I liked so much about the staging was how fluid the choreography meshed with the overall staging--something that seems increasingly rare on Broadway.

 

"

Bart Sher was one of the ghost directors.  Don't know the others

 

[AnnieBlack]

Wonder if Bart gets a weekly royalty- prob one of the reasons contributing to the show not recouping yet

[Someone in a Tree2]

Regarding ghost directors, I'll say this much: whoever devised the ravishing opening sequence to AAIP, the power outtage staging for "I Got Rhythm", or the transformation of the Galleries Lafayette girls into New Look fashions should be the one to do a new musical on Broadway every single year from now on! (And yes, that could well have been Bob Crowley the designer.) The guy who devised the horrible "Fidgety Feet" sequence, the "Stairway to Paradise" number that was woefully missing a stairway, or the dreary Act II title ballet that seemed to be a tribute to Mondrian and Abstract Expressionism (why???) should be banished from getting his hands on another Broadway show for the foreseeable future.

On balance I loved Act I of AAIP so much, I saw it 3 times at full prices. But then came the much weaker 2nd Act-- what happened? (I'm happy to blame Bartlett Sher.)

[vampire musical]

I don't know what he did or didn't do.  He's the only name listed in the Special Thanks section

[FiddleMeThis]

Anyone else catch the new understudy for the role of Jerry?

[Mr Roxy]

Never got the love for this. Cannot hold a candle to the movie and have seen much better adaptations of MGM musicals done on stage.

[FiddleMeThis]

Thank you. I agree. Some stunning transitions and choreo but that alone does not a show make. Recording is unlistenable except for orchestral moments. 

[asmith0307]

FiddleMeThis said: "Anyone else catch the new understudy for the role of Jerry?"

Dimitri? Dustin?

[FiddleMeThis]

Which did you see? Dimitri is taking over once Garen leaves. Have seen him and he's very athletic but the acting and singing are not so strong. 

[asmith0307]

I've seen a few different Jerrys, I was just asking to clarify which one you were asking about. 

[FiddleMeThis]

I've seen all the main ones, no understudies. Who have you seen? Heard the new understudy not terribly strong but they were stuck and needed someone and no one else in the cast was up to the task. 

[starcatchers]

I've seen Dimitri. Not outstanding, but not terrible either. The newest cover, Dustin, has not gone on yet. 

[FiddleMeThis]

All these who came after Bobby are so attractive and such great movers- but can't they find someone who can sing and act a bit too? I still wish that Tony Yazbeck would take over, he's practically the only Broadway actor who could do it. Don't have much confidence in Dimitri or Dustin. The cast is saying Dustin can't sing it either and only got the cover because someone left and there was literally no one else. 

[starcatchers]

Nathan Madden was the other Jerry cover. He couldn't sing it either, but he was otherwise fantastic. He left, and his replacement only covers Henri.