An American in Paris Tour!

[ClumsyDude15]

As previously announced, Jerry Mulligan and Lise Dassin will be played by Garen Scribner and Sara Esty, who performed these leading roles on Broadway. Joining them are Etai Benson (Wicked) as Adam Hochberg; Emily Ferranti (Wicked, Dreamgirls) as Milo Davenport; Gayton Scott (Gypsy, The Women) as Madame Baurel; and Nick Spangler (The Book of Mormon, Rogers + Hammerstein's Cinderella) as Henri Baurel.

Leigh-Ann Esty and Ryan Steele join the cast as the Lise and Jerry alternates. Rounding out the ensemble are Karolina Blonski, Brittany Bohn, Stephen Brower, Randy Castillo, Jessica Cohen, Jace Coronado, Barton Cowperthwaite, Alexa De Barr, Erika Hebron, Christopher M. Howard, Colby Q. Lindeman, Nathalie Marrable, Tom Mattingly, Caitlin Meighan, Alida Michal, Don Noble, Sayiga Eugene Peabody, Alexandra Pernice, David Prottas, Emily Ramirez, Danielle Santos, Lucas Segovia, Kyle Vaughn, Laurie Wells, Dana Winkle, Erica Wong and Blake Zelesnikar.

http://www.playbill.com/article/casting-complete-for-american-in-paris-national-tour

Definitely very excited about this wonderful cast they've assembled. I loved Garen's Jerry on Broadway and I'm very excited to see Sara as Lise since I didn't get the chance on Broadway. Etai was a terrific Boq in Wicked and I've been lucky enough to see Nick Spangler play both Elder Price and Elder McKinley in Book of Mormon and he's fantastic and a perfect Henri. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Is Etai Benson Etai BenShlomo? Didn't know he changed his name. Either way, him as Adam is inspired casting.

[ClumsyDude15]

^Yes, that's him. He shortened it awhile back I assume to make it easier professionally. Agreed, he will be wonderful. 

[Call_me_jorge]

I'm surprised about Ryan Steele!

[asmith0307]

I'm just liking the fact that Sara's alternate is her twin.

[IdinaBellFoster]

I'm going to try and catch Steele when he's on.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Does anybody know which performances Ryan Steele will be doing?

[Cupid Boy2]

I sure hope Steele has a set schedule. He's who I'd want to see, too. 

[ClumsyDude15]

According to Nick Spangler's tweet, rehearsals begin in 13 days, during which it'll probably become more clear in terms of the alternate schedule. However, if it follows the schedule of Broadway - the alternate did matinees on two show days. 

https://twitter.com/nick_spangler/status/763009566602764293

[CATSNYrevival]

I hope Ryan Steele is still in it if it comes to San Diego. It hasn't been announced yet as part of the current season so it may not come until 2017-2018.

[FiddleMeThis]

If they had just hired someone like Ryan for Broadway perhaps this show could have kept running and recouped...

[EthelMae]

Glad to see so many Trip of Love cast members in this tour! Break legs guys!

[starcatchers]

FiddleMeThis said: "If they had just hired someone like Ryan for Broadway perhaps this show could have kept running and recouped...

 

"

Genuine question...what makes you say that? His casting, to me, is in the vicinity of how they've cast the role from the start. 

[FiddleMeThis]

Nope. He is a Broadway guy with an actual following who happens to have the chops to pull this off. They keep hiring the opposite- ballet boys who mostly can't sing or act. Nathan is the only current Jerry who can really sing and act it with any qualification. 

[BroadwayNYC2]

As much as I like him, Ryan Steele means nothing to most people. Wouldn't have made an extra cent. 

[starcatchers]

FiddleMeThis said: "Nope. He is a Broadway guy with an actual following who happens to have the chops to pull this off. They keep hiring the opposite- ballet boys who mostly can't sing or act. Nathan is the only current Jerry who can really sing and act it with any qualification. 

 

"

Vocally, he will be on par with the others. I don't think he's that strong of a singer. I've never had the opportunity to see him *really* act, so I won't comment there. And I'm sorry, I love him, but his "following" would not have kept the show open. Not by a long shot. 

[ClumsyDude15]

Ryan Steele is definitely what I would call "Broadway" famous in that he's well known to the community of Broadway, but he's not someone who was featured on So You Think You Can Dance or even Dancing With The Stars who would I say is "famous". 

While Ryan would have maybe gotten some people to see the show who hadn't or maybe didn't like it that much (as it seems is likely here with the tour), he definitely wouldn't have kept the show running. As mentioned above, maybe a So You Think You Can Dance or even Dancing With the Stars performer and their "fame" could have kept it running longer, but not Ryan Steele [even though I do love him]. 

[FiddleMeThis]

You're all missing my point. Someone like Ryan- most likely Tony Yazbeck- who comes from the Broadway talent pool and who has the chops to pull off the dancing is better casting than the ballet boys they have been hiring, who have not made this show a must for people to return to. It's not that Ryan or Tony have a huge following that would have saved the show- it's their talent AND their place in the Broadway community that might have created some new buzz for the show. Might. As it is there is ZERO buzz. 

[DramaTeach]

FiddleMeThis said: "You're all missing my point. Someone like Ryan- most likely Tony Yazbeck- who comes from the Broadway talent pool and who has the chops to pull off the dancing is better casting than the ballet boys they have been hiring, who have not made this show a must for people to return to. It's not that Ryan or Tony have a huge following that would have saved the show- it's their talent AND their place in the Broadway community that might have created some new buzz for the show. Might. As it is there is ZERO buzz. "

I'm definitely a fan of Ryan Steele's, but to say he's like Tony Yazbeck is really reaching.  Tony Yazbeck has a Tony nomination and great skills as a true triple threat.  While Steele's singing and acting are fine, it's his dancing that truly shines.  That said, I'd gladly go see AAIP with Steele in the lead to watch him dance his heart out.

 

[starcatchers]

FiddleMeThis said: "You're all missing my point. Someone like Ryan- most likely Tony Yazbeck- who comes from the Broadway talent pool and who has the chops to pull off the dancing is better casting than the ballet boys they have been hiring, who have not made this show a must for people to return to. It's not that Ryan or Tony have a huge following that would have saved the show- it's their talent AND their place in the Broadway community that might have created some new buzz for the show. Might. As it is there is ZERO buzz. 

 

"

I didn't miss your point, I was disagreeing. However, had you said Tony Yazbeck in the first place, I would've felt differently (can we get that to happen somewhere down the line?). 

[FiddleMeThis]

Yes, let's agree on that. The short-sighted producers of AAIP missed a major opportunity to extend their run by hiring a true triple threat like Tony Yazbeck who could dance the hell out of Jerry as well as SINGING it and acting it with aplomb. The wispy ballet boys who I have seen playing this role are no match for a talent like his, and they could have created some serious excitement for this show. I just don't get it. It's not a ballet- the casting of Robbie was exciting and he pulled it off, but after that, why not look towards the pool of Broadway talent?

[Hadassah]

I hope the tour eventually has dates in the WashDC vicinity. I know that Ryan is going to bring the WOW. Unfortunately I fear for his, as of yet untested, singing & acting chops. If he is looking to coast on a Five Dances-level of acting, I'll get verklempt. 

[Call_me_jorge]

I really hope this comes by to Chicago.

[skies]

FiddleMeThis said: "Yes, let's agree on that. The short-sighted producers of AAIP missed a major opportunity to extend their run by hiring a true triple threat like Tony Yazbeck who could dance the hell out of Jerry as well as SINGING it and acting it with aplomb. The wispy ballet boys who I have seen playing this role are no match for a talent like his, and they could have created some serious excitement for this show. I just don't get it. It's not a ballet- the casting of Robbie was exciting and he pulled it off, but after that, why not look towards the pool of Broadway talent?

 

"

 

"Wispy" ?  is that as opposed to...??

[TheSassySam]

Call_me_jorge said: "I really hope this comes by to Chicago.

 

" I am sure it will. I have a feeling AAIP, Something Rotten, The King and I and 2/3 other shows will be part of the next subscription season for Broadway in Chicago. 

 

[asmith0307]

One of the lead producers is based out of Chicago, so you'll be fine. 

 

Garen Scribner posted a video today on Instagram. Apparently Chris Wheeldon is redoing the Lise solo for Sara (as opposed to the version choreographed on Leanne)

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/BJig1O6DPOs/?taken-by=garenscribner